Every day, construction workers throughout the East Bay face significant danger. Though the vast majority of construction workers make it home safely at the end of the day, sometimes a worker gets into an accident and ends up in the hospital — if he or she survives.
Construction injuries are one of the most common varieties of workplace accidents. In 2009, more than 9 percent of nonfatal on-the-job injuries and illnesses suffered in the United States were sustained by construction workers. Here are some of the most common types of construction accidents in the United States:
- Falls from scaffolding or other heights
- Collapsing trenches or buildings
- Electric shocks and electrocutions
- Being struck by falling tools or other objects
- Being struck or crushed by machinery
- Getting run over by large trucks
- Fires and explosions
Besides sudden catastrophes as these, construction workers are often vulnerable to repetitive motion injuries, heatstroke and exposure to toxic materials like lead. Over time, these can lead to terrible pain and disease.
When these horrific incidents occur, it is often the result of negligence by the contractor or the manufacturer. Parties that fail to take reasonable steps to protect worker safety must compensate workers for any resulting injuries. This money can help pay for medical bills, lost wages and other damages you have suffered.
Proving fault is often complicated, but an experienced personal injury attorney will know how to help you build your case. A conversation with a lawyer will answer your questions and make your legal options clear.
