10 Common Types of Construction Accidents

Lever & Ecker, PLLC November 20, 2019 Construction Accidents

Working in construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. Whether you work on high-rises in New York City or new homes in the White Plains suburbs, there is a good chance that at some point you will get injured on the job.

As a construction worker in New York, there are potentially two ways that you can recover financial compensation for injuries you sustain in a job-related accident. The first is a claim for workers’ compensation. The second is a personal injury claim based on negligence or a product defect. Construction workers can assert both types of claims under a broad range of circumstances, and virtually all types of construction accidents can give rise to claims for financial compensation. This includes accidents such as:

1. Vehicle Collisions (Including Pedestrian Accidents)

Vehicle collisions are among the leading causes of job-related injuries and deaths for construction workers. This includes vehicle collisions that occur while driving between job sites, collisions on job sites, and pedestrian accidents.

2. Falls from Heights

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of job-related death among construction workers, excluding highway collisions. This includes falls from ladders and scaffolding, falls from roofs, and falls from upper floors of uncompleted buildings.

3. Slip-and-Fall and Trip-and-Fall Accidents

It doesn’t take falling from a high height to suffer a serious job-related injury. Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents are extremely common on construction sites, and they can result in a variety of types of traumatic and disabling injuries.

4. Being Struck by a Flying or Falling Object

Flying debris, falling tools and building materials, and other hazards can cause a variety of serious injuries as well. Eye injuries resulting in temporary or permanent loss of vision, concussions, broken bones, back injuries, and other traumatic injuries are all common in these types of accidents.

5. Crane, Forklift, and Heavy Machinery Accidents

Accidents involving cranes, forklifts, bulldozers, and other types of heavy machinery are common on all types of construction sites, and they can often have life-altering effects. Construction workers who experience compound fractures, loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries (SCI), and other forms of severe trauma may never be able to work again, and they may be entitled to significant compensation for their medical expenses, lost earnings, and other losses.

6. Power Tool Accidents

Accidents involving nail guns, circular saws, drills, welding guns and torches, and other power tools can result in sudden, severe, and permanent injuries. While these accidents are often the result of an inexperienced coworker’s negligence, proof of negligence is not required in order to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

7. Electrocutions

Electrocution accidents are also a leading cause of job-related deaths among construction workers according to OSHA statistics. Fatal and non-fatal electrocution accidents can result from defective electrical components, faulty wiring, inadequate lockout-tagout procedures, and various other issues.

8. Inhalation and Exposure to Hazardous Substances

Exposure to toxic fumes and chemicals, and inhalation of particulates can result in severe burns and other types of exposure injuries. Inhalation of certain types of particulates has also been linked to cancer and other occupational illnesses, and the symptoms of these potentially-dangerous medical conditions may not be immediately apparent following the harmful exposure.

9. Fires and Explosions

Fires and explosions resulting from electrical shorts, gas leaks, vehicle and heavy machinery crashes, and other types of accidents can cause disfiguring and debilitating injuries from which construction workers may never fully recover. Multiple skin grafts and other surgical procedures may be necessary, and injured workers may experience severe chronic pain for the rest of their lives.

10. Inadequate Jobsite Communication or Safety Protocols

According to OSHA, more than half of the “top 10 most frequently cited” safety violations involve inadequate job site communication and safety protocols. This includes:

  • Inadequate hazard communication
  • Inadequate fall protection training
  • Inadequate respiratory protection
  • Inadequate eye and face protection
  • Unsafe ladders and scaffolding
  • Failure to control hazardous energy

If you have been injured on the job as a result of any of these types of accidents (or any other type of accident), you should speak with an attorney promptly. At Lever & Ecker, PLLC, we handle workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims, and we can use our experience to seek maximum compensation for your accident-related losses.

Speak with a New York Construction Accident Lawyer for Free

For more information about your legal rights after a construction accident in New York, please call 914-288-9191 or contact us online. Your initial consultation is free and confidential, and you pay nothing unless we help you win the compensation you deserve.

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