Call for a Free Consultation : 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT

The Most Common Types of Construction Accidents

The So-Called “Fatal Four” Account for Almost Two-Thirds of Construction Site Fatalities

The Most Common Types of Construction AccidentsIt’s common knowledge that working on a residential or commercial construction project can be one of the most dangerous vocations in the world. You’re often working high above the ground, and you’re around power tools, heavy equipment, ladders and scaffolding.

In studies done by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it has been shown that nearly six of every ten fatal accidents on a construction site fall into one of four categories, leading authorities to dub these types of accidents the “fatal four.”

  • Falls from heights—This is far and away the single biggest cause of construction site deaths, accounting for 36% of construction site fatalities nation wide. In the most recent OSHA study, 349 of the 874 construction site fatalities in 2015 were caused by falls from heights—upper levels of high-rise projects, ladders, scaffolding, roofs, cranes, cherry pickers and other construction equipment. Not surprisingly, OSHA reported an increase in 2015 of citations issued for failure to install or erect safety guardrails or barriers, failure to maintain or properly use ladders and scaffolding, and negligence in setting up scaffolding.
  • Electrocution—During the same period, 74 construction workers lost their lives when they came into contact with live electrical current, either through overhead power lines or live wires left exposed during installation.
  • Falling objects—Almost as many construction employees (73) died in 2015 after being struck by falling debris, construction materials, tools and other items.
  • In-between accidents—Less than two percent (12) of construction fatalities in 2015 occurred when workers were caught and squeezed to death between heavy equipment and something else, like other equipment, building material, or a structure.

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

Send us an e-mail today or call us at 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment.

Evening and weekend meetings can be arranged upon request. We’ll come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

Third Party Actions for Construction Site Injuries

Construction Site Injuries

When you’ve been hurt on a construction site, your first course of action will often be to file a workers’ compensation claim. In many instances, that will be your “exclusive remedy,” which means that your only recourse to recover monetary damages for your losses is through the New Jersey workers’ compensation system.

There are, however, situations where you are not limited by the workers’ compensation laws, where you may file what is known as a “third party claim” in a civil court. Here’s how it works.

The workers’ compensation laws are in place to cover situations where there was negligence or carelessness by your employer or a fellow employee. If your injuries were caused entirely by wrongful acts by your employer or a co-worker, then you may only seek benefits through a workers’ compensation claim. However, if any unrelated party contributed to or caused your injuries, you may bring a legal action against that unrelated party in a court of law. Some examples of third party liability include:

  • Injuries caused by the careless design or manufacture of tools or equipment on the jobsite
  • Injuries caused in a motor vehicle accident involving a person who is not your employer or a co-employee
  • Injuries caused by workers or vendors at an adjoining work site

There are circumstances, where the injury was caused in part by your employer or a co-employee and in part by a third party, where you can file a workers’ compensation claim simultaneously with a civil suit. However, you cannot recover twice for the same loss—if you recover for medical expenses in a workers’ compensation claim, you can’t recover for those same expenses in a court of law.

Contact Us Now

Don’t run the risk that evidence will be lost— contact us online or call our office today at 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment. Your first consultation is free. We are available evenings and weekends upon request. We’ll also travel to your home or the hospital, if necessary.

We handle all personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis. We won’t charge any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your losses.

The Most Deadly Construction Site Accidents

The Fatal Four Accidents that Cause Most Construction Site Deaths

The Most Deadly Construction Site AccidentsIf you work in the construction industry, no one has to tell you it’s a dangerous occupation—in fact, the most deadly job in the country, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Statistics gathered by OSHA show that nearly 1,000 construction workers lost their lives in work-related accidents in 2015, and that about two of every three deaths were caused by four different types of accidents—what industry officials refer to as the “fatal four.”

Falls from Heights

Almost every construction job requires that you work at some elevation above the ground, whether it’s a single family home or a skyscraper. More than one of every three deaths in 2015 stemmed from a fall from a significant height. Statistics show a variety of causes, including:

  • Failure to construct, maintain or assemble a scaffold
  • Improper use of ladders, buckets, cranes or other equipment
  • Lack of appropriate guard rails or barriers, or poorly constructed/maintained safety barriers

Electrocution

Nearly ten percent (8.6%) of those killed died when they came into contact with live electrical current, either in the form of loose wiring or by making contact with an overhead power line.

