Accidents are a leading cause of death and cause countless injuries every year. They can happen at any time to anyone, but some environments are inherently more dangerous than others.
Areas with construction fall into the dangerous category. Even a home workshop can be an unsafe place in the wrong conditions. Between tools, electricity and sharp objects, there are a million and one ways to hurt yourself.
New York attorney Steven J. Schwartzapfel has seen it all working in a city that never stops building. He notes that many construction site injuries are serious and require that certain measures be taken to help the injured party. In some cases, disputes can occur over who’s at-fault and if negligence was a factor. That’s when injured parties need to consider hiring a New York construction accident lawyer.
Wondering what could happen to you in a construction zone? Below are three scenarios when construction accidents commonly occur.
Individuals Injuring Themselves While Building at Home
Going to a Home Depot class can give a person a false sense of confidence about their construction capabilities. DIYers also accept the risk of injury as a tradeoff for skirting the labor costs of hiring a pro. But doing small jobs around the house isn’t quite the same as handling a major project that involves construction.
Hand injuries are very common in home workshops. All it takes is one small slip to cut off a finger with a saw. Burns, scrapes, and smashing also occur when you work in a shop on a regular basis. It’s not a matter of if you’ll get injured but a matter of when.
Usually, human error is to blame. However, faulty equipment is another reason for workshop accidents. When that’s the case, the injured person will likely need to file a personal injury claim if they want compensation for medical treatment. But if you used a tool improperly or modified it in any way, then typically fault isn’t placed on the tool manufacturer.
Luckily, technology is helping many homeowners and DIYers minimize their risk. Today’s tools allow you to see what’s behind walls before cutting into them and screwdrivers with built-in voltage testers.
Injured While Walking by a Construction Zone
Have you noticed that there are more temporary covered walkways around construction sites these days? There have been a number of cases that involved a passerby being injured as they walked by a construction site. The most common injuries that can happen walking past a construction zone:
· Being struck by falling material or equipment
· Tripping over materials
· Being struck by machinery
Do you need to cross the street every time you see a construction zone? If there’s no covered walkway it could be a good idea. Further away you are the safer it is.
Construction Workers Injured on the Job
This is a big category. As you might imagine, construction laborer is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Like all physically demanding jobs that involve heavy machinery, the odds of being injured are much greater than the average worker. Add power tools and high elevations on top of that and a construction zone can be a regular minefield.
Statistically speaking, construction work is highly dangerous. Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the fatality rate at 18.1. In total, 220 construction laborers died in 2013 when the research data was collected.
Road construction is equally dangerous as building sites. Workers must set up layers of protection to prevent passing vehicles from encroaching on safety.
Common injuries include:
· Injuries from falls
· Burns
· Electrical shock
· Eye injuries
· Back injuries
· Broken bones
Most licensed construction businesses understand the high risk of the job and are properly insured to give employees workers comp. When a serious accident occurs there may need to be an investigation into whether or not OSHA standards were violated by the construction company or worker.
Accidents are a part of everyday life. That said, the activities and work we choose to do can make us more or less susceptible to injury. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept the repercussions of a construction-related injury that you feel was through no fault of your own. When in doubt, seek the counsel of an experienced accident attorney.
Tags: safety tips
