Construction is important for the economy and society in the United States, but it also has some of the most dangerous vocations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result, it’s not surprising that injury claims arising from construction-related accidents are widespread, even though not all mishaps end in a personal injury lawsuit. Employees who are injured on the job are protected by Workers’ compensation. However, this is sometimes insufficient to cover serious injuries that occur on construction sites. Additionally, building sites are frequently occupied by many enterprises at the same time. A non-employee who is working for someone else on the site is frequently injured by one of these third parties.
Falls, heatstroke, fractured bones and lacerations from falling materials, and injuries induced by repeated actions, such as jackhammer handling, are also common accidents among construction workers. Dust or chemicals used in building materials can cause respiratory problems in certain employees, and in severe circumstances, a structure or trench might collapse, hurting trapped personnel.
Construction Laws
Construction Laws cover physical harm and wrongful death claims associated with construction disasters, as well as the construction industry’s safety rules, regulations, and standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is in charge of construction site safety regulations. The majority of states have enacted some type of safety legislation.
If you are injured while working in the construction industry, you are likely to be qualified for workers’ compensation payments. Workers’ compensation systems differ from one state to the next, but they all have a few things in common:
- The provision of payments under workers’ compensation is often a “no-fault” system. This means you don’t have to show that some other person or group was negligent or caused your damage in any other way. All you have to do is show that (1) you were wounded and (2) the damage occurred while you were working.
- Workers’ compensation insurance is needed for all employers. Benefits received as a consequence of an injury claim are paid out through this insurance.
Construction employees have the right under OHSA laws to examine safety standards and guidelines at work, to request an OSHA inspector to visit a working site for safety and to make anonymous complaints against an employer for alleged safety breaches. Employers must also offer a workplace that is free of known dangers, ensure that employees are adequately educated in the use of protective gear, and notify workers of relevant health and safety requirements, according to OSHA rules.
A personal injury lawyer from the Autrey Law Firm can assist you in understanding your job rights. He or she can clarify OSHA and state requirements to you, as well as assist you in filing a workers’ claim for damages if you’ve been injured at work. In other cases, a lawsuit may be the better option, and an attorney can explain the benefits and drawbacks of both workers’ compensation payments and litigation so you can make the best decision.
