Dedicated Bronx Construction Site Accident Lawyer

• Slips, trips, and falls – Construction workers can slip or trip and fall on the ground level of a construction site or from high places, such as roofs or scaffolds.

• Struck by object accidents – Objects that go flying, falling, swinging, or rolling through construction sites can strike workers and cause painful injuries.

• Electrocution accidents – Workers can be electrocuted after coming into contact with overhead power lines, live wires or transformers, or defective pieces of equipment.

• Heavy equipment accidents – Heavy machinery such as cranes, excavators, and forklifts are common in construction sites. Equipment that is defective, unguarded, or poorly maintained can easily cause injurious accidents.

• Dangerous exposure accidents – Exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, chemical solvents, or flammable materials can leave construction workers with burns, respiratory issues, and other injuries.

• Vehicle accidents – Motor vehicle accidents such as collisions, back-up accidents, cargo spills, and rollovers injure thousands of workers every year.

Causes of Construction Site Accidents

Some of the most common causes of dangerous accidents at construction sites include:

• Gas and chemical leaks – If a natural gas line or chemical container begins leaking, construction site workers can be injured due to toxic exposure, fires, or even explosions.

• Exposed or damaged electrical circuits – Inadequate protection around overhead electrical cables, lighting systems, and other wiring can lead to electrocution or fires.

• Defective machinery or equipment – Heavy machinery is needed to complete most types of construction jobs, but when equipment is defective or poorly maintained, workers can easily get hurt.

• Dangerous ladders or scaffolds – If a ladder or scaffold is unbalanced or overloaded, it can collapse and injure workers both above and below.

• Slippery or cluttered floors – If liquids, debris, or clutter spill onto a worksite floor without being cleaned up, workers can slip or trip and fall on the job.

• Heavy lifting or repetitive stress – Construction workers are frequently required to lift heavy objects or perform the same tasks over and over, which can lead to sprains, strains, and repetitive motion injuries.

• Construction workers make up just four percent of the workforce, but the construction industry represents almost 20 percent of work-related fatalities in the state of New York.

• 89 percent of contractors working on affordable housing construction projects in New York have been issued citations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

• Two-thirds of OSHA construction site inspections in New York between 2010 and 2012 resulted in “serious” safety violation citations, which are especially likely to cause accidents that lead to severe or fatal injuries.

• OSHA has found serious safety violations in nearly 90 percent of cases involving height-related construction accident fatalities.

• In 2012, nearly 80 percent of all fatal fall accidents at New York construction sites occurred at sites operated by non-union employers.

• The costs of any reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the treatment of a construction site accident injury

• Temporary or permanent disability benefits, which pay for a portion of workers’ lost wages if they are unable to return to work after an injury

• Vocational rehabilitation costs, if workers are unable to return to their usual roles and require assistance to train for or find new jobs