Falling Objects

Likewise, about ten percent of the deaths in 2015 resulted when construction workers were struck by falling objects, from building materials and tools to jobsite debris or heavy equipment. OSHA officials say most could have been avoided with the use of appropriate barriers.

Caught-Between Accidents

According to OSHA, 66 construction workers died in 2015 when they were crushed between heavy equipment, building materials and other construction site structures.

Contact Our Office Today

Don’t wait another day—evidence may be lost! Your first consultation is free of charge. Contact us by e-mail or call us at 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment. Evening and weekend meetings can be arranged upon request. We’ll come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

Construction Site Product Liability Claims

construction-site-product-liability-claimsOne of the principal causes of injury on construction sites is tied to dangerous or defective products, including tools, machines, equipment and building materials. When you have been injured because of exposure to or the malfunction of a product, there are a number of legal theories that you can use to pursue damages:

  • Negligent manufacturing—This involves a breach of the duty to use reasonable care in the construction, assembly, fabrication or manufacture of a product. It might entail the use of substandard materials, negligence in training or monitoring employees, failure to set up appropriate manufacturing procedures, or inadequate testing
  • Negligent design—This claim involves a failure to consider potential safety risks when designing a product. With negligent design, it doesn’t matter whether the product was properly manufactured—the risk of injury stems from design flaws. For example, a ladder that has high center of gravity, making it susceptible to falling over
  • Negligent marketing—The manufacturer or marketer of a consumer product has a duty to inform potential users of any safety risks tied to a product, whether they are actually known or can reasonably be deduced. Accordingly, there must be labels, on the product or the box, identifying such risks.

Third Party Actions

With most work-related injuries, your exclusive remedy will be workers’ compensation. However, since workers’ compensation applies only to instances of negligence by an employer or co-worker, product liability claims typically don’t fall under this limitation. If the product was manufactured, designed or marketed by someone other than your employer or a co-employee, you can file a lawsuit for damages.

Contact Us to Protect Your Rights

In the aftermath of a personal injury, evidence can get lost and memories can fade. Don’t run the risk that you won’t be able to get full and fair compensation for your injuries. Contact our office online or call us at 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT to arrange a meeting. Evening and weekend appointments can be set up by request. We’ll also come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

We handle all personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis. There won’t be any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your losses.

The Most Common Types of Construction Accidents

construction-accidents

It’s common knowledge that working on a residential or commercial construction project is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Statistics
indicate that one of every 25 construction workers in America will sustain a non-fatal injury this year. Though general contractors and owners are aware of the risks and have a duty to take steps to protect the safety of workers, the desire to maximize profits by cutting corners still pervades and has serious consequences. Here are the most common types of construction accidents.

Falls from Heights

Far and away the single greatest cause of injury on a construction site is falls from heights, including ladders and scaffolding, accounting for one of every three construction site injuries. Too often, contractors don’t supervise the erection of scaffolding or monitor employees to ensure that ladders or scaffolding are properly set up. In addition, it’s not unusual for job sites to lack safety barriers on upper levels.

Slips and Falls

The most common factor contributing to jobsite slips and falls is the accumulation of trash, refuse or debris on a site. This includes building materials, tools and other equipment.

Falling Items

Whether it’s a high-rise or a single family home, there are often tools, building materials or debris left on upper levels. When these items fall to the ground, they can cause serious injury to anyone below.

Dangerous or Defective Tools, Equipment or Machinery

Power tools that misfire or breakdown, or heavy equipment that’s not properly maintained can cause serious injury.

Contact Attorney David J. Karbasian

Contact our office online or call us at 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment. Your first consultation is without cost or obligation. The sooner you call, the sooner you can move forward with your claim. We can accommodate evening or weekend meeting requests and will come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.

We handle all personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis. We won’t charge any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your losses.

© 2019 karbasianlaw All Rights Reserved.
Concept, Design & Hosting by GetLegal's Practice Builder Team Sitemap | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy