Work injuries can happen anytime and anywhere. Some people also suffer from mental injuries, such as emotional stress, depression, and other mental illnesses. Because of the high level of risk involved in its operations, construction is considered one of the most dangerous industries.
According to CNBC News, the construction industry is among the top 10 dangerous industries in America.
The accidents at construction sites cause catastrophic injuries ranging from amputations, broken bones, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and wrongful death in extreme cases. Contact a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer about what to do after you sustain workplace injuries.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Construction injuries are caused due to different types of construction accidents. Some of them are as follows:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: As per the statistics given by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one of the most common causes of construction site injuries is slips and falls. This can cause severe injuries, even fatalities.
- Trenching and Excavation Accidents: Trenching is most commonly used on construction sites for plumbing and electrical wire drilling. This also helps in giving access to the underground area as well. Excavation and trenching accidents can be life-threatening. They can also cause catastrophic injuries. Some of the common accidents that can happen due to site trenching are trench collapse, electrocution, falls, and asphyxiation.
- Machinery or Equipment Failure: Many times workers get struck by some machinery or any motor vehicle while working at the construction site. Workers are often injured when machinery malfunction occurs.
- Dangerous toxins exposure: One of the biggest risks of death and serious injury is when workers are exposed to toxic chemicals and other dangerous substances. Some of the most common hazards are pesticides, asbestos, lead, and other flammable materials.
Injuries sustained at construction site accidents
• Stress Injuries:
Stress injuries can refer to either our physical condition or our mental condition. Musculoskeletal injuries like stress fractures are possible if you are constantly exerting heavy pressure on the bones. Physically demanding work such as lifting, carrying, hammering, and other typical construction tasks can lead to stress fractures over time.
• Loss of Hearing or Vision:
At construction sites, there may be a high risk of losing vision and/or hearing. Construction sites are notoriously noisy, with machinery dropping heavy debris, power tools being operated, and heavy-duty trucks moving large cargo to and from the site. Overexposure to hazardous noise levels over time could cause trauma to our ears resulting in hearing loss. Pieces of debris, hazardous chemicals, and welding sparks are similarly dangerous to our eyesight.
Need Legal Help? Contact Personal Injury Lawyer
After experiencing any construction site accidents or injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. You can attain worker’s compensation insurance benefits. However, the insurance claim may vary depending on different situations.
If the employer does not have worker’s compensation insurance, you can seek different legal options by consulting an experienced lawyer. Construction incidents frequently lead to severe injuries as a consequence of the inherent peril of the work environment. A skilled personal injury lawyer can assist injured workers in obtaining the necessary funds for their medical bills, lost wages, and long-term recovery by guiding them through complex legal cases.