You retain the right to hold employers, supervisors, and property owners accountable when you have suffered a fall injury at a construction site. No matter how dangerous the construction job may be, you have the right to safety during your course of employment. Failing to keep you from harm’s way is a serious oversight on behalf of your employers. Contact a Chicago construction slip and fall accident attorney from Duncan Law Group to help you take action.
Just because a construction site is considered inherently dangerous does not mean that there is no responsibility to keep construction workers safe. Construction work commonly occurs high off of the ground, developing additional hazards that workers must deal with on a regular basis.
OSHA identifies several common hazards associated with fall accidents and deaths:
Construction workers should exercise caution while using portable ladders. For example, ladders should only be used if they are unbroken and placed on a non-slippery surface. Employers should take care to only provide ladders that are inspected for safety hazards, such as broken rungs and cracks.
Unprotected edges are another common, yet preventable fall hazard. At a construction site, unprotected sides (including uncovered crawl holes, etc.) are serious threats to construction worker safety. Employers should provide side rails to keep workers from suffering fall injuries.
Fall accidents can result in serious, life-changing injuries. Spinal cord injuries, which lead to paralysis, are often caused by falls. Depending on the degree of the injury, a fall victim could be left with partial or complete paralysis in one or all of his / her limbs. There are two basic forms of paralysis: quadriplegia and paraplegia. Quadriplegia affects all movement from the neck down, while paraplegia only affects movement from the waist down.
Other fall-related injuries:
According to the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of death at construction sites in America. In 2020, there were 351 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,008 construction fatalities
This number continues to climb every year. In many of these instances, construction workers abided by all of the safety rules, including wearing hard hats and abiding by OSHA protocol. This means that their injuries were the fault of some other negligent party. If you suffered an avoidable fall while working at a construction site, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for your missed wages, medical bills, and other damages.
If you or someone close to you suffered a serious fall at while working construction, speak with a Chicago construction accident lawyer at Duncan Law Group legal team today. The sooner you call, the faster an attorney can help.
Call (312) 202-3283 to schedule a case consultation with a Chicago injury lawyer today.