The construction industry is one of the most dangerous areas of work for employees in the United States (or the entire world). Workers at construction sites are exposed to various hazards, heavy equipment, tools, and machinery. It is inevitable that workers are given sufficient protection gear and trained to keep themselves safe while working on the site.
When a construction accident occurs due to someone’s negligence, the impacted worker or his surviving family may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible. Worker’s compensation benefits provide financial relief to injured workers or family members of deceased workers, but when the severity of the accident is extensive, it may not be sufficient. Legal backing can help demand maximum compensation and financial coverage for lost earnings and normalcy of life.
Possible Types of Construction Accidents
Several hazards may present themselves on a work day at a construction site. A minor error or malfunction can result in serious casualties or even death. Some common types of construction accidents encountered are:
- Forklift accidents
- Scaffolding accidents
- Ladder accidents
- Crane accidents
- Slips and falls
- Machinery malfunction
- Short circuits
- Explosions and fires
- Boulders and heavy equipment falling on workers
- Electrocutions
- Equipment failure
- Improper clearance and disposal of construction debris
- Slippery floors
- Wall collapse due to poor construction
Causes of Construction Accidents
Not all construction accidents may involve human error. But it often turns out to be the result of someone’s act of negligence, leading to major accidents, serious injuries, and loss of several lives of workers.
When a construction accident is the result of negligence, the commonly encountered causes may be any of the following:
- Wiring mistakes
- Operator mistakes
- Unskilled or inexperienced operators
- Leaving heavy machinery unmanned while in running mode
- Insufficient protection gear provided to workers
- Lack of safety equipment available on site
Who is Liable?
The occurrence of a construction accident must be thoroughly investigated and the responsible party must be legally held liable for their wrongdoing. The construction company must take responsibility for providing sufficient protection to workers, and educating them about personal safety at the workplace. Proper safety regulations must be enforced as per the established rules by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Unfortunately, not every construction company follows these regulations strictly, resulting in accidents that have life-changing repercussions for the workers and their families. In the event of a worker’s injury or death, the negligent contractors, manufacturers of malfunctioned equipment, negligent architects or the owners of the property may need to be held answerable to a personal injury, wrongful death, or other construction accident.
A Winning Law Firm
When a worker sustains injuries, or his surviving family suffers from his death due to a construction accident, a personal injury lawsuit can provide them with the financial coverage for their losses and damages incurred, so that their road to recovery is made easier. The lost one will never come back but at least they will receive some serious financial help to offset that person’s loss of income and financial support.
A New York City construction accident attorney can make this happen. Some of the best in the entire region work for Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff (RMFW). RMFW has won millions of dollars for past clients and we continue to win lawsuits for people we represent. When they have no other direction to turn, they turn to us by calling 212-344-1000.
We have been around the block before and we know how to win cases. We have several winning strategies to pursue and we know the formula of success. You do not pay us anything until you are paid from the party who is responsible for this tragedy.
