200,000 construction workers are injured on the job each year. Danger is inevitable on construction sites due to their hazardous nature. Injuries can occur if proper safety measures are not taken.
When jobsites are not kept safe, injuries and possible deaths can occur. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction deaths account for approximately 21% of the total employment-related deaths.
Further alarming statistics regarding construction injuries include:
- Falls — 384 out of 991 total deaths in construction in CY 2016 (38.7%)
- Struck by an object – 93 (9.4%)
- Electrocutions – 82 (8.3%)
- Caught-in/between* – 72 (7.3%)
Common Construction Accidents
In conjunction with the aforementioned, here are common types of construction site injuries:
- Roofing accident
- Explosion
- Fire
- Toxic fumes
- Chemical burns
- Faulty wiring
- Crane accident
- Scaffold accident
- Truck accident
- Machinery malfunction
- Defective products
So Who is Responsible?
The general contractor and/or employer is responsible for proper training of their workers. It is mandatory to provide a safe environment by continually maintaining the jobsite. This includes working machinery. Machinery must be immediately replaced if deemed defective.
If an injury or death occurs onsite, the responsibility falls on the employer or the general contractor. The injured worker need not be an employee; the general contractor or employee can still be held liable if subcontractors are hired for a construction job.
Negligence
It is the employer or general contractor’s responsibility to provide a safe jobsite. Where there is negligence, a jobsite injury or death may occur. Their duty is to inspect and maintain jobsite safety to prevent injuries and death.
To file a lawsuit for negligence, a plaintiff must prove:
- Someone else had a duty of care to keep the victim out of harm’s way,
- That person breached their duty of care,
- That breach caused the victim’s injuries, and
- The extent of the injuries that the victim suffered.
Construction Injury Lawsuits
If you or a loved one has been injured on a construction jobsite, attorney David Klink will assist you through the legal process. Firstly, the jobsite is preserved for investigation purposes. Witnesses and OSHA are called upon for the case. David Klink will help you build a detailed legal case seeking maximum compensation.
There may be cases where your employer or general contractor is not solely at fault. If any outside parties played a role in the incident that contributed to your injury, they may additionally owe you compensation. David Klink will inspect all facets of your case to determine who is responsible and pursue your claim.
