San Bernardino Construction Accident Attorney

There are around 6.5 million people who work at construction sites in the United States. Unfortunately, the fatal injury rate for this industry is higher than the national average for all other industries. Since construction-related injuries are so debilitating and difficult to recover from, it is important that individuals get a construction accident attorney to help after they have had an accident.

What Are the Types of Construction Injuries?

You have to work to earn a living, and the construction industry pays decent wages. The only problem is that construction jobs can lead to devastating accidents and injuries. You assume that your employer took precautions to prevent accidents, and you hope that your co-workers are adequately trained. Unfortunately, there are many potential breakdowns in this system that can lead to severe injuries and potential deaths. Whether you are working in San Bernardino or other parts of California, the following types of construction accidents and injuries can happen when you are working.

In 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) tracked 4,674 worker fatalities across every industry. A total of 20.7 percent of these fatalities were in the construction industry. This means that construction workers make up one out of five worker deaths.

There were four leading causes of death in the construction industry. The main causes were falls, getting struck by an object, electrocutions, and getting caught between things. An estimated 39.2 percent of deaths happened because of falling. Deaths from getting caught between or in things occur because workers get compressed or caught in equipment or objects. They may also get caught, struck or crushed by a collapsing structure or other materials.

Employers have a duty to protect workers from foreseeable hazards. When employers do not provide the training or protective measures employees need, it can result in falls, electric shocks, and arc blasts. Workers can become injured because of a failure to use proper personal protective equipment or a repetitive motion injury. If trenches or scaffolding collapse, workers can also develop injuries.

Construction Injury Statistics

In 2016, there were a total of 10.3 million employees working in the field of construction. This was an increase of 16 percent from 2012. Thanks to the continued growth of the construction industry, there are even more workers who are employed in this field today. Right now, 92.5 percent of construction companies are made up of small businesses that have fewer than 20 employees. Almost half of the deaths that occur on construction sites happened in companies that have ten or fewer employees.

Today, the leading cause of death in the construction industry is falling. An estimated 10 percent of construction site workers will become injured each year. In total, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that there are around 150,000 construction site injuries every year. While falls were the main source of injuries, contact with equipment was another leading cause of injuries.

Most injuries happened to workers who were between the ages of 25 to 34. These injuries typically affected the workers’ spines, backs, and trunks. An estimated 15 percent of workers’ compensation costs go toward workers who were hurt in the construction industry.

The Causes and Effects of Construction Accidents

If you are suffering from a moderate or severe injury, you may want to talk to a construction accident lawyer about your options. While some injuries happen because of bad luck, other injuries occur because of the employer’s negligence. A construction accident attorney can help you find ways to handle the legal and financial consequences of your injury. Depending on where you work and the situation, you may become injured through one of the following accidents.

• Burns
• Crane accidents
• Welding accidents
• Insufficient training
• Hoist accidents
• Exposure to toxic substances
• Falling from scaffolding
• Electric shocks
• Improper maintenance or use of equipment
• Explosions and fires
• Poor safety precautions or oversight
• Falling materials like bricks or rocks
• Chemical spills

As a result of your injury, you may develop a brain injury and find it difficult to focus or concentrate. You may suffer from back, trunk, or spine problems. Other than physical ailments, you may also suffer from emotional, psychological, and financial difficulties after an accident. An attorney can help you file a lawsuit against a negligent party for costs like property damage, counseling costs, loss of wages, medical expenses, physical therapy, and ongoing living expenses. You can also seek compensation for the pain and suffering that resulted from your accident.

How You Can Start Recovering After a Construction Accident

While physical recovery may not be possible, you can get the support you need with the help of a construction accident lawyer. After suffering from a construction accident in San Bernardino, you can get help filing claims for workers’ compensation, product liability, personal injury, or wrongful death. Depending on your situation, you may even be able to apply for multiple claims.

Each type of claim has different requirements. Workers’ compensation is a kind of insurance that provides you with benefits after you are injured at work. To get this compensation, you have to prove that an injury happened at work. Meanwhile, a product liability claim can be filed if your injury occurred because of a defective product like a faulty ladder. With a personal injury lawsuit, your lawyer works to prove that a third party was negligent and caused your injury. Finally, a wrongful death claim is used when the worker was killed while they were working. In these cases, the worker’s family members file the wrongful death claim on their behalf.

Do I Need a Lawyer?

A construction accident attorney can help you gather documentation like medical bills, insurance policy information, and medical records to support your claim. Then, your attorney will work to investigate your accident and compile evidence. With the help of your construction accident lawyer, you can negotiate with the defense or pursue your claim at trial. Through the help of a skilled attorney, you can figure out the best way to document and support your case. If you need help following a construction accident, contact Rizio Lipinsky Heiting today for your free consultation.