Have You Been Injured In A Construction Accident?

Falling victim to a work injury often happens far too quickly for one to process fully. Even as a victim of an incident in the construction field, where, unfortunately, injuries are not surprising, they can catch you off guard. You try to do your job as carefully as possible, so after an injury, you might be thinking, ‘Why me?’

One of the first things to do when you experience a work injury is to get the help you need to heal, whether that’s from emergency room doctors, your regular doctor, a therapist, family members or friends.

As you begin your recovery journey, you might be ready to start looking into filing a claim and receiving workers’ compensation benefits. This process may start with seeing if anyone has ever been in a similar situation, exploring the compensation approaches available to you and checking if any safety violations led to your injury.

Common Construction Accidents

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) develops rules to prevent harm and injury in different fields, including construction. When employers don’t implement guidelines or employees don’t follow directions, incidents are more likely to happen. Specifically, these are some of the most common types of construction accidents reported by OSHA:

• Falls: Falls can happen from scaffolding or ladders. Even where there isn’t height involved, a worker can trip or slip on something.
• Electrocution: There is a risk of this happening when employees work on or near intricate power lines or while using standard power tools.
• Caught-in: When trenches or pits are part of a work site, the walls can cave in or collapse on someone.
• Struck-by: In situations where vehicles or heavy machinery are in operation, colliding with these is possible without proper precautions.

While this isn’t an extensive list, the accidents on it tend to come up a lot. Repetitive strain injuries and exposure to unsafe substances or chemicals can result from a hazardous work site, too. It’s also important to note that sometimes, OSHA violations play no role in a work incident. But, regardless of the details of your accident, reviewing your rights as an employee is essential.

Rights Of Delaware Workers

The formation of OSHA in 1970 gave way to a solidified list of employee rights, including working for an employer that sets up a safe environment, thoroughly trains its employees in their job positions and warns them of any hazards in the workplace that may arise. Additionally, under OSHA regulations, an employee:

• Can request an OSHA inspection of their workplace and have access to inspection reports
• Can keep anonymity when filing an OSHA complaint
• Can access their employer’s complete list of rules and regulations
• Should have protection from discrimination and retaliation by their employer

If you’ve been involved in a construction accident, exploring legal rights should come immediately after getting medical help. While the accident is fresh on your mind or at the scene, collecting relevant evidence and compiling a list of witnesses might also strengthen your claim.

Contact Us For Help

Confiding in a legal professional with experience in workers’ compensation and construction accidents can place you on the path to the justice you truly deserve. A free consultation with one of our skilled attorneys is just one phone call or email away. You can reach us at 302-566-1796 or email us.