Construction Accidents: The Causes, Impacts & Options for Recovery (Pt. 1)

The construction industry is among the more dangerous industries for workers, as thousands of construction workers are injured on the job every year in the U.S. In fact, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported:

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  More than 20 percent of all of the fatal workplace injuries American workers sustain occur on construction sites.
• Each day in the U.S., two people die in fatal construction accidents.

To take a closer look at why construction accidents so often result in serious (if not deadly) injuries, in this blog series, we will discuss some of the most common causes and risks related to construction accidents, as well as what injured construction workers should know about their options for financial recovery after these accidents.

In the event, however, that you or a loved one has already been injured in a construction accident, contacting the Mount Vernon workers’ compensation and construction accident lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis will be crucial to ensuring that:

• Your rights and interests are protected.
• You are aware of all of the available options for financial recovery.
• You ultimately are able to secure the full amount of compensation to which you may be entitled.

Most Common Causes of Construction Accidents

Although various circumstances can contribute accidents on construction sites, OSHA has identified the following four factors as being the “fatal four” because they play a role in causing the most fatal construction accidents year after year in the U.S.: 

• Falling, such as off of scaffolding and ladders, causes just about 37 percent of all fatal construction accidents in the U.S. What may also be important to note with this fact is that a lack of proper fall protections is the single most commonly issued OSHA violation at construction sites and that scaffolding-related OSHA violations are the third most commonly issued OSHA citation at construction sites in the U.S.
• Objects striking workers, such as when masonry walls aren’t properly set up or motor vehicle accidents occur on construction sites, cause more than 10 percent of all fatal construction accidents each year in the U.S.

• Electrocutions, which can occur when paths to ground are missing or discontinuous or when workers aren’t properly trained to use certain machinery, cause just about 9 percent of all fatal construction accidents in the U.S. Four of the top 10 most commonly issued OSHA violations are related to issues with protecting workers from electrocution.

• Becoming trapped between objects, which can happen when trenches lack the proper protective systems, causes more than 2.5 percent of fatal construction accidents in the U.S.   

According to OSHA, if these four factors could be eliminated as issues or threats on construction sites, more than 460 construction workers’ lives could be saved in the U.S. every year.

We will take a look at the impacts of construction accidents, as well as options for financial recovery after these accidents, in the second upcoming installment of this blog series. Don’t miss it!

Mount Vernon Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.

Have you or a loved one been hurt by in a construction accident? If so, the experienced and trusted Mount Vernon construction accident and workers’ comp lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. are ready to stand up for your rights. Since 1950, we have been providing the highest quality legal services and representation to our clients. 

If you are ready to learn more about your best options for financial recovery and how we can help you, contact us by calling (888) 896-9381 or by emailing us using the form at the upper right-hand side of the page. We can provide you with a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.