Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry consistently accounts for the highest number of fatal workplace injuries of any sector. In addition to fatalities, hundreds of thousands of construction workers suffer non-fatal injuries each year, ranging from broken bones and lacerations to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage.

The Fatal Four: OSHA's Most Dangerous Hazards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has identified the four leading causes of construction worker fatalities, known as the Fatal Four:

  • Falls: Falls from heights are the number one cause of construction fatalities, accounting for approximately one-third of all construction worker deaths. Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated work platforms are particularly common.
  • Struck-by accidents: Workers can be struck by falling objects, moving vehicles, swinging equipment, or collapsing structures.
  • Electrocution: Contact with live wires, power lines, or energized equipment causes numerous construction worker deaths and injuries each year.
  • Caught-in/between: Workers can be caught in or compressed between equipment, materials, or collapsing structures. Trench collapses are a particularly deadly form of this hazard.

Legal Options for Injured Construction Workers

Workers' Compensation

Workers' compensation is the primary source of benefits for most construction workers injured on the job. As discussed in our workers' compensation guide, these benefits include medical treatment, wage replacement, and disability benefits. However, workers' comp benefits are limited and do not include compensation for pain and suffering.

Third-Party Liability Claims

Construction sites typically involve multiple contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and other parties. If a party other than your direct employer contributed to your injury through negligence, you may be able to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit. Common third-party defendants in construction accident cases include general contractors who failed to maintain safe working conditions, property owners who knew of dangerous conditions on the site, subcontractors whose negligence caused your injury, manufacturers of defective tools, equipment, or materials, and architects or engineers whose design defects contributed to the accident.

OSHA Complaints

If your employer or another party on the construction site violated OSHA safety regulations, you have the right to file a complaint with OSHA. While an OSHA complaint does not directly result in compensation for you, documented OSHA violations can serve as powerful evidence of negligence in a personal injury lawsuit.

Common Construction Accident Injuries

Construction accidents frequently cause severe, life-altering injuries including traumatic brain injuries from falls or being struck by objects, spinal cord injuries and paralysis from falls or caught-in/between accidents, broken bones and fractures, amputations from heavy machinery accidents, severe burns from electrocution or chemical exposure, crush injuries from equipment or collapsed structures, and repetitive stress injuries from prolonged physical labor.

Protecting Your Rights

If you have been injured in a construction accident, it is essential to report the injury to your employer immediately, seek medical treatment, document the accident scene and conditions, identify all parties that may have contributed to the accident, and consult with an experienced attorney who handles construction accident cases.

At Dr. Ted Injury Law, we have recovered millions of dollars for construction workers injured on the job. Contact us at (800) 555-HURT for a free consultation.