Construction work is important work that helps to keep the State of California – and the nation moving forward – but construction work is also one of the most dangerous occupations. Much of the work that goes into construction occurs from heights, and the work tends to involve heavy equipment and powerful tools – and these factors naturally contribute to the inherent danger of construction work. If you’ve been injured on the job as a construction worker, don’t put off consulting with an experienced Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney.
The statistics related to construction accidents are illuminating and include (according to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, OSHA):
More than 4,779 workers in the United States were killed by accidents on the job in 2018, and of these, 21.1 percent were construction workers.
Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, and they accounted for 33.5 percent of total construction fatalities in 2018. Common causes of falls on construction sites include sides on constructions in process that are unprotected, defective scaffolding, wall openings, holes in floors, protruding bars, and improperly used portable ladders.
Being struck by an object on the job accounted for 11.1 percent of all construction fatalities in 2018. Common examples of being struck by an object are accidents involving construction vehicles and accidents caused by tools or equipment falling from an elevated workstation.
Electrocutions on the job accounted for 8.5 percent of all construction fatalities in 2018. These life-threatening accidents are often caused by the absence of a ground-fault or a missing or discontinuous path to the ground, contact with power lines, and the unsafe use of equipment and/or cords.
Being caught in equipment or being caught in between two unyielding forces accounted for 5.5 percent of all construction fatalities in 2018. The most common causes of these often-deadly accidents include having too few or inadequate protective systems in place, failing to adequately inspect those protective systems that are in place, and having unsafe or inadequate access and egress mechanisms in place.
OSHA goes on to share that the most commonly cited safety violations on the job (all of which apply to construction work and some of which are directly focused on construction work) include the following:
Construction site injuries are often extremely serious, and while they can take nearly any form, the following injury types are common:
If you’re injured on the job site, your case is unique to the circumstances involved and will follow its own unique path, but there are some basic first steps that universally apply, including:
Seek immediate medical attention. Even if you don’t think you were seriously injured in the construction accident, it’s important to get checked out by a medical professional. The fact is that some serious injuries are slow to present with symptoms and, therefore, don’t receive necessary medical attention until they’ve had time to develop into something both more serious and more difficult to treat. You owe it yourself and to your case to obtain the medical attention you need and to follow your doctor’s recommendations carefully.
Notify your boss and/or supervisor that you were injured on the job (this will begin the workers’ compensation process). Failing to notify your supervisor in a timely manner can forfeit your right to bring a workers’ compensation claim, so don’t put off this critical step.
Consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Workers’ compensation claims are complicated, and obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is important to your ability to recover more completely.
Workers’ compensation is mandatory insurance coverage that employers are required to carry, and its purpose is twofold. Workers’ comp covers employees for injuries sustained on the job, but in the process, employees relinquish the right to sue their employer for negligence (such as in personal injury claims). In this way, workers’ compensation serves to help balance the rights of both employees and employers. The damages covered generally include:
The two primary elements necessary to bring a successful worker’s compensation claim – as a construction worker – in California include:
Jonathan M. Kashani is the founder of Kash Legal Group, specializing in personal injury law with a commitment to providing personalized client services and high-quality legal representation. He holds a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law and is admitted to practice in all state courts of California and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
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