Have you or someone you love been injured on or near a construction site? Alternatively, are you a construction worker who was injured in the course of doing your job? Belal Hamideh is an experienced Long Beach construction accident attorney who can represent your case and get you the maximum compensation for your injuries.
If you’ve been hurt on a construction site, whether you were a passerby or a worker, you very well could deserve compensation for your injuries. It’s always worth it to reach out to an attorney experienced with this kind of case.
What Are The Most Common Construction Accidents?
According to OSHA, roughly one-fifth of worker fatalities in private industry were in construction. Worse, you don’t have to be a construction worker to be injured on a construction site. Construction sites can be dangerous, even for those with the proper training. No matter who you were or what caused your accident, Belal Hamideh can help you to receive the medical care as well as the compensation you deserve. The following are the most common types of construction accidents:
- Falls. These are the most common construction accidents. Falls can occur on a site in a multitude of ways: defective railings, weak ladders, inappropriate scaffolding, and many other hazards.
- Equipment Accident. Construction sites require heavy equipment. When this equipment falls on a person or otherwise strikes them, it can lead to serious injuries and worse. Cranes, ladders, even toolboxes, hammers, and more – a little less than one out of every ten construction accident injuries are caused by equipment.
- Electrocution. There are so many different kinds of electrical equipment on a construction site that electrocution injuries are all too common. Power tools, faulty electric wiring, lighting, and others — are serious injuries that could strike a worker or passer-by at any time.
- Fires. The potential for fire on a construction site is higher than it might be elsewhere. These destructive fires can take a toll on construction workers and others alike.
- Caught Between. A dangerous situation that’s more common than many realize, construction workers are often at risk of being caught between heavy machinery, bulky equipment, and moving vehicles.
- Improper Placement. With so many materials in and around a construction site, the odds are too high that something will be placed in such a way that people could potentially trip and fall over it (or worse).
- Lack of Signage. Holes, ditches, and other dangerous areas abound in or near construction sites. If they aren’t properly marked, construction workers, as well as folks passing by, could potentially injure themselves.
- Not Enough Safety Equipment/Improper Use. Hard hats, gloves, goggles, and more — whether it’s construction workers, visitors, or anyone else on site, the lack of safety equipment too often leads to serious injuries.
Those are just some of the more common reasons for construction accidents. There are many others.
Why Do Construction Site Accidents Happen?
The truth is that, unfortunately, construction accidents could happen for any number of reasons. Construction workers do their best, but they’re often under strict deadlines. So, it’s possible that they work themselves until they’re fatigued, potentially leading to dangerous mistakes. With so much going on on a construction site, they could be distracted as well.
Many construction workers have been working for several years. So, repetitive motion accidents, ones that come from making the same gestures over and over again, can also be common. Too often, construction companies try to “cut corners,” by getting around one safety requirement, type of equipment, or another. No matter how you’re injured on a construction site, we can fight to make sure you get what you deserve.
Which Construction Site Accidents Can Be Considered Catastrophic Injuries?
Catastrophic injuries are, short of death, some of the most severe injuries that a person can suffer. These injuries are, generally, associated with disfigurement, brain injury/damage, loss of limbs, and so forth. For the most part, these injuries require medical treatment that can be complex and long-lasting. It’s entirely possible that those suffering these kinds of injuries will never fully recover (or recover at all). Even those that do may require rehab and extensive time in a medical facility. Some types of catastrophic injuries suffered on a construction site are:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions, severe trauma to the head
- Skull fractures
- Loss of consciousness
- Amputation of limbs
- “Crush” injuries, that crush limbs or even the body
- Paralysis from spinal cord injuries
- Burn injuries from dangerous chemicals
- Fractures
- Internal bleeding/internal organ damage
Again, those are just some catastrophic injuries that could occur on a construction site. There are many others.
Common Equipment-related Injuries at a Construction Site
The heavy equipment used daily at a construction site can lead to any number of accidents. Even the safest, most conscientious construction worker is at risk of an equipment-related injury and accident. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Falls. Whether you’re in a crane, on scaffolding, or in other, similar positions, these are some of the most common equipment-related injuries. Often, entering and exiting equipment is the most dangerous time, or when trying to reach the controls (which may be placed several feet from the surface).
- Electrocution. The heavy equipment used on many construction sites is often placed close to live power lines. Alternatively, the heavy equipment could be defective, leading to electrocution and worse.
- Cuts. Saws, blades, and similar types of equipment can cause accidents on construction sites.
- Burns. Welding and metalworking equipment can harm even an experienced construction worker at a moment’s notice.
- Rollovers. Unfortunately, these are some of the most common types of construction accidents. When a too-heavy load is placed on a piece of equipment or the equipment is used on uneven ground, a dangerous rollover could occur.
