Construction is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. According to the most recent data provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 20 percent of all fatal workplace accidents in the United States occur within the construction industry. This is despite the fact that only a small percentage of U.S. workers are actually in construction.
Construction accidents come in a wide range of different forms. Regardless of the nature of the accident, injured workers need to be able to get immediate medical treatment and full and fair financial compensation to support themselves and their family. Below our top-rated Illinois construction accident lawyers list some of the most common construction site accidents.
Fall accidents
The single most common cause of serious construction accidents involves workers falling from heights. While OSHA has put fall protection rules into place, regulators state that fall protection requirements are the single most violated safety standard in the construction industry. Unfortunately, many construction workers suffer very serious injuries in falls from ladders, roofs, scaffolding, and other high places. A fall accident has the potential to lead to many different injuries, from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Falling objects and falling debris
Another common safety issue on construction sites is falling objects. Whether it is debris falling off of a building or another worker accidentally dropping a heavy tool, an unfortunate number of construction workers suffer severe, even life-threatening injuries as a result of being struck by a falling object.
Electrocutions
Electrocutions have the potential to be deadly. On a construction site, a worker could be electrocuted in multiple different ways. Most frequently, this is an issue when construction workers are dealing with power lines — in some cases, workers may not even be aware that these power lines are present.
Machinery accidents
On most modern construction sites, you will find an enormous amount of heavy machinery. Construction companies must ensure that their workers are well-trained to use this equipment, that all machinery is in proper working condition, and there is adequate oversight when dangerous machinery is in use.
Crush/caught between injuries
As the name implies, a crush injury occurs when a part, or all, of a person’s body is crushed by a foreign object. That foreign object could be a heavy piece of machinery that they have become stuck in, or it could be the result of debris falling. One of the most common and dangerous examples of a crush accident is a trench collapse.
Motor vehicle accident
Transportation accidents are another type of major accidents in the construction industry. Motor vehicle accidents occur both on construction sites, and while workers are moving between different sites during the workday. Whether it is a pedestrian collision or a commercial truck accident, motor vehicle accident victims need immediate medical attention.
Overexertion injuries
Finally, many construction workers are injured as a result of overexertion. These types of injuries can manifest themselves in a wide variety of different ways. A construction worker could suffer an acute back injury from lifting a heavy object, or they could gradually develop a serious overexertion injury over time.
Start with a free consultation
Please provide us some details so we can better serve you.
Why choose Tuite Law:
-
Free consultation, no fee if no recovery
-
Personal attention for every client
-
Experienced attorneys
-
A record of success
