Construction Accidents
Construction work can be very dangerous. Construction related job fatalities accounted for 20% (1 in 5) of all work related fatalities. In addition, construction related non-fatal work injuries account for 10% (1 in 10) of all workplace injuries.
There are countless hazards present on a construction work site that are not present in other work environments. These include heavy equipment, dangerous equipment, trenches, work vehicles, delivery vehicles, power lines, power equipment, and third party vendors and supplies. In addition, there are often a vast variety of contractors and sub-contractors and their employees present and highly active within relatively constrained work environments. In short, construction sites provide the perfect environment for workplace injuries.
In addition to the sheer numbers of construction related injuries, these injuries are generally far more serious than a typical work injury. This accounts for the high percentage of fatalities in construction accidents. There were over 5000 construction related fatalities in 2008 alone across the United States. This represents the 4th highest rate of fatalities among all industries, behind only agriculture and forestry, transportation and warehousing, and mining.
In addition, the nature of the workforce and the seriousness of the injuries in these accidents often result in catastrophic damages to the injured person and his or her family. Well over 90% of the fatalities involve men. Around 70% of these fatalities involve mean between the ages of 25 and 54. The physical injuries, medical expenses and pain and suffering can be enormous. The loss of income will often decimate the injured worker’s family in both the case of wrongful death and serious non-fatal accidents resulting in permanent injuries.
Workers compensation is frequently the only recourse for work related injuries, even in the case of death. Workers compensation is typically inadequate to fully compensate an injured worker for his or her damages in cases of serious injuries, and most certainly in the case of wrongful death.
Fortunately, the nature of the industry often provides opportunities for lawsuits against negligent third parties to fully recover for the worker’s injuries and damages. Because there are so many third parties present on a construction site such as contractors, subcontractors, and vendors along with their equipment and supplies, the injured worker’s injuries are often attributable to the negligence or defective products and supplies of these third parties.
If there is a third party other than the employer that this responsible for the accident and the damages, that third party will be held liable in a personal injury lawsuit just as any other negligent person. These lawsuits run the gamut of possible claims including auto accidents, trucking accidents, products liability, negligence, and wrongful death to name only a few of the possible basis for a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries or wrongful death in a construction accident, it is important to determine the source and cause of the accident to determine the possible liability of third parties. If there is no third party liability, the worker will likely be limited to the strict recovery limits established by workers compensation statutes. This often makes a finding of third party liability essential for a full recovery for a worker’s injuries.
There are countless hazards present on a construction work site that are not present in other work environments. These include heavy equipment, dangerous equipment, trenches, work vehicles, delivery vehicles, power lines, power equipment, and third party vendors and supplies. In addition, there are often a vast variety of contractors and sub-contractors and their employees present and highly active within relatively constrained work environments. In short, construction sites provide the perfect environment for workplace injuries.
In addition to the sheer numbers of construction related injuries, these injuries are generally far more serious than a typical work injury. This accounts for the high percentage of fatalities in construction accidents. There were over 5000 construction related fatalities in 2008 alone across the United States. This represents the 4th highest rate of fatalities among all industries, behind only agriculture and forestry, transportation and warehousing, and mining.
In addition, the nature of the workforce and the seriousness of the injuries in these accidents often result in catastrophic damages to the injured person and his or her family. Well over 90% of the fatalities involve men. Around 70% of these fatalities involve mean between the ages of 25 and 54. The physical injuries, medical expenses and pain and suffering can be enormous. The loss of income will often decimate the injured worker’s family in both the case of wrongful death and serious non-fatal accidents resulting in permanent injuries.
Workers compensation is frequently the only recourse for work related injuries, even in the case of death. Workers compensation is typically inadequate to fully compensate an injured worker for his or her damages in cases of serious injuries, and most certainly in the case of wrongful death.
Fortunately, the nature of the industry often provides opportunities for lawsuits against negligent third parties to fully recover for the worker’s injuries and damages. Because there are so many third parties present on a construction site such as contractors, subcontractors, and vendors along with their equipment and supplies, the injured worker’s injuries are often attributable to the negligence or defective products and supplies of these third parties.
If there is a third party other than the employer that this responsible for the accident and the damages, that third party will be held liable in a personal injury lawsuit just as any other negligent person. These lawsuits run the gamut of possible claims including auto accidents, trucking accidents, products liability, negligence, and wrongful death to name only a few of the possible basis for a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries or wrongful death in a construction accident, it is important to determine the source and cause of the accident to determine the possible liability of third parties. If there is no third party liability, the worker will likely be limited to the strict recovery limits established by workers compensation statutes. This often makes a finding of third party liability essential for a full recovery for a worker’s injuries.
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