Construction sites are incredibly unsafe places to work. Around one in five worker fatalities occur in the construction industry, according to OSHA. Accidents often happen on these sites because they are loud and workers cannot hear each other, workers use heavy machinery, and they perform dangerous jobs, sometimes alongside untrained colleagues.
If you work on a construction site, here are the common accidents and injuries you have to watch out for every day, as well as what to do if you get injured in an accident.
Common Accidents
Some of the accidents that occur most often on construction sites include falling from heights, like a piece of scaffolding or machinery, slips and falls, falling debris, explosions, scaffolding or trench collapses, and electric shock.
Common Injuries
Some common injuries that happen to workers on construction sites include head and back injuries, burns, broken bones, cuts, lacerations, heatstroke, repetitive movement injuries, hearing and vision loss, and limb or digit loss.
What to Do if You’re in a Construction Site Accident
If you get injured on the job, you may be able to file either a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury claim depending on who was responsible for the injury. If it was your employer, it’ll fall under a workers’ comp claim, and if it was a third party like a manufacturer, it would be a personal injury claim. As soon as you are injured, tell your boss and get it documented in writing. Collect evidence like photographs of your injury and witness statements from people who saw what happened, and then go to a hospital for treatment. For legal assistance, call up a personal injury lawyer, who can get you the compensation you deserve.
Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you got injured in a construction site accident and now want to claim damages, then contact the personal injury firm Gash & Associates for help. Gash & Associates assist clients throughout Westchester County. We offer free consultations, so get in touch now by calling (914) 328-8800.
