Despite the fact that there are many state and federal regulations in place to ensure that construction sites are safe places to work, construction accidents are far too common in Connecticut. Tragically, many construction workers and innocent passersby are injured and killed in construction accidents every year.
A worker who is injured on a construction site may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Unfortunately, receiving financial compensation through private insurance companies or through Connecticut’s workers’ compensation programs can be challenging.
All too often, construction site employees find themselves being let down by their employers when the payout of their injury claims is delayed or outright denied.
If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a construction accident in Hartford, Stamford, or the surrounding area, our personal injury lawyers are here to help. We pride ourselves on being “The Fast Firm,” and we understand that receiving financial compensation after your accident is essential to getting your life back on track.
Contact us at 888-WIN-FAST or fill out the online evaluation form to speak to one of our accident attorneys and schedule a free consultation.
Common Causes of Connecticut Construction Site Accidents
There are a near-limitless number of possibilities for injury on a Connecticut construction site. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), every 1 in 5 fatal on-the-job accidents occurs in construction. The majority of these construction accidents are a result of what OSHA calls the “fatal four.”
Falls
Falls contribute to 33 percent of construction zone fatalities, which is more than all the other “fatal four” hazards combined. Even when not fatal, falls can result in serious life-altering injuries.
There are a number of reasons why fall may occur, such as:
- Improperly placed ladders
- Poorly maintained scaffolding
- Roof collapse
- Failure to wear proper fall protection gear
- Wet or cluttered surfaces
- Improperly secured walkways
- Lack of guardrails on stairwells
Experienced Connecticut construction workers know the dangers associated with working on elevated surfaces, but accidents still occur even to the most safety-conscious worker. If you were injured in a fall, contact our law office today to schedule a free case consultation. Our construction accident attorneys will act fast to thoroughly investigate the root cause of your accident and ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
Struck by an object
The next most fatal construction accident is being struck by an object, which makes up 11 percent of all fatalities. This may include being struck by rolling, flying, swinging, or falling objects.
A construction worker may be hit by a flying object even when he or she isn’t performing work that would cause an object to fly. Thus, everyone on the crew needs to follow safety rules outlined by the employer and by OSHA and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable to the job that each person is performing.
Examples of struck-by hazards include:
- A worker being struck by a pipe that was being lifted out of a hole
- A worker being hit by bricks or stones that fell out of a bucket being hoisted in the air
- A worker is installing a sign on a roadway and being struck by a passing vehicle
- A worker lifting an exterior wall and being hit after losing control of it
- A worker being struck by an excavator or other piece of heavy equipment
Being struck by an object doesn’t always end in a fatality, but it can cause a number of severe and painful injuries. If you have sustained an injury from being struck by an object in a Connecticut construction accident, contact a personal injury lawyer at our law office today.
Electrocution
Oftentimes, construction workers are exposed to live wires or electricity when they are doing repair work on homes or buildings. Electrocution causes over 8 percent of fatal construction accidents, and thousands of others suffer severe burns and other serious injuries.
The following are three main types of electrical accidents that occur in construction sites:
- Contact with overhead power lines
- Contact with transformers and live wires
- Contact with electrical currents while working with tools machinery and appliances
If you or a loved one was electrocuted due to someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t be financially liable for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. An attorney from our law firm can help you file a personal injury claim and recover the compensation that you are entitled to.
Caught-in or between objects
The final hazard among the “fatal four” is being pinned or caught in between two objects. Common causes of caught in-between accidents include:
- A heavy piece of machinery tips, causing a Connecticut worker to be trapped in between heavy equipment and the wall or ground
- A trench or excavation site isn’t properly supported and workers get buried as it crumbles
- Scaffolding is not constructed properly and workers get crushed as it falls
- Improperly maintained equipment or machinery malfunctions and traps workers
These are just a few of the many examples of how these types of tragic accidents can occur on the job. If you or a loved one has been severely injured or killed in a Connecticut construction accident, contact a fast-acting injury attorney from Gould Injury Law today for help with filing a personal injury claim against all negligent parties.
Getting Financial Compensation After Your Connecticut Construction Accident
The personal injury attorneys at Gould Injury Law understand how serious construction accidents can be. The injuries that you’ve suffered may have a major impact, not only on your life but the lives of your family members as well. It can be especially stressful if you’re the primary financial provider for your family but your workers’ compensation benefits aren’t covering your expenses.
A Connecticut construction accident attorney from our firm will act fast to help you pursue damages from your workers’ compensation insurance company, third parties involved in the accident, or a negligent employer.
The following are some of the types of damages you may be eligible to receive:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation
- Wrongful death
It can take some time to receive workers’ compensation benefits or to otherwise settle a personal injury claim. But having a lawyer with Gould Injury Law on your side can help speed up the process so you get paid faster.
Have You Been Injured in a Construction Accident?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident due to someone else’s negligence, you should speak to a construction accident attorney as soon as possible. You can be sure that your employer and your employer’s insurance company will have legal representation on their side, fighting to ensure you receive as little payout as possible.
You need help too. You deserve the peace of mind that comes with having a trusted law firm advocating for you and defending your legal rights.
Workers’ compensation claims and construction accidents are two of the many practice areas that the attorneys at Gould Injury Law are highly experienced in handling. After taking on your case, we will act fast to investigate the cause of your construction accident and identify all liable parties. Above all, we will fight to ensure you receive the full amount of compensation that you’re entitled to.
The lawyers at Gould Injury Law understand that, after a construction accident, you just want to get your life back on track as soon as possible. We pride ourselves on being “The Fast Firm,” which means we will do everything we can to accelerate your claim. Call our office at 888-WIN-FAST or fill out the online form to schedule your free consultation.
