When Safety Fails – Dealing with Construction Accidents

October 8, 2012  |  Adriel B. Villarreal

There is no surprise that construction work is not only a physically demanding job, but also a dangerous one. When you are working hundreds of feet above the ground, standing on unstable structures or handling heavy equipment, there is a real risk of workers being injured in construction accidents.
Safety Doesn’t Always Come First
While there are plenty of laws, rules and regulations issued by OSHA and the Department of Labor, companies don’t always abide by them. With the high demand of getting jobs done quickly, safety measures are often overlooked in order to keep the job moving which causes accidents to happen.
Oftentimes, it can be difficult to really pinpoint who is actually to blame when there are numerous contractors and companies that can be working at the site of the accident. The blame can be passed back and forth and sometimes no one will accept responsibility for the incident.
The reason for these accidents could be from improper use of a piece of equipment, improper safety measures being taken or plain negligence. The blame may lie with the site owner, a supervisor, an independent contractor or an equipment manufacturer. However, sometimes there are multiple people at blame because of numerous safety measures that were not taken.
What to Do if You Are Injured
There are many different ways that you can suffer a personal injury on a construction site including:

• Falling from scaffolding
• Forklift Injuries
• Falling from a ladder
• Electrocution
• Site debris falling
• Crane Accidents
• Machine Accidents

Any of these construction accidents could cause injuries such as broken bones, paralysis or even death. Even if your injury seems to be minor, you should seek medical attention immediately. Often, an injury that seems little turns out to be much worse over time. In addition, if you continue working after suffering an injury, further damage could be done.
Usually treatment of these types of accidents is ongoing and can end up being very costly. Initial repair of the injury, hospital stays, pain management and rehabilitation costs can run you into the thousands upon thousands of dollars. Even with medical insurance, you can still be on the hook for a portion of these costs.
Moreover, the pain that results from your injuries could last for years and maybe even for the rest of your life. You could be left permanently impaired and an unable to work for a living. You may not even be able to take part in the hobbies and activities that you once enjoyed.
Every injury should be reported to the site supervisor and documented in an accident report. Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses for your own personal records. If possible, take pictures of the scene of the accident as well as of your injuries.
Determining Liability
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you could be left with large medical bills, an inability to work, a decreased quality of life and a loss of wages. In fact, injuries could lead to death and your family will be left to pick up the pieces.
As with construction accidents, someone should be held liable for your injuries. Since the resulting injuries of these cases can be so devastating, you will need a construction accident attorney, also known as a personal injury attorney, to help you recoup your losses.
Experienced attorneys, such as Barna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD., can wade through all the facts of the incident and determine which party or parties are directly responsible for your injuries. We have more than 50 years combined experience initiating lawsuits on behalf of victims of these types of construction accidents and have helped them find justice.
During your free consultation, one of our attorneys will take down the facts of your case and go over all your legal options as outlined by a court of law. Often times, the injured doesn’t have to endure a long trial because the case will result in a settlement.
If you have suffered from a construction injury, the construction accident attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD. are here to help you receive the compensation that you so very much not only need, but deserve.