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Construction Accidents

Construction is a high hazard industry that comprises a wide range of activities such as construction and repair of residential or commercial property, bridge erection, roadway paving, excavations, demolitions, large-scale painting jobs, etc. Construction workers can be exposed to many hazards, including falls, injuries from machinery, and being struck by heavy objects.  Many of these injuries are caused by simple accidents, while others could have been prevented if not for the carelessness and negligence of others.

An on-the-job injury is usually covered by Workers’ Compensation, however, construction sites are usually occupied by other employers as well, such as contractors, subcontractors and property owners and often, one or more of these third parties can be liable for a construction worker’s injuries. Under ordinary negligence law, an injured worker may sue a third-party contractor for dangerous conditions that:

–           (1) caused the worker’s injury; and

–           (2) that the third-party had control of and knew or should have known was dangerous.

TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS:

Falling Objects

Falling objects and debris can cause injuries at construction sites; examples of falling objects are materials such as bricks, mortar, a hoist, a hammer, equipment, a plank, a collapsing scaffold or construction debris. Construction workers are at risk every day of being injured by falling objects. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers being struck by objects among the fatal four leading causes of construction accident deaths. New York Labor Law Section 240 is the law that provides attorneys with a basis for taking legal action in cases that seek compensation for workers injured by falling objects or debris.

Falling From Heights

Falling from a height on a construction site imposes absolute liability on the owner of the property. According to the Occupational Health Safety Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of construction site accidents and many construction site falls are caused by a violation of OSHA regulations. Falling from roofs, scaffolding, and ladders can occur when proper safety equipment and gear to prevent falls and other accidents is not provided. Property owners usually have an obligation to maintain the worksite to prevent hazards from injuring workers.

Caught In-Between

According to The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), caught in-between accidents are defined as: Injuries resulting from a person being squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more objects, or between parts of an object. Caught in-between hazards kill workers in a variety of ways. These include:

–           Cave-ins and other hazards of excavation work,

–           Body parts pulled into unguarded machinery,

–           Standing within the swing radius of cranes and other construction equipment,

–           Caught between equipment and fixed objects.

Electrocution

Electrocution accidents on construction sites are one of the leading causes of fatalities amongst construction workers. Often times on construction sites, workers are exposed to live wires or electricity while they are doing repair work on homes or buildings. A wide variety of jobs require workers to handle devices that have active electricity running through them. The main types of electrical accidents that occur on a construction site are:

–           contact with overhead power lines,

–           contact with transformers and live wires,

–           contact with electrical currents while working with tools, machinery and appliances

Electrocutions can occur when equipment a worker is holding touches a live wire and the worker becomes indirectly electrocuted. This should never occur. Power lines should be insulated or turned off by supervisors before any workers become involved. This is the responsibility of the company employing the worker.

Many of employees who experience fatal electrical injuries are not trained electrical specialists, including construction laborers, roofers, service workers, and other occupations. It is important to realize that electrical safety training is needed by electrical specialists and other construction trades that may be exposed.

NEW YORK CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Construction sites contain hazards for everyone, but they are especially dangerous for construction workers who spend their days there. If you or a loved have been seriously injured in a construction accident, Leading Law Firm Karasik Law Group will fight for you and your family’s right to compensation for every dollar you are entitled to under the law.  Call us to today at (718) 502-9112 to schedule a Free Consultation. And be sure to visit our website at www.karasiklawyers.com. At Karasik Law Group, winning matters. Win with us! We speak for the injured; our results speak for themselves.