Construction accidents can take many different forms, but they often result from malfunctioning machinery or unsafe work environments. Workers who suffer injuries on-the-job may benefit from the assistance of a construction accident attorney.
Top Ten Most Common Construction Accidents
According to the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the 10 most common construction accidents are:
- Falling to a lower level, such as falling off a roof to the ground, falling from a collapsing structure, or falling into a body of water
- Getting struck by a non-transport vehicle or machine equipment, such as a forklift or front-loader
- Getting struck by a falling object or equipment, such as cement blocks or tools
- Getting struck by fallen debris, such as broken roof tiles or tree branches
- Getting struck by a vehicle, such as a truck
- Direct or indirect electrocution, such as electrocution by direct contact with electric wires or indirect contact with conducting objects connected to a power source
- Getting caught in or compressed by construction materials, such as dirt, cement, or loose objects
- Getting caught in or compressed by machinery or equipment, such as automatic gates or steamrollers
- Getting caught in or compressed by stationary objects, such as electric wires or wall beams
- Getting crushed or struck by collapsing structures, such as fallen scaffolding, landslides, or cave-ins
Any of these construction accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even the loss of a loved one. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a construction accident, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a liable party that contributed to the incident.
Construction Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
For the safety of every person at a construction site, companies and managers must abide by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. Poorly-run construction sites that do not abide by these guidelines put both workers and civilians at risk and increase the probability of severe injuries.
Catastrophic injuries that often result from dangerous work conditions include:
- Traumatic brain injuries resulting from struck-by accidents
- Spinal cord injuries caused by crushing or struck-by accidents
- Internal bleeding or organ damage caused by crushing or struck-by accidents
- Broken limbs caused by fall accidents
- Heart attack or stroke caused by electrocutions
- Loss of limb caused by crushing or struck-by accidents
In worst cases, these injuries can be fatal, leaving the surviving family to deal with the damages beyond their emotional loss. Whether you’re coping with a permanent disability or a loved one’s death, a wrongful death attorney can help you stand up to the institution that should have put you in better care.
You May Have a Right to Recover Your Damages Through Compensation
Pursuing compensation as a construction worker can be complex; however, employees may be able to sue third parties (e.g. general contractors, manufacturers, property managers, electricians, designers, and architects). Non-subscriber employees (those whose employers don’t provide workers’ compensation benefits) may be able to sue their employer directly.
Construction accident victims can pursue various types of damages that apply to their case, such as:
- Medical care costs, both for current and future treatment
- Pain and suffering, both emotional and physical pain
- Lost wages due to time away from work during recovery
- Reduced earning potential if your injuries force you to take a lower-paying position or leave your career entirely
- Emotional distress, including psychological trauma from the accident
- Permanent loss of mobility or physical disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life, including loss of joy in former hobbies and activities
- Other out-of-pocket expenses, such as caretaking service costs or prescription medication costs
You may pursue compensation for other damages not mentioned in this article, depending on how the construction accident affected you or your loved one.
Surviving Families Can Demand Compensation for a Loved One Who Passed
Unfortunately, slip or trip and fall accidents led to 35.3 percent of fatal workplace accidents in the construction industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
If you lost a loved one in a construction accident, you may be able to recover some of the financial losses you suffered since their passing as well as some compensation for your emotional loss. These wrongful death damages often include:
- Funeral arrangement expenses, including burial or cremation service costs
- Medical debts left behind by your loved one
- Loss of financial support, including benefits, from your loved one
- Loss of parental guidance
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Loss of inheritance
A Construction Accident Lawyer from Our Firm Can Help You Build a Case
If you decide to work with a construction accident attorney, our legal team can handle your case from beginning to end. As your legal representatives, we’ll offer to:
- Investigate the cause of the construction accident to determine which party or parties we may hold liable for your injuries
- Gather evidence to support your claim or lawsuit
- Handle communications with all involved parties on your behalf, such as with insurance adjusters, legal attorneys, and court officials
- Prepare and submit legal paperwork within their respective deadlines, which includes filing your case within Texas’ statute of limitations (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003)
- Attending out-of-court meetings with the other party to potentially negotiate settlement agreement terms on your behalf
- Preparing your case for trial if necessary
Our legal team can also counsel you on legal decisions should you want opinions on how to proceed with your case. We’ll also provide updates on how your case is progressing.
Our Firm Has a History of Winning Multimillion-Dollar Settlements for Clients
Our legal team at Domingo Garcia has won several settlement deals and verdicts for clients who have suffered injuries in construction accidents. Some of our top earnings include:
- $26.5 million verdict for a client who suffered injuries as a result of the construction company failing to provide adequate fall protection equipment training
- $12.5 million settlement for a client who suffered injuries in a gas explosion accident
- $5.5 million settlement for a client who became a paraplegic as a result of another party failing to cover a roof opening
Our attorneys aim to fight for compensation that fairly covers your damages. We can discuss how your construction accident has affected your life, then calculate an estimate to strive for when pursuing compensation on your behalf.
Call Domingo Garcia to Get a Free Consultation About Your Case
If you or a loved one suffered an injury in one of the most common construction accidents listed in this article, you can work with a construction accident lawyer to build a claim or lawsuit. Our legal team at Domingo Garcia serves construction accident victims in Texas and would be more than happy to take your case on. We can give you updates as we work on your case, so you can recover at your own pace.
Call Domingo Garcia today to get a free consultation with one of our team representatives.
