Construction sites have inherent risks because they are often in various stages of demolition and completion for an extended period of time. During this time, many structures, bridges, and roadways may have unstable conditions that can easily lead to injuries. In addition, construction sites often require the use of heavy machinery, equipment, and materials that can result in severe accidents and injuries. Because of these conditions and more, construction is considered to be one of the most dangerous industries by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).1 The following are some of the ways that both construction workers and passersby sustain injuries due to hazards in and around construction sites.
Injuries to construction workers
While on the job, a construction worker can encounter many different hazards on a daily basis. For example, some of the accidents and injuries that commonly occur involving workers include:
� Falling from ladders, scaffolding, or other heights, resulting in broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or death.
� Getting hit by tools or objects dropped from ladders, scaffolding, or other heights, which commonly causes TBI, fractures, spine and neck injuries, and more.
� Electrocutions from unfinished electrical systems or exposed wiring, which lead to severe burns, heart attack, brain damage, among other injuries.
� Getting hit or trapped by heavy materials that can result in crushed limbs or torso, shattered bones, TBI, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, and other catastrophic conditions.
� Accidents involving construction vehicles, which often cause broken bones, head trauma and brain damage, neck and back injuries, and more.
� Explosions or blasting accidents that lead to severe burns, amputations, or brain damage.
� Exposure to toxic chemicals and substances that can cause burns, skin disorders, or the development of mesothelioma or other cancers.
If a construction worker sustains serious injuries, they often have different legal rights and options. They can often obtain compensation through the Florida Workers' Compensation2 program and an experienced workers' comp attorney can help to ensure you receive the full benefits to which you are entitled under the law. However, in some instances, workers' compensation cannot provide adequate recovery if a construction injury was particularly severe of life-changing. Depending on the circumstances of your individual case, a construction accident attorney can identify whether you have the right to file a legal claim to receive the full amount of compensation you deserve.
Injuries to passersby
Workers are not the only individuals at risk due to the hazards of a construction site. Anyone who passes by a site on foot, on a bicycle, or in a motor vehicle can also be at risk for serious accidents. Many of the construction accidents that are common for passersby include:
� Electrocutions
� Getting hit by falling materials, tools, or objects
� Motor vehicle collisions
� Accidents due to equipment misuse or malfunction
� Burns from close proximity to explosions or demolitions
� Ground or trench collapses
� Collapse of unfinished structures
� Accidents due to poorly marked road construction sites
These are only some of the types of accidents that may occur involving passersby due to the negligence of a construction crew. Any injured individuals should discuss their rights to recovery with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
People who are injured in preventable accidents that occur at or around construction sites can often obtain compensation for their injuries and other losses. In some cases, this compensation may be obtained through the Florida workers� compensation program while, in others, an injured party may be able to sustain a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries. Whatever the case may be, anyone hurt at a construction site should discuss his or her options with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
Since 2009, the attorneys of the Dolman Law Group have been protecting the legal rights of individuals injured at construction sites and in other types of preventable accidents. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Clearwater construction site accident attorneys, call our office today at 727-451-6900 or send us an email through our online contact form.
Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
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