There are many reasons that people work on construction sites. Whether they love the work, they like the consistency of projects, they make a good living, or they are skilled in construction, at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker we understand why people choose to work on construction sites.
That said, we also know that working on a construction site is one of the most dangerous jobs in California. In fact, for every 100,000 construction workers, there were an average of 3.3 injuries. There are an average of 815 fatal construction accidents each year – which makes up nearly 20% of all workplaces injuries.
There Are Laws in Place to Protect Construction Workers
Both federal law and state law requires that there is professional supervision of construction. However, this does not mean that accidents do not happen. After an accident occurs, it is all too common to find that the construction site did not have enough supervision, that workers were not provided with adequate safety training, or other issues caused by management.
Injuries Can Be Caused by Many Aspects of Working on a Construction Site
Construction site injuries can be caused by any number of factors. A worker can be injured when lifting heavy objects without proper equipment and / or training, while digging a trench, due to an electrical accident, while using power tools, by falling for scaffolding, while using a crane or while someone else is using a crane, and being exposed to hazardous, dangerous chemicals.
Common Injuries Caused by Construction Accidents
The above causes of injuries can lead to many types of injuries. Some of the most common include amputation or dismemberment, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones, brain trauma, and electrical shocks. Any of these injuries can be fatal or cause serious, life-long issues for the person who suffers the injury.
There are Two Potential Avenues for Compensation
If you are injured as a worker on a construction site, there are two main options to be reimbursed for your damages. First, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. The upside of this option is that you do not have to prove that your employer was at fault for negligent in the accident. You only have to prove that you were injured during the course of your job. The downside to this option is that you will not be able to claim all damages. For example, workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering.
Your second option is to file a personal injury claim. The main advantage to this option is that you can potentially get more compensation than you would on a worker’s compensation claim. The downside is that you do have to prove that your employer, or someone else, was at fault or negligent in your injury. At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker we can go over the options with you so that you can make the right choice on how to proceed. Call us now at 800-333-0000 to get started.
