Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers Fight for Workers Injured On Construction Work Sites
Holding Companies Accountable for Safety
Construction sites are full of potential hazards for workers, visitors and people walking by. Powerful equipment and vehicles, unfinished and temporary structures, landscaping efforts, and other dangers are always on-site and in motion. And even though every construction employer must have prevention programs in place to meet work site regulations, accidents can still happen, especially if sites aren’t kept up to code. If you’ve been injured on a construction site, the Philadelphia construction accident lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC, will fight for your right to appropriate compensation for your injuries and any lost work time.
Common Accidents on Construction Sites
Even careful workers are at risk from unseen or unexpected events at a work site. Some of the most common incidents, as reported by OSHA include:
- Caught in/between accidents: Considered one of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” types of construction accidents, caught in or between accidents can happen when a worker is pulled into a piece of equipment or pinned between two objects.
- Building collapse: During a demolition or when something goes wrong at a construction site, if workers are in the wrong place or improperly protected, they can be serious injured by a fall or by falling debris.
- Construction site falls: Fall protection is one of OSHA’s most frequently cited safety violation, and whether due to a defective ladder or a lack of proper harnesses, a sudden drop may cause injuries ranging from broken bones to severe head trauma.
- Defective equipment accidents: Construction workers count on the equipment they use every day to work properly and be free of dangerous defects. When a worker is injured due to a defective piece of machinery, tool, or personal protective equipment, the manufacturer of the dangerous equipment may be held liable.
- Exposure to toxins: Construction workers are at risk of exposure to many types hazardous materials on the job. The most common toxins construction workers encounter include respirable silica, asbestos, formaldehyde, as well as other potential carcinogens.
- Power surges: With so many tools running at one time, managing the power supplies around a construction site requires careful organization of a temporary infrastructure, but if anything isn’t grounded properly or gets overloaded, workers are put at risk of electrocution and other injuries.
- Slips, trips and falls: Construction sites and building projects can be cluttered with debris and materials, creating a tripping or slipping hazard. This is especially dangerous for those working at heights.
- Struck-by accidents: Workers are at risk of serious injury if they are struck by falling debris, heavy equipment, or motor vehicles.
- Trenching and excavation accidents: Digging is dangerous work, especially if proper care is not taken to secure trench walls.
Worksite Injuries Range From Serious to Life-Threatening
Injuries from accidents can effect construction workers for weeks, months or even years following an incident. Whether you are you unable to work or suffering from constant pain and limited mobility, the impact of injuries on a construction site should not be underestimated:
- Burns: Tissue and nerve damage are not uncommon when welding equipment, roofing tar, asphalt and other construction materials burn workers.
- Fractures: Falls cause broken legs or collarbones. Malfunctioning tools can twist or hyperextend wrists and even break arms in extreme cases. Recovery times for broken bones range from weeks to months, with stiffness and limited mobility even after a cast is removed.
- Shock: Defective power tools or improperly installed power sources increase the risk of electric shocks, which may cause superficial burns, muscle damage or even interfere with heart function
- Spinal cord damage: Caused by falls, falling debris or improperly secured building materials, vertebrae that are damaged, pinched or displaced can be some of the most severe injuries a worker can suffer, resulting chronic discomfort and even paralysis.
- Vibrating tool injuries: Several tools used by construction workers, including jackhammers, drills, chainsaws, and power hammers, have the potential to cause serious and permanent nerve damage. Hand-arm vibration syndrome, also known as jackhammer syndrome, is one such injury.
Beyond the physical discomfort and trauma of worksite injuries, the medical costs and lost income can quickly become a burden for construction workers. Our Philadelphia construction accident lawyers hold your managers and company owners responsible and fight for your lost wages and other financial debts after a construction site accident.
Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC Represent Clients Injured on Construction Sites
When accidents happen on construction sites, your employer may try to have you settle for basic disability payments, or avoid taking the blame for unsafe conditions on-site. Don’t accept anything less than the full compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, contact the Philadelphia work injury lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC. Call us at 215-569-8488 or 302-888-1221, or contact us online. Our attorneys have more than five decades of combined experience aggressively pursuing damages for our clients. Our offices are conveniently located in downtown Philadelphia, across the street from City Hall, just a short distance from the train, subway and trolley. If you are unable to come to us, we’ll come to you. We also maintain offices in Abington and Media, Pennsylvania, Wilmington, Delaware and Haddonfield, New Jersey.