Construction Site Accidents: Common Injuries and Steps to Take

Construction sites are riddled with hazards. No matter how careful you are, accidents can and will happen. If you are injured on a construction site through no fault of your own, it is wise to contact a professional construction injury lawyer right away. They can help you navigate the complex process of construction injury claims and litigation. 

When it comes to the most common construction site injuries, ‘falls’ are at the top of the list. A close second is workers being struck by falling objects, followed by electrocution, and being pinned in-between equipment or crushed by machinery. In some instances these accidents result in death. According to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in 2017, one-in-five worker deaths were in the construction industry. 

Known as the ‘Fatal Four’, OSHA identified the 4 leading causes of fatalities in the Construction Industry. These incidents were responsible for almost 60% of construction worker deaths in the United States. Finding innovative ways to make construction sites safer would save an estimated 580 lives every year.

Falls – 381 out of 971 total deaths in construction in 2017 (39.2%)

Struck by Object – 80 (8.2%)

Electrocutions – 71 (7.3%)

Caught in-between* – 50 (5.1%)

(*Caught in’ or ‘in-between’ pertains to construction workers that were either injured or killed by being compressed in-between equipment or objects, struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material. *Statistics provided by the United States Department of Labor and OSHA) 

The fact remains, no matter how many safety measures are put into place, injuries and fatalities can still transpire. So how do you proceed if you are injured while working on a construction site? Who is the best person to contact first? 

What Should I Do After a Construction Site Injury?

It is important to treat construction zone injuries with an elevated level of care and concern. Even a simple bump on the head can easily escalate into a more severe medical issue. Here are some things to consider if you or a coworker is involved in an accident while working on a construction site. 

• Get Medical Help Immediately – When an accident happens it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Get thoroughly checked out by medical professionals before tackling the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of your injury. 
• Contact Your Employer – After you or your coworker is stabilized, you might be tempted to alert your employer as soon as possible. While that isn’t discouraged, you may want to consider quickly calling a personal injury attorney prior to making any official statements to outside parties. You should choose an attorney that has experience litigating construction site injuries and wrongful death cases. 
• Contact a Construction Injury Lawyer – Giving your construction injury lawyer firsthand accounts of what transpired will give them an opportunity to coach you through what to do next, what your rights are, and what to expect moving forward. This level of legal advice immediately following an incident can be very beneficial, especially if you decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit in the near future. You need to ensure that your recollection of events isn’t misconstrued or misinterpreted. Your construction injury attorney will want to position you in the most legally advantageous position before moving forward with a personal injury claim. 
• Document the Incident in Detail – Use every means possible to accurately document your injury. Take photos, videos, even voice memos of your real-time observations. Take notes on severity of injuries, how much pain your are in, and your understanding of how the accident happened. 

Common Construction Site Injuries 

Seasoned personal injury attorneys tend to see it all. From the most basic of injuries, to the most heartbreaking of freak accidents. As one of the leading personal injury law firms in Los Angeles, we have compiled a list of the most common construction injuries. 

• Back injuries – A fall can cause a fracture or spinal cord injury, which may leave a victim paralyzed. Other common back injuries include herniated or ruptured discs, compression fractures, nerve damage, and chronic pain that can leave you unable to work or perform basic tasks. These are very typical amongst construction workers due to the heavy lifting that the job requires. 
• Neck Injuries – Fractures, disc injuries, cervical dislocation, and chronic neck pain are common, while a spinal cord injury can affect the whole body; a neck injury often results in permanent damage. Spinal fusion and other major surgeries may be required. Again this is another common construction related injury.
• Broken Bones – A slip and fall, especially because of unstrudy scaffolding, often leads to fractures involving the skull, wrist, hand, leg, ankle, foot, vertebrae, hip, face, or ribs. Recovering from a broken bone injury takes time, can trigger complications, and requires time out of work. 
• Head Injuries – Not every worker is wearing protective gear or a construction helmet when on a jobsite. Whether you have a closed or penetrating head injury, there can be brain damage, which can require costly long-term care and rehabilitation. A head injury can quickly become serious, and if not treated promptly could become a life-changing event.
• Burns – Burn injuries are painful and traumatic on a physical and emotional level. They may require skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and ongoing emotional counseling.
• Loss of Limbs – Equipment and machinery, or other construction site hazards can lead to the loss of a finger, hand, arm, toe, foot, or leg. The consequences are life-changing and your ability to work may be compromised, but our Los Angeles job site accident attorney can help you receive compensation.
• Paralysis – An accident can leave a victim a paraplegic or quadriplegic requiring extensive ongoing care and in need of income to pay bills, for medical services, or installing adaptive devices in their home.
• Spinal Cord – A spinal cord injury leaves a victim forever changed, possibly unable to walk, use their arms, or perform basic tasks such as brushing their teeth or getting ready. A lack of income and mounting medical bills can present significant challenges. Your attorney can help walk you through some pre-settlement loan options so that you can maintain a quality of life during the course of your personal injury lawsuit. 
• Wrongful Death – An at-fault supervisor, contractor, or other party can be held accountable for a fatal accident. Surviving family members, including widows, widowers, children, or dependent parents, may be compensated with a wrongful death legal settlement or through the worker’s compensation system.

How Can Construction Injury Attorneys Help Victims?

Pursuing any workplace personal injury claim can be a very taxing and emotionally draining experience. Your construction injury lawyer is probably the only one that is entirely on your side. They want to see you have a just outcome to your case, just as badly as you do. They will work around the clock to keep you informed of your rights and get you the compensation you so justly deserve. 

Your personal injury attorney can help you collect damages to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation, and even the living expenses for any dependents you may have, given that you’re the predominant breadwinner in the household.  

Remember, you have options, and the law is on your side. Don’t allow insurance companies to railroad you or discourage you from seeking justice. You don’t have to go into debt just because you suffered a serious injury. Know your rights and contact a professional construction injury lawyer today. 

The Personal Injury Law Offices of Jacob Emrani know firsthand how difficult a serious injury can be. We want to help you get the compensation you deserve. If you have been injured while working on a construction site, please give us a call. 888.952.2952