Construction jobs can provide a good income for you and your family, but they also expose you to increased risks of bodily injury. The construction industry has one of the highest rates of serious accidents in the country. No matter how cautious you are on the job, you could end up seriously hurt in an unavoidable accident and laid up for months, or longer.
Examples of common construction accidents
Here are some of the most common types of accidents that happen on construction sites in Southwest Virginia and across the nation:
- Falls. Working on scaffolding, ladders and roofs put construction workers high above the ground. A fall from height can cause fatal or disabling injuries.
- Falling objects. Similarly, if a tool or piece of equipment falls and hits a worker below, the victim can suffer a major injury, often to the head.
- Equipment accidents. Powerful machinery like a forklift or backhoe can injury you if it malfunctions or if a coworker loses control.
- Trench collapse. A trench can cave in while you are working in it, putting you in danger.
- Exposure. While working in extreme heat or cold, you could expose yourself to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, frostbite or hypothermia.
These are just a few examples of what can happen to a construction worker. Construction accidents can cause serious harm. When this happens, you could be facing major surgery, months of expensive physical therapy and lost wages until you are well enough to go back to work.
How to assert your rights after a construction injury
Workers’ compensation exists to help people in this situation, but contractors, subcontractors and their insurers are often reluctant to accept a claim. They may claim that you are exaggerating your injuries, or that they were pre-existing when your accident happened. That is why having an attorney experienced handling workers’ compensation claims and appeals is important. Having an attorney working for you can be invaluable.