Common Types of Construction Accidents and Your Legal Rights
One of the most rewarding and challenging trade careers is in construction, and construction workers are some of the most skilled workers in New York City, with one of the most dangerous jobs. If you are a construction worker and are concerned about workplace injuries, there are several things you should know.
Most Common Construction Accidents on Construction Sites
With the number of construction projects going on across the city, and with so many moving parts (people, equipement, machinery) isn’t a surprise that the number of construction accidents and the resulting construction accident injuries has grown over the years. Here is a list of several of the most common accidents on construction sites.
Fires/Explosions
Machinery, vehicles, and generators are require fuel, and in some cases, that fuel isn’t stored properly. In those cases, fires can occur. Also, human error (lit cigarette, misplaced flammable materials, or electrical mistakes) can lead to fire accidents. Fire spreads quickly and cares for no one, which means that fire accidents are some of the most catastrophic accidents. Another, more catastrophic accident is explosions, which may be caused by gas leaks.
Slip/Trip & Fall
A construction site can be a mine field of debris, equipment, people, spills, misplaced tools, etc… Without proper storage or organization, posted warnings or barricades, and safety training or precautions, slip and fall/trip and fall accidents can occur. It only takes one loose wire, one misplaced hammer, one slippery surface to cause an accident.
Collapses/Falling Objects
Construction is a dangerous job, but it can be rewarding. Unfortunately, when working under and around building materials on uneven or excavated ground, demolition accidents, ground collapses, a trench collapse, building collapses, hoist accidents, and falling debris or objects can cause an accident.
Collisions
Construction work sites are a beehive of vehicle, equipment, machinery activity, and when these moving parts physically collide, these collisions can cause serious injuries. The vehicles can strike one another, or a work can be struck by a forklift, an excavator, or even the company truck.
Electrocution
Exposed wires, unfinished electrical systems, or poorly installed power lines, or downed power lines can serious electrocution injuries.
Machinery Accidents
Forklift accidents, struck by incidents, and machinery malfunctions are common accidents that are the most dangerous. Heavy machinery is the muscle on any construction project, and without proper training or lack of safety precautions, these massive and powerful machines can cause injury, permanent disability, and even death.
Most Common Injuries in the Construction Industry
Given the list of possible accidents that can happen while working construction, you’ll understand that the list of possible injuries is extensive. However, for the sake of time, we’ll list the most common injuries you can get while working in a construction zone.
- Repetitive Motion Injuries/Repetitive Stress Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Head Injuries/Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Crush Injuries
- Loss of Limbs
- Death
Have you experienced such injuries? Were you hurt during a construction site accident? Sadly, according to labor statistics, injured construction workers are not rare, with more than 550 injuries in New York City, in 2022 alone–including 11 fatalities. Despite years of required safety inspections and safety training, construction workers face construction injury on a daily basis.
What Do You Do After Serious Injury?
Construction workers should never have to worry about occupational safety. There should always be well-maintained safety equipment, well-written safety protocols in place, personal protective equipment for each construction worker. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and in those cases a serious accident can occur. Have you been injured on the job at a construction site?
Your first step after the accident is to seek medical help. Be sure to document your injuries with detailed records and photos of the injuries. Next, contact your union representative, who will help you with workers compensation, getting help with medical expenses, or help you seek legal counsel, if necessary. However, if your injury was no fault of your own, you have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury/work injury claim.
What Are Your Rights?
So what happens when an accident occurs on your construction site and you’re injured? What do you do? What are your rights as a worker who has experienced a workplace injury? First, you have the right to work in a reasonably safe environment. Hazardous materials, faulty equipment, and slippery surfaces are the most common causes of construction injuries. Construction companies are liable for any injury caused by their equipment, their failure to employ and train the right professionals, or their failure to properly store machinery, heavy equipment, dangerous chemicals, and even smaller power tools.
If your injury was caused at no fault of yours, you have the right to full and fair recovery from your injuries, compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional injury, and even post traumatic stress disorder. Personal injury attorneys in New York, have years of experience in cases of construction site accidents, and can help you navigate the process of filing a claim.
