Construction Accidents and Injuries

Construction is a necessary function for any growing community, but even the most safely run construction site can be a hazardous place to work. Dangerous equipment, heavy materials, and constant activity create unavoidable risks for injury. When negligent behavior is added to the equation, the potential for serious harm becomes unacceptably high.

More alarmingly, construction sites are also where a very large number of workplace deaths occur. In fact, over 20% of all workplace deaths involved private industry construction workers. 

Because of these known risks, the owners of construction sites, as well as their vendors and contractors, have a well understood obligation to operate with safety as their highest priority — both for the individuals working on the site and for visitors and bystanders.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgates extensive and routinely reviewed protocols for the safe operation of construction sites. Failure to adhere to those and other industry safety standards can constitute negligent behavior (a lack of reasonable and expected precaution).

Individuals who are injured as the result of another’s negligence may be entitled to compensation.

• Tripping hazards
• Poor training
• Inadequate fall protection
• Inadequate protection from falling objects
• Defective equipment
• Lack of supervision and site monitoring
• Unshielded electrical hazards
• Improperly installed scaffolding
• Crane failures
• Nail gun accidents
• Lack of appropriate safety equipment
• Improperly stored explosive materials
• Exposure to toxic compounds
• Lack of training and overwork
• Lack of guardrails
• Unsecured loads

• Falls
• Burns
• Shocks
• Heart attacks
• Electrocutions
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Broken bones
• Disc and joint injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Heat stress
• Hyperthermia
• Blade and saw lacerations
• Lifting injuries

Individuals actively working on a construction site who are injured must file a claim under workers’ compensation law to receive payments for their medical costs, lost wages, and, depending on the severity of the injury, disability benefits.

The first thing to do after suffering a workplace injury on a construction site is to notify your superior of the accident and request medical attention, then seek professional counsel from an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

There are numerous parties on a construction site at any given time, some of whom may not be directly responsible for the site. However, even third-party vendors have a responsibility to avoid negligent or potentially dangerous behavior. If a third-party other than an employer is also responsible for a construction injury, they can be sued or an insurance claim can be made against them in addition to filing for workers’ compensation.

Unlike workers’ compensation claims, third-party liability suits can result in compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress as a result of the injury. Third parties can include: contractors, engineers, architects, and the manufacturers of defective equipment that causes an injury on the construction site.

If a loved one is killed as the result of negligent behavior on a construction site, their surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit and potentially receive compensation for their loss.

At Pond Lehocky Giordano we are experienced in handling a wide array of construction-related accident and injury proceedings. We help individuals, including employees and bystanders, investigate the cause of their injury and file all appropriate paperwork — including claims for workers’ compensation and/or Social Security Disability Insurance.

If a negligent party is involved, we will collect all available evidence and help determine who was responsible for the injury.

Construction Roles We Represent

• Boilermakers
• Carpenters
• Construction workers
• Demolition workers
• Electricians
• Elevator mechanics
• Fencers
• Glaziers
• Insulation installers
• Iron workers
• Laborers
• Landscapers
• Masons
• Millwrights
• Painters
• Pile drivers
• Pipefitters
• Plasterers
• Plumbers
• Power line technicians
• Roofers
• Sheet metal workers
• Sprinkler fitters
• Steamfitters
• Welders

Gathering evidence for a potential insurance claim or lawsuit is usually the last thing on a person’s mind after they have been involved in a construction accident. Securing medical attention must always be the first priority, but there are several details that will go a long way towards improving the chance of receiving full and speedy compensation:

• Find out who oversees the site and the specific area where the injury occurred. Get their name, role, and the name of their employer. Notify them that an injury has occurred.
• Document the scene by taking photos and videos with a smartphone or tablet, and send a copy of the files to your private email address.
• Obtain contact information from any witnesses who may have seen the injury occur or who were potentially aware of an unsafe condition at the construction site.

Statute of Limitations

Potential claimants have two years from the date of their accident to file a claim under the statute of limitations in most states.

From the moment you call, Pond Lehocky Giordano’s experienced workers’ compensation, personal injury, and products liability attorneys will begin investigating your injury and the construction site where it took place.

We’ll help you find out if all OSHA regulations were followed, identify if any parties breached their obligations to keep you safe, consult with medical experts to determine the extent of your injuries, and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

We offer a completely free consultation to discuss your case and will work tirelessly to protect your rights and assets.