How to Handle Construction Site Accident Injuries

Due to the number of hazards present in construction sites, construction employees are more at risk for injury almost every other profession. Each year, hundreds of thousands of construction workers are injured in some way in the workplace. Clearly, construction work is a dangerous job, but that does not mean that those who work in it should be withheld from protection if they are injured due to the negligence of their employer. L&I will be able to help in some regard for these injuries, but due to the complexity of construction liability, and the seriousness of most injuries, a personal injury lawyer is oftentimes necessary in fighting these claims. The fact of the matter is that the company you work for is responsible for providing you and the other employees with a safe working environment. If you are injured on the job because of their negligence, they are liable and should pay for your damages. Construction companies have been dealing with injury claims for a long time, and are very skilled at distancing themselves from any fault. This is why it is so important to seek the advice of an experienced Seattle construction site injury lawyer if you get hurt on the job.

There were over 26,000 injuries in 2009 resulting from construction site accidents that forced an employee to miss time from work. This translates to 382 of every 10,000 construction workers having to miss work due to an injury every year. Many of these injuries are very serious as well, and require the employee to miss a lot of days from work. The average injury in 2009 required construction workers to take 14 days off from work, and 33% of those injured missed more than a month. Injuries of this magnitude usually require very expensive medical care, which along with missed days of work, can lead employees into a financial hole. Even worse than an injury is an accident that leads to a fatality. The construction industry tops every other private profession in work related fatalities, with 819 in 2009. While this is a very tragic number, it is actually a decrease of 16% from 2008. This reduction held true as well for the amount of deaths resulting from building construction. If a friend or family member has died in a construction site accident, then you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim. Whenever you feel ready to do so, you should speak with an experienced Seattle wrongful death attorney for advice.

There are certain injuries that are more common in construction site accidents than others. Sprains, tears or strains make up nearly 32% of all construction site injuries. Accounting for 17% of all construction injuries are cuts, lacerations or punctures, while 12% were fractures. It is of the utmost importance for anyone in the construction field to understand how exactly these injuries happen. 25% of all injuries are caused by being struck by an object. Falling to a lower level stands as the second most common way people get injured – making up 10% of all injuries. Overextension is the third most common cause, at 9% of all construction injuries. Construction workers don’t only have to worry about those common physical injuries, though. In 2009, there were about 8,900 cases of illness that were caused by the working conditions that construction employees worked in. There are a lot of different ways that construction workers can get injured or sick on the job, but they should not be burdened with having to pay the medical bills when it was not their fault.

If you have been injured in a construction site accident, or are a close family member with someone who has died in one, you should seek the advice of an experienced Kent or Renton personal injury attorney. Not every construction injury case will require a lawyer, but because almost every personal injury firm in Seattle offers free initial consultations, you have nothing to lose by seeking help. Make sure you thoroughly research Washington construction injury firms, and are comfortable with the lawyer you speak to before signing any forms. If you would like a free consultation, feel free to give me a call at (206) 285-1743 anytime.

This information is provided by Straight Talk Law, where you can order free books on Washington car accidents, buying insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by Bellevue personal injury attorney Jason Epstein and his King County car accident, Pierce County motorcycle accident, and Seattle wrongful death law firm in Seattle, Washington.