- Collisions. Backhoes, trucks, and other motor vehicles all too often collide with vehicles and other kinds of equipment.
While those are the most common, there are many other kinds of equipment-related accidents on construction sites.
What Should I Do If I Suffer An Accident at a Construction Site?
If you’re a construction worker injured on a construction site, the very first thing to do is to get medical attention as soon as possible. You may feel “fine,” you may feel as if you can go back to work. But, many injuries suffered on construction sites can be internal, the full extent of which won’t be known for a period of time. The best course of action is to get medical attention immediately.
Additionally, let your employer know. There’s nothing wrong or “weak” about telling them; it’s the right thing to do. If you can do so safely, document what may be important at the site as well. Take pictures of the equipment, the environment, your injuries, and more. These can help your case. Then, reach out to a construction accident attorney in Long Beach with experience in construction accident cases.
What Information Do I Need to Show to Start a Construction Site Accident Case?
To have a successful construction accident case, you need to be able to show that the defendant (whoever it is you sue for their negligence) owed you a legal obligation or duty. If you were a construction worker who was injured on the job, for example, your employer had a duty to make sure that you worked on a safe construction site, with properly functioning equipment, all of the appropriate safety protocols followed, and so forth.
Additionally, you have to be able to show that the defendant did not meet that duty or obligation. Furthermore, you must show that the accident was caused at the construction site. Lastly, you must show that you (the plaintiff) were injured. Those are the basics. If you believe you have that (or even some of it) it’s worth reaching out to an experienced attorney.
Don’t Wait Too Long!
If you’ve been injured on a construction site, you want to sue as quickly as you can. Depending on your case, you have a finite time period within which you can sue. A majority of personal injury cases in California have a two-year statute of limitations. The last thing you would ever want is to have had a viable case that could have brought you significant compensation, only to have never filed it.
Even beyond the statute of limitations, some evidence may not be available later on. Witnesses move, leave town, or sometimes forget things. Should surveillance video have caught your accident, it may be erased over a period of time. Environmental evidence (such as skid marks, fallen trees, damage to the construction site itself, and the like) can be fixed or disappear as well. Besides, the sooner you reach out to an experienced attorney, the sooner they can get to work on your case.
Are Construction Site Accidents a Workers Comp or a Personal Injury Case?
If you’re a construction worker who was injured on the job in California, then your case is a workers comp case. However, if another party was involved in your workplace accident in addition to your employer, then you can also file a personal injury claim. Perhaps the equipment you were injured by was defective, or someone other than your employer was also responsible for your injuries. If so, then you may very well also have a personal injury case.
This is one more reason why it’s so important to talk to a construction accident attorney who has experience with these kinds of cases. You don’t want to “leave money on the table,” so to speak, by only filing a workers comp case when you may have also had a personal injury case, too.
What Are You Entitled To in a Construction Site Accident Case?
In a construction accident case, you can be compensated for the injuries that you suffered. Your compensation could take the form of medical bills, for example. In the wake of a construction accident, you may have had to pay for doctor’s visits, medication, therapy, rehab, surgery, and more.
Additionally, if you had to miss time at work due to your injuries, you could receive compensation to make up for those “lost wages.” Should your injuries prove more permanent, you could receive compensation for your loss of earning capacity, such as the income you would have earned had you not suffered the injury. If it should come to pass that you can’t return to your job due to your injuries (or return to it in the same capacity) you can receive compensation there as well.
Non-economic damages are also a form of compensation you could receive. These compensate you for pain and suffering, such as any disability or disfigurement that affects you physically or even emotionally. You can even receive compensation for your diminished quality of life and much more. We can help you to receive the maximum compensation for what you’ve been through.
How Much is a Construction Site Accident Settlement Worth?
CASE STUDY
Neck Injury With Successful Surgery ($175,000)
Client fell at a construction site and required neck surgery. The treating doctors said the client recovered 100% and had no permanent damage. Defense didn’t make an offer so we set the case for trial. Our office recovered $175,000 for the client
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The above was one of our clients who, just like you, came across this site because they thought they might have a case. Then, they reached out to us and we took their case, helping them to receive the maximum compensation. Now, every case is different. Their compensation may not be the same as yours. We provide this example only to show how the process typically works, not to give an exact number. Every case is different. Your case and situation are unique. We can help you to receive the compensation that’s right for your case.
Contact a Long Beach Construction Site Accident Attorney
If you’ve been through a construction accident, you deserve to be compensated for it. With everything your recovery entails, you don’t want to have to worry about your case. That’s just one of the reasons that so many have turned to us. We can take your case and help you to receive everything that you deserve. You can reach us through this site or by calling.