Construction workers know that their industry is dangerous - after all, construction sites have many obvious hazards. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) dedicates many resources to the construction industry and the safety of workers. Despite the best efforts of OSHA agents, construction accidents continue to occur and often result in serious injuries to victims.
Some of the most common construction accidents include the following:
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Falling from ladders or rooftops
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Scaffolding collapses
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Machinery malfunctions
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Power tool accidents
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Falling tools hitting a worker
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Large building materials striking a worker
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Motor vehicle accidents
Following an accident and injury, a construction worker will likely face extensive medical bills, time away from work and lost income, as well as possibly long-lasting complications of their injuries. The question then arises: who can be held liable for the costs and losses of the injury? The answer depends on the details of what happened and who was involved in the accident.
Your Employer
If you are an employee of the construction company (as opposed to an independent contractor) and if you were on the job at the time of the accident, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover the costs of your injuries. If you need assistance making a workers’ comp claim or appealing a denied claim, you should call our experienced attorneys as soon as possible for help.
A Third Party
In some situations, someone besides your employer may be liable for your injuries at work on a construction site. Such parties may include:
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The manufacturer of defective equipment that caused your injury
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A contractor or non-employee of your company whose negligence caused the accident
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A driver passing through the construction zone who caused the accident
In such cases, in addition to your workers’ compensation claim, you would need to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim in court.
Call for a Free Consultation with our Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
The law firm of Leighton, Katz & Drapeau strives to provide the highest quality of representation for all victims of construction accidents and other workplace injuries. We will help you recover from all possible liable parties, so please call our Hartford personal injury lawyers at 860-875-7000 today.
