Injuries Resulting from Construction Site Accidents

 Posted on June 06, 2018 in Construction Accidents

Inhabitants of Chicago and the surrounding areas know that construction work is a never-ending process. Although there are many legal protections and regulation in place to try to prevent accidents, construction sites can be quite dangerous. If you have been hurt while visiting or working on a construction site, you may be able to recover costs associated with your injury through a personal injury lawsuit.

Causes of Construction-Related Injuries

Construction workers represent just 6 percent of the total workforce in the United States, and yet they account for 20 percent of all work-related fatalities. Construction work can be full of hazards and dangerously powerful equipment. Injuries and deaths on construction sites can be caused by tripping and falling, electrocution, mishandled equipment, unsecured scaffolding, motor vehicle accidents and more. Of course, those who work in construction know that there are certain risks associated with the profession, and employers or supervisors cannot prevent every negative incident that occurs on a construction site. However, when a worker or passerby is injured or killed due to negligence, someone will usually be held liable.

Violating Safety Regulations is Negligence

The construction industry is considered one of the most dangerous industries to work in due to elevated work sites, powerful machinery, electrical equipment, harmful chemicals, and unstable structures and other hazards. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has enacted safety regulations to help reduce the occurrence of injury and fatality. Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations violate these rules through shortcuts and mistakes such as:

• Overloading equipment or machinery;
• Inadequately training employees;
• Not providing appropriate safety equipment or protective gear;
• Disregarding proper lock-out/tag-out procedures;
• Applying insufficient or incorrect safety labels;
• Failing to repair or maintain broken tools or other equipment; and
• Not warning employees or others of imminent risks.

When contractors, foremen, supervisors, and other workers do not take reasonable precautions to prevent injury or death, they can be held lawfully liable for their negligence.

Who Is Liable for Injuries?

Construction accidents are often devastating. Broken bones, amputated limbs, burns, traumatic brain injury, and permanent disability have resulted from negligence on construction sites. If you or a loved one were injured while on a construction site, you may be able to receive compensation for damages. Depending on the circumstances, the responsible parties could include general contractors, subcontractors, equipment suppliers, architects, product manufacturers, and others.

Let Us Help

If you have been injured on a construction site due to another’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. Contact the experienced Orland Park personal injury attorneys at Schwartz Injury Law today by calling 708-888-2160.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2048&ChapterID=57

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2430&ChapterID=68