Working in construction is a rewarding and meaningful job. As a construction worker, you’re building people’s homes and businesses and contributing to the improvement of your town in Georgia.
However, construction jobs are also very dangerous. You’re using machinery that weighs thousands of pounds and working with tools that could seriously injure you. Your worksite is frenzied and jobs may be rushed. You have to trust that your coworkers are properly trained and responsibly using equipment and that your company is always looking out for your wellbeing above all else. There are just so many factors that could lead to an accident. `
Construction Accident Facts
Every day in the United States, two construction workers – which include construction laborers, first-line supervisors, roofers, carpenters, and electricians –die from work-related injuries, and one in five workplace fatalities in the country are construction-related. The leading causes of fatalities are being struck by an object, falls, getting caught between objects, and electrocution.
If an accident isn’t fatal, some of the other repercussions include scarring, disfigurement, spinal cord injury, blindness, deafness, brain injury, amputated limbs, and back and neck injuries. Some of these are minor and can be treated with a few trips to the doctor, while others can alter your life as you know it and cause long-lasting injury.
If you become blind, get a brain injury or one of your limbs is amputated, you may have to use a wheelchair, get a seeing-eye dog, install ramps inside your home and give up your construction job – as well as any job – for the rest of your life. You might suffer from physical, emotional, and mental trauma, which could also affect your loved ones. Unfortunately, you might never be able to go back to the life you had prior to the accident.
That’s an extremely hard pill to swallow. But construction accidents can be prevented. And if you’ve been in an accident, at least you can seek compensation for what you experienced.
Why Construction Accidents Happen
Construction accidents can happen for a number of reasons, including the following:
- The workers may not be properly trained and, if they are, they might not be following the right protocol on a daily basis.
- Equipment could be old and used, and not get the proper maintenance that’s required.
- Employers could fail to offer the right safety equipment like goggles, gloves and hard hats.
- Employers might not post signs warning employees of dangers.
- Distracted and forgetful employees could forget to cover a hole, wipe up a slippery substance or watch where they’re going when driving a vehicle.
- Employees could fail to communicate properly or hear or see each other on the loud and chaotic construction site.
If you’ve been injured due to any of these factors – or any other reason – then you should attempt to retrieve the compensation you deserve.
Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Claims
After you get injured on a job site, the first thing you should do is take pictures of the site, list any details you remember that led up to the accident, take down witness’ information and contact your supervisor. You’ll also need to go to the hospital right away for treatment and to see if you have other injuries like internal bleeding or a broken bone. You may be required to do an ultrasound or X-ray, for instance, just so the doctors can double-check that you’re OK.
Then, you can contact a lawyer to help you with your case. They may advise you to file for workers’ compensation or pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
Every state including Georgia offers workers’ compensation, which protects workers when they are injured on the job. It doesn’t matter whether or not an employer acted out of negligence, like it would with a personal injury lawsuit.
However, workers’ compensation only applies when you’re working directly for your employer and not as a subcontractor, for example. Plus, workers’ compensation will usually entitle you to less compensation that you could potentially get from filing a personal injury case.
It’s up to you and your lawyer which one makes the most sense for your situation. What you want to do, above all else, is choose the option that will provide the most protection and ensure you can resume your day to day activities as quickly and normally as possible.
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve recently been injured while working in construction, your life may seem pretty unstable right now. You could be faced with not only losing your job, but also having to adjust to an entirely new reality due to your injuries. Your loved ones may be disappointed and scared, too, which makes this situation that makes harder.
With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can get the compensation you deserve on your road to recovery. When looking for a lawyer, find one who has experience with construction accidents and has helped other workers retrieve compensation following an event. You’ll also want one who is available to you when you need them and can help you feel peace of mind that your case is going well. The last thing you need to worry about – on top of recovering – is whether or not your case is on the right track.
If you’ve been involved in a construction accident in Georgia, you may be entitled to compensation. To find out what a personal injury lawyer can do for you, contact the Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Winston Briggs today.