Construction Accidents
Working at a construction site is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Construction accidents injure or kill thousands of workers every year. In fact, construction workers account
for one in five workplace fatalities in the United States. These
accidents occur when the safety engineers and safety programs that
construction companies are obligated to enact are either negligent or
simply absent. No matter what the cause or nature of the injury, the
worker is entitled to some kind of compensation. A construction accident attorney diligently pursues these claims to ensure injured workers are awarded money for any and all damage suffered.
Typical Accident Benefits
When a construction worker is injured on the job, he or she cannot, in most instances, sue the employer for work-related injuries. A third party, however, could be liable for negligence when an injury occurs on the job site. Even if the worker is injured due to his or her own carelessness, compensation is available in most states through the Workers Compensation Act (WCA). Benefits such as weekly payments and medical expenses are awarded to injured workers. But, too often, these are simply not enough to cover the pain and suffering associated with an on-the-job injury. Weekly payments are based on a percentage of worker’s weekly earnings and on the severity of the disability, whether it is a temporary total disability or a permanent partial disability. Also, medical expenses cover only those treatments deemed necessary and related to the specific work injury.
Third Party Liability
Certain circumstances assign liability to a third party for job-site injuries. The owners, architects, contractors, and equipment manufacturers can all be held liable for accident’s arising from insufficient safety measures. General contractors, as well as all subcontractors, are responsible for providing appropriate safety provisions that ensure a construction site is reasonably safe.
They are obligated to:
Examples of equipment used on a construction site includes (but is not limited to) the following:
Typical Accident Benefits
When a construction worker is injured on the job, he or she cannot, in most instances, sue the employer for work-related injuries. A third party, however, could be liable for negligence when an injury occurs on the job site. Even if the worker is injured due to his or her own carelessness, compensation is available in most states through the Workers Compensation Act (WCA). Benefits such as weekly payments and medical expenses are awarded to injured workers. But, too often, these are simply not enough to cover the pain and suffering associated with an on-the-job injury. Weekly payments are based on a percentage of worker’s weekly earnings and on the severity of the disability, whether it is a temporary total disability or a permanent partial disability. Also, medical expenses cover only those treatments deemed necessary and related to the specific work injury.
Third Party Liability
Certain circumstances assign liability to a third party for job-site injuries. The owners, architects, contractors, and equipment manufacturers can all be held liable for accident’s arising from insufficient safety measures. General contractors, as well as all subcontractors, are responsible for providing appropriate safety provisions that ensure a construction site is reasonably safe.
They are obligated to:
- warn of possible hazards on the site
- hire employees who will use caution while working
- coordinate job safety
- check that all safety specifications are followed
Examples of equipment used on a construction site includes (but is not limited to) the following:
- scaffolding
- power tools
- hoists
- derricks
- cranes
- conveyors
- woodworking tools
- ladders
- winches
- trucks
- graters
- scrapers
- tractors
- bulldozers
- forklifts
- back hoes
- heavy equipment
- boilers
- pressure vessels
- gas detectors
- other types of construction equipment
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