What are the Fatal Four of Construction Accidents?

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The construction profession is inherently among the most hazardous professions in Encino. Every year there are thousands of worker injuries and deaths in California because of construction site accidents. Construction injuries can be some of the most excruciating and severe. Additionally, with a long path to recovery, you and your family might need significant compensation from those at fault. There may be a loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a family member suffer injury in a construction accident in California, get in touch with the Encino Construction Accident Attorneys at Drake Law Firm for a complimentary case consultation.

Out of 4,674 employee fatalities that happened across the country in 2017, approximately 1,000 of them (or about 20%) happened in the construction industry. To put it another way, 1 in 5 occupational fatalities every year happen on a construction site. These are scary statistics and they indicate a significant problem when it concerns construction accident injuries and fatality.

The leading causes of employee fatalities in the construction industry are:

• slip and falls
• struck by object
• electrocution
• caught-in between

These common causes of construction accidents and injuries are referred to as the Fatal Four. These causes are accountable for almost 60% of employee fatalities in the construction industry.

Additionally, while not on the list of four, work zone highway accidents are also very common. There are numerous safety initiatives to address this recurring problem. In addition to criminal charges, when a driver hits a worker, there will usually be a civil claim as well.

Do Construction Accidents Cause Serious Injuries Often?

In some instances, the true effects of an accident might take time to reveal themselves. Some injuries become considerably worse as days and even weeks pass. What may appear minor while on the job may actually be a severe, possibly life-long injury. Occasionally adrenaline masks injuries or they simply take a while to develop.

In other cases, a routine injury might be exacerbated or worsened throughout the course of treatment. For instance, an infection developing during or after surgery, or a greater muscle tear occurring during rehabilitation. Injured employees are protected in these events by the laws of California but they are expected to actively seek relief from their injuries. Consulting with a personal injury attorney early can help secure your legal rights and enable you to recoup your damages.

That being said, construction accidents can cause severe or devastating injuries, such as:

• Fractures requiring surgery
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spine injuries that cause a worker to become a paraplegic or quadriplegic
• Electrocution
• Burns
• Eye injuries that lead to long-term vision impairment or blindness
• Death

Our construction accident lawyers in Encino are here to help you get compensation and we provide our services at no cost unless we win.

What are the Top 10 Most Common Safety Infractions at Construction Sites?

The following is a list of the most common health and safety violations on construction sites. These violations can cause accidents and injuries that put employees' health and lives in danger. Usually these violations are found after an examination of the worksite by OSHA.

OSHA releases this kind of information to help avoid injuries, illnesses, and fatalities on job sites. These accidents are easy to prevent when you abide by safety regulations.

The 10 most frequent construction infractions are:

• Failing to utilize fall protection equipment.
• Failure to communicate hazard material information.
• Dangerous scaffolding.
• Lack of respiratory protection.
• Hazardous power or energy supply on site.
• Dangerous ladders.
• Industrial vehicles not following guidelines.
• Not following fall protection standards.
• Ignoring machinery protection standards.
• Absence of proper eye and face protection.

Should You Request a Complimentary Construction Accident Case Consultation?

Under California law, an injured worker has the right to file and receive workers compensation benefits for injuries at work.

In addition to workers' compensation benefits, an injured construction worker may also have a third-party negligence case. The claim could be against a contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or other person or business. There can be a third-party claim as long as the responsible party is not the employer or colleague of the injured or deceased individual. Typically, these types of cases include either general negligence in preserving safe working conditions, or products liability for negligently managed or manufactured equipment or vehicles.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a construction accident, an accident attorney needs to be consulted as quickly as possible to assess your case and to protect your rights. Your Encino construction accident attorney will examine the cause of the accident, the extent of injuries and the accountable parties.

If the facts of your construction accident case do not require a third-party negligence claim, you or your family still have a right to collect workers' compensation benefits.