A construction site is one of the most dangerous workplaces. With all the people working on different projects, the constantly changing environment, power tools and construction equipment, and open pits or unfinished floors, accidents are more common and often more serious than many other workplaces. And with the number of people and contractors working, it can often be difficult to determine who is responsible for your injury.
Types of Construction Site Accidents
Construction site accidents are often highly dangerous because of the scale of work being done. Some types of construction site accidents include:
- Falls
- Crane accidents
- Dropped material
- Run over by construction vehicles
- Electrical accidents
- Trench collapses
- Fires and explosions
- Equipment failures
- Structure collapse
Falls are the most common type of construction accident resulting in death. Sometimes these falls are simple accidents, but most often these falls are due to the negligence of someone at the work site. Falls can be caused by inadequate, absent, or poorly assembled scaffolding. They can also be caused by failure to provide or use safety equipment.
Crane accidents can also be deadly, as a falling crane or its cargo can crush people below with little or no warning.
Construction vehicles are constantly moving to and fro at a construction site, and with their large blind spots it is easy for a driver not to see a worker nearby who, with all the noise and distractions of the site, may not see or hear the vehicle coming.
Electrical accidents are often the product of shoddy work or miscommunication. Failure to properly connect wires and insulate them can lead to shock, and if a person is not informed that wires or a box is live, the consequences can be deadly.
Safety standards are in place to help reduce the risk of all these types of accidents, but sadly they are not always followed.
Who Is Responsible for Your Accident?
Another problem with construction site accidents is that it can be hard to track down who is responsible and make that person pay for the injury they have caused you. In almost all cases, workers’ compensation is an option, but what if workers’ compensation’s paltry portion won’t cover your expenses and do enough to support your family?
You may be able to receive compensation for your injury with a personal injury lawsuit against other parties at the site who may have contributed to your accident. This may include:
- Other contractors and workers
- Equipment manufacturers
- Head contractor
- Site owner
- Architects and engineers
The only way to know whether you can file this type of lawsuit is by talking to a personal injury lawyer about the circumstances in your case.
To learn more about construction site accidents and how you can get compensation for your injuries, please visit the website of the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, P.C, New Jersey personal injury law firm, at www.anthonycarbonepc.com.
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