Construction sites are naturally hazardous environments where workers often face risks due to a lot of factors. These include heavy machinery, high elevations, and complex tasks. Despite regulations aimed at ensuring safety, accidents still occur and often lead to serious injuries that can destroy the lives and livelihoods of the victims and their families.
That’s why construction workers need to understand the most common injuries at construction sites and the legal options available to them for seeking justice and compensation. Below in this blog, we will outline some of such injuries and the legal options you have got.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A traumatic brain injury can result from falls, being struck by falling objects, or accidents involving heavy machinery. TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. This can cause cognitive impairments, memory loss, and long-term disabilities.
In many cases, these injuries occur due to inadequate safety measures, such as the lack of hard hats or unmarked hazards. Victims of TBIs may pursue compensation through workers’ compensation claims or personal injury lawsuits if third-party negligence is involved.
However, getting legal assistance is critical in order to recover costs for medical care, lost income, and long-term rehabilitation.
- Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are life-altering and can result in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries often occur due to falls from ladders, scaffolding, or unprotected elevated work areas. The consequences include loss of mobility, chronic pain, and a need for lifelong care.
Victims can file for workers’ compensation benefits, which cover medical expenses and lost wages. In cases where faulty equipment or third-party negligence caused the injury, additional lawsuits may be filed to secure compensation for pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life.
- Broken Bones
Fractures and broken bones are common in construction sites due to slips, trips, falls, or machinery mishaps. While some fractures heal with time, others may require surgery, physical therapy, and prolonged recovery periods that can lead to extra financial burdens.
Injured workers are usually entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, if the injury resulted from defective machinery or unsafe working conditions, a third-party liability claim may be pursued. Legal professionals can help establish negligence and recover comprehensive damages.
- Burns and Chemical Injuries
Burn injuries can occur from fires, explosions, or contact with hazardous chemicals. Construction workers frequently encounter flammable materials, electrical hazards, and corrosive substances, all of which can lead to severe burns or chemical burns.
Victims may seek compensation under workers’ compensation for medical treatment and rehabilitation. In cases involving defective equipment or improperly labeled hazardous materials, a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer or supplier may also be an option.
- Hearing Loss
Prolonged exposure to loud machinery, drills, and construction tools can lead to occupational hearing loss. Sudden loud explosions or equipment malfunctions can also cause permanent auditory damage.
Hearing loss is often considered an occupational illness and may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Employers have a responsibility to provide hearing protection, and failure to do so could open the door for additional claims. Workers may also pursue compensation for hearing aids, therapy, and loss of earning capacity.
- Amputations
Accidents involving heavy machinery, such as forklifts, saws, or cranes, can result in severe injuries that lead to the loss of limbs. Amputations are devastating and often require extensive medical treatment, prosthetics, and long-term rehabilitation.
Victims are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, but these may not fully cover the emotional and financial toll of an amputation. In cases of third-party negligence, additional lawsuits can help secure compensation for lifelong disability and reduced earning capacity.
- Electrocution Injuries
Electrocutions are among the most fatal construction site accidents. Exposed wires, unmarked electrical hazards, or unsafe installation practices often cause these accidents. Survivors may suffer from severe burns, nerve damage, or even cardiac arrest.
Workers who experience electrocution can file for workers’ compensation and may also pursue third-party claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, or utility companies if negligence played a role. Documentation of safety violations and expert testimony are crucial in these cases.
- Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, and torn ligaments, may not seem severe but can lead to long-term discomfort and limited mobility. These injuries often result from repetitive tasks, heavy lifting, or slips and falls.
Workers’ compensation typically covers soft tissue injuries, but proving the connection between the injury and workplace duties can sometimes be challenging. Legal assistance can help ensure that all medical reports and workplace conditions are properly documented to strengthen the claim.
Legal Options for Construction Accident Victims
Workers’ Compensation Claims
Workers’ compensation is often the first recourse for injured construction workers. It provides benefits for medical treatment, lost wages, and disability without requiring proof of employer negligence. However, workers’ compensation claims have strict deadlines and procedural requirements, which makes legal guidance inevitable.
You can hire a local lawyer to make sure you are represented in the best possible way and get the compensation you deserve. If the accident occurred in New York, you can consult Syracuse Construction Accident Lawyers to learn about your options and the type of compensation you’re eligible for.
Third-Party Lawsuits
When injuries are caused by third parties, such as contractors, equipment manufacturers, or suppliers, workers may file lawsuits against those parties to seek compensation beyond what workers’ compensation offers. These lawsuits can cover pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages that occurred as a result of the accident.
Product Liability Claims
If defective tools, machinery, or safety equipment contributed to an accident, injured workers may pursue product liability claims against manufacturers or suppliers of that equipment. Legal professionals can help in such cases by collecting evidence, such as maintenance records and expert opinions, to strengthen the case and compensation claim.
Wrongful Death Claims
In the tragic event of a worker’s death, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim to get compensation for funeral costs, loss of income, and emotional suffering. Legal assistance can ensure the family receives the maximum financial benefits possible.