Fall protection standards are one of the most cited OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards violated every year, contributing to over a thousand deaths due to falls, slips, and trips on construction sites. Many more construction workers are injured every single year due to negligence and recklessness on job sites, making construction work one …
Construction sites and zones are commonplace all over the U.S. The machinery and equipment that populate construction zones can lead to serious injuries and fatal accidents for construction workers, drivers, and pedestrians alike.
Reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cite the following statistics on fatal construction accidents:
- There were 1,008 constructions worker deaths in 2018 (per OSHA)
- Of those 1,008 fatalities, 338 were caused by falls (per OSHA)
- An annual average of 773 people died in car accidents at highway maintenance and construction work zones between 1982 and 2017 (per the CDC)
If you or someone you love was injured, or if a loved one was killed in a construction accident, you might be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault party. A lawyer in your area may be able to help you determine the cause of the accident, identify the at-fault party, and fight for compensation on your behalf.
Depending on the nature of your accident, the recoverable damages may include your current and future costs of medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A different set of damages may be recoverable in a wrongful death case.
The FAQs on construction accidents listed here may answer many of your questions and can help you understand your potential options for pursuing compensation. Whether you were injured as a construction worker or a passerby, you might have the basis of a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit.
Morelli Law Firm handles personal injury and wrongful death cases for construction accident victims and their families in New York City, on Long Island, and in New York State up to Albany. We may be able to manage your construction accident case on a contingency-fee-basis with nothing due upfront.
To discuss your options and our services in a free, no-obligation case review with a member of our construction accident team, call Morelli Law Firm today at (212) 751-9800.
Most Common OSHA Violations in Construction
According to OSHA, the most common violation in construction is inadequate fall protection. Such a violation can cause severe injuries that could be fatal, lead to long-term injuries, or at the very least, cost a fortune in medical bills. If you’ve been injured because of a safety violation, a construction accident attorney from Morelli Law …
Can an Employee Sue for OSHA Violations at a Construction Site
Can an employee sue for OSHA violations at a construction site? In most cases, the court does not allow employees to sue their employers, even after an OSHA violation. Instead, the court expects employees to file a workers’ compensation claim in most cases for job-site accidents. However, you may have a chance to file a …
New York Scaffolding Law
Falling from heights is one of the main types of accidents in construction. The average job site fall is likely to result in serious injuries, but scaffolding falls are known to cause the most severe and sometimes fatal conditions. Fortunately, New York law protects construction workers at risk for gravity-related accidents. According to the state’s …
What Is the Average Construction Accident Settlement?
When it comes to construction accidents, an “average” claim doesn’t really exist. Construction accidents can vary so significantly, between the type of accident and the severity, that any average settlement amount would be a meaningless figure. Taking every accident settlement and averaging out the amount received by the victim would do nothing to help you …
What Is the Most Dangerous Construction Trade?
Construction industry jobs are some of the riskiest in America. Every day, workers face fall hazards, construction equipment mishaps, and falling debris. The following jobs top the list of the most dangerous construction trades: roofers, construction helpers, iron and steel workers, equipment operators, and construction laborers. Working in an inherently dangerous construction trade does not …
How Do I Settle an Accident Claim without Insurance?
If you were injured in a residential or commercial construction accident, and you do not have health care insurance or the at-fault party does not have business insurance, you might need to explore other available compensation options. For example: If the accident occurred during construction on residential property, you might be able to seek compensation …
What are the Typical Types of Injuries in the Construction Industry?
One of the most dangerous industries in the United States is construction. Due to the inherent nature of a construction worker’s job, they may face serious risks daily. In addition to being required to use heavy machinery, construction workers may also work in risky areas or at substantial heights. According to the Occupational Safety and …
What Are the Main Causes of Accidents in Construction?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported that the United States saw 4,779 fatalities in the construction industry in 2018. Construction industry accidents may occur for a broad range of reasons, but there are four main causes of deaths in construction that OSHA considers the “Fatal Four.” These accidents include being caught in or …
What Is the Most Common Accident in Construction?
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) lists four top causes of construction hazards. Referred to as the fatal four, they include falls, struck-by, caught-in, and electrocutions. Out of those four, the most common accident in construction is when a worker falls. Fall accidents typically occur when workers are not using proper protective equipment, perimeter …
What Are Common Construction Accidents?
By nature, construction is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. We learn from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) that there were 1,008 construction-related fatalities during 2018. Some of New York’s most common construction accidents include electrocutions and falls, as well as caught-in between and struck-by incidents. There are several contributing …