1086 construction and extraction industry workers lost their lives on the job in 2022. Construction and extraction workers, along with those involved in transportation and material movement, made up over half of all occupational fatalities during that year.
Injuries from construction accidents can happen to anyone, not only those employed in the industry. People who stroll close to work sites may potentially get hurt. Construction sites are hazardous environments where innocent spectators may suffer a range of injuries.
If you are someone who has been injured or you know someone who is the victim of a construction accidents, you can get help from Albany construction accident lawyers. Keep reading to know more.
Construction accidents – What are the common reasons?
There are many reasons behind the increasingly large number of construction accidents. Here are a few top causes that you should be aware of:
- Being hit by falling debris or heavy objects
- Slips and falls, tripping over heavy equipment, or normal falls
- Electrocutions
- Being caught in between heavy materials or in a trench
- Crane accidents
- Being exposed to harmful chemicals at sites
- Welding accidents
- Power tool accidents
- Motion Injuries
- Ground collapse
- Explosions and fires
Construction accident – Know the rights of workers
If you were harmed while working on a construction site, you might be able to sue the person or company that caused the incident, or you might be able to file a workers’ compensation claim.
What claim can you pursue after a construction site injury?
You usually do not have the right to sue your employer if you are injured at work. Rather, you have to use the workers’ compensation system to get paid for your losses.
Unlike in a typical personal injury lawsuit, you do not need to provide proof of fault in order to file a workers’ compensation claim. You only need to demonstrate that your work-related activities directly contributed to your illness or injuries. You will receive payment for your medical expenses and missed income, and you might be eligible for short-term, long-term, partial, or permanent, disability payments if you can prove this.
In the case of a fatal accident on a building site, workers’ compensation funds may be awarded to family members who are still alive.
Regretfully, a workers’ compensation policy does not provide for damages for mental distress or pain and suffering.
Rights of bystanders in a construction accident
You may get injuries in a construction accident even if you are not employed on a building site but are visiting or strolling close to one. You might suffer serious injuries or possibly lose your life if, for instance, a crane collapses on you while you are strolling on the sidewalk next to a building site.
When they are hurt in a construction accident, onlookers who are not employed on the site may bring legal action against the parties at fault. This could apply to the developer, the owner of the land or building that is being built, and/or the construction company.
Collaborate with a personal injury attorney, workers’ compensation attorney, or both if you are injured in a construction site accident; the choice will depend on the specifics of your case.