The construction profession is inherently among the most hazardous professions in Sherman Oaks. Each year there are thousands of worker injuries and deaths in California because of construction site accidents. Construction injuries can be some of the most agonizing and intense. Further, with a long road to recovery, you and your loved ones might require significant compensation from those responsible. There might be a loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a family member suffer injury in a construction accident in California, reach out to the Sherman Oaks Construction Accident Lawyers at Drake Law Firm for a complimentary case consultation.
What Are the Fatal Four of Construction Accidents?
Out of 4,674 employee fatalities that happened nationwide in 2017, nearly 1,000 of them (or about 20%) happened in the construction industry. To put it another way, 1 in 5 occupational deaths annually occur on a construction site. These are frightening statistics and they point to a serious problem when it comes to construction accident injuries and death.
The leading causes of worker fatalities in the construction industry are:
These common causes of construction accidents and injuries are known as the Fatal Four. These causes are responsible for virtually 60% of worker fatalities in the construction industry.
Additionally, while not on the list of four, work zone highway accidents are also very common. There are several safety initiatives to address this ongoing issue. Along with criminal charges, when a driver hits a worker, there will generally be a civil claim too.
Do Construction Accidents Cause Serious Injuries Often?
In some instances, the true effects of an accident might take time to reveal themselves. Some injuries become considerably worse as days and even weeks pass. What might seem minor while at work may actually be a serious, possibly life-long injury. Sometimes adrenaline masks injuries or they simply take time to develop.
In other instances, a routine injury might be aggravated or worsen during the course of treatment. For instance, an infection developing during or after surgery, or a greater muscle tear occurring during rehabilitation. Injured workers are protected in these events by the laws of California but they are expected to actively seek relief from their injuries. Speaking with a personal injury attorney early can help secure your rights and enable you to recoup your damages.
That being said, construction accidents can cause severe or devastating injuries, such as:
Our construction accident attorneys in Sherman Oaks are here to help you receive compensation and we offer our services at no cost unless we win.
What Are the Top 10 Most Frequent Safety Violations at Construction Site?
The following is a list of the most frequent health and safety infractions on construction sites. These infractions can cause accidents and injuries that put employees' health and lives in danger. Often these infractions are discovered after an examination of the worksite by OSHA.
OSHA publishes this type of information to help avoid injuries, illnesses, and deaths on work sites. These incidents are easy to prevent when you follow safety regulations.
The ten most common construction infractions are:.
Should You Request a Free Construction Accident Case Assessment?
Under California legislation, an injured employee has the right to file and receive workers compensation benefits for injuries at work.
In addition to workers' compensation benefits, an injured construction worker can also have a third-party negligence claim. The claim could be against a contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or other individual or business. There can be a third-party claim as long as the guilty party is not the employer or co-worker of the injured or deceased individual. Typically, these types of cases involve either general negligence in preserving safe working conditions, or products liability for negligently maintained or manufactured equipment or vehicles.
If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed as a result of a construction accident, an accident lawyer needs to be consulted as promptly as possible to evaluate your situation and to protect your rights. Your Sherman Oaks construction accident attorney will investigate the cause of the accident, the extent of injuries and the responsible parties.
If the facts of your construction accident case do not call for a third-party negligence claim, you or your family still have a right to receive workers' compensation benefits.