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Whether it’s a small residential project or large commercial high rise, construction sites present grave dangers to workers who put their lives on the line every day to earn a living. In fact, approximately 10-15 construction accidents occur every day in the United States, and nearly one in five construction workers will suffer from a workplace injury over the course of their career. If you or a loved one has suffered from a construction related injury, contact one of our dedicated construction accident attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation. You may be entitled to significant compensation. 

OSHA’s Fatal Four

Construction accidents take several forms, ranging from slips, trips and falls to major cave-in and collapse occurrences. The OSHA’s “Fatal Four” represent the four leading causes of construction fatalities, which account for approximately 57% of all construction fatalities. The OSHA’s Fatal Four include the following:

Trip and Fall Injuries

OSHA considers Trip and Fall Injuries to be the most common cause for construction injuries, accounting for nearly 40% of all construction fatalities. Whether you’re working on a large-scale project requiring heavy machinery or a small remodeling project, trip and fall injuries can cause devastating injuries to workers and pedestrians. 

Injuries related to improper scaffolding and ladders, debris, and unattended wires and cords account for an overwhelming majority of trip and fall injuries, namely because they are critical for even the smallest construction projects like remodels and exterior design projects. Although these injuries are typical with construction sites, trip and fall accidents can cause debilitating, even life-threatening injuries to workers.  

Falling Objects

Falling objects and debris are another danger that construction workers often encounter, accounting for approximately 10% of construction-related deaths. Accidents from loose or falling objects often occur when employers or foremen neglect to properly secure objects, debris, and machinery on their construction sites. For example, heavy materials such as steel and concrete can fall or swing when improperly secured, presenting life-threatening situations to workers.

Electrocutions

Nearly 10% of construction-related fatalities occur from electrocutions. Construction sites often feature high-voltage equipment and exposed wires and power lines. Faulty wiring, inadequate maintenance and overloaded circuits due to negligence can cause fatal electrocutions to construction workers. For example, inadequate wiring can cause electrocutions and electrical fires when the wire’s current exceeds its design capacity. Situations like these often occur when temporary wires, which are less resilient than permanent wires, are neglected or improperly stored.

Caught In or Caught Between Injuries

Caught in and Caught in Between injuries are the least common among the OSHA’s Fatal Four, only accounting for 2% of construction fatalities; however, these types of accidents can be large-scale, catastrophic, and almost always fatal. Caught in and Caught in Between accidents occur when workers are crushed by their equipment, debris or other objects, and almost always result from negligence. 

Common Caught In and Caught in Between Accidents Include:

• Scaffolding: Improperly secured scaffolding can cause a scaffolding collapse, crushing nearby workers or pedestrians.
• Cave-Ins: These types of accidents occur during underground excavation projects. When the walls of a trench or tunnel are improperly installed or supported, it can cave in, crushing workers with debris and machinery. 
• Building Collapses: Building collapses can occur for several reasons, ranging from flawed designs and engineering to defective materials or improper safety precautions during demolitions. 

OSHA Finable Offenses

OSHA is responsible for protecting workers from workplace hazards and ensuring their employers implement proper safety measures to avoid accidents from occurring. To do so, OSHA regularly performs on-site inspections to ensure employers comply with their regulations, and conduct thorough investigations when workplace accidents result in the injury or fatality of three or more workers. OSHA’s yearly report of their most frequently cited violations offers insight on the most violated rules and regulations, which include:

• Fall Protection, Construction
• Hazard Communication Standard, general industry
• Respiratory Protection, general industry
• Scaffolding, general requirements, construction
• Ladders, construction
• Control of Hazardous energy, general industry

OSHA penalties range from $13,653 to over $136,000, depending on the severity of the violation, whether or not the employer has been cited previously, and whether or not the employer was willful in their failure to comply with OSHA’s rules and regulations. A complete list of the OSHA’s most frequently cited standards can be found here.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

If you or a loved one have been injured in a construction-related accident, it is crucial that you speak with an experienced construction accident attorney. Resources such as Workers’ Compensation can pay your medical bills and replace some of your wages; however, it’s only temporary and will not cover your non-financial damages such as pain and suffering and reduced capacity.

Our attorneys at Pryor Law can help you gather the appropriate documents and evidence and conduct a thorough investigation to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Our office is located in the Bronx, New York, and our experienced personal injury attorneys are ready to fight for you.

Don’t wait to contact a personal injury attorney, as there is a limited time to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for construction accident claims only extends three (3) years from the date of accident. We recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed before this deadline. 

At Pryor Law, we have decades of experience handling construction accident cases, and our results speak for themselves. If you or a loved one have been injured in a New York construction-related accident and believe that someone else may be at fault, contact our experienced construction accident attorneys at (718) 829-0222 or fill out our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Pryor Law

292 City Island Ave., Bronx, NY 10464

Phone: 718-829-0222 | Email: info@pryorlaw.com