Construction Site Accident Injury: Compensation Claims

Construction accidents are one of the leading work-related injury causes across the U.S. In fact, over one thousand fatalities occur on construction sites each year in the United States. The total accident injury incident rate per one hundred workers was 5.4 in 2007 among construction industry workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Clearly, construction jobs pose serious and elevated risk for injury. Injured workers are legally entitled by law to compensation for their injuries related to work, including injuries away from the construction site that may have occurred over time. Workers’ compensation laws protect the rights of innocent workers in many common types of accidents and injury incidents.

Types of Job Site Accidents

Different forms of construction pose different accident hazards to workers. OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, attempts to prevent many injuries by forcing employers to follow specific codes on job sites. The main cause of accidents resulting in injury, however, is failure to work in a safe environment, in spite of the OSHA workplace codes. Some of the commonly cited accidents leading to injury in the modern construction industry are:

• Slips, trips, and workplace falls
• Electrical accidents
• Scaffolding, crane, or equipment falls
• Moving vehicle collisions
• Burns, either chemical, electric, and from welding
• Explosions
• Equipment and building material malfunctions
• Repetitive strain and motion injuries
• Compensation Available

Reporting a Job Site Injury for Workers Compensation

Per law, employers must report construction accidents immediately. For injured workers, receiving appropriate medical care should be the first concern. Following this, do not sign or agree to any company offered compensation packages. Employers typically already have worker’s compensation insurance coverage in place, and claims representatives from the insurance company would love to reduce their costs of settling your claim right away. First, you must speak with an attorney to recognize your rights. Then, you can exercise these legal rights outside and inside of the civil courts.

Evidence for a Workers Compensation Claim

Part of making a solid workers’ compensation claim is using documented evidence. This will include important items like a written and signed account of the events and accident, photographs of the accident site, medical documentation of the injuries, and witness versions of an accident. In addition, injured workers should know whether they were working in violation of OSHA standards, and if they were partially or entirely at fault for their injuries. Employers, except for in cases involving drugs, alcohol, or gross negligence, are required at a very minimum to pay worker’s compensation expenses, which will include medical bills, lost wages, and more with the help of an experienced attorney.

• The content of this page is provided for informational purposes only. If you need help with a Personal Injury claim, click here to talk to Steven L. Weiner or a Personal Injury Lawyer near you.