A construction site is often a well-organized and efficient operation comprised of various teams working towards a common goal and overseen by a foreman or team of foremen to ensure that everyone is safe and productive. Unfortunately, even the best-organized construction site is never 100% safe from an accident, and people can be hurt due to their actions or someone else’s behavior. Fortunately, there is no need to determine who caused an accident on a Jacksonville construction site since workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” policy that pays benefits to a claimant regardless of who caused the accident and whether or not it was due to negligence.
Since workers’ compensation claims are not contingent on someone being held liable for the accident due to negligence, these claims are typically less contentious and somewhat less complex than personal injury cases, but this does not mean that a workers’ compensation claim is a simple process that does not require attention and detail.
Partner With an Attorney To Get The Benefits You Deserve After a Construction Accident
Working with an experienced construction accident lawyer is one of the best ways to ensure that your claim is being handled correctly and that all benefits are identified and calculated while determining how much you are entitled to. Even though a workers’ compensation claim is less contentious than a personal injury claim, this does not mean that the Florida workers’ compensation agent handling your case will be able to identify each impact that you deserve benefits for. Workers’ compensation agents have an extensive caseload and simply do not have the time to give each case an exceptional level of attention to detail.
Contact 1-800-Injured To Request a Free Consultation With an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Jacksonville
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. After a workplace injury, finding a lawyer can feel like just one more task that can overwhelm injured workers as they focus on their recovery and make sense of the situation. Instead of going through the process of reaching out to law firms, waiting to get a response, scheduling consultations, and managing all of these dates and times on your own, we will connect you with an experienced attorney for a free consultation without the hassle.
Once connected with a lawyer, you will be able to go over the details of your situation and get specific answers to your many questions about how best to move forward. Whether you are unable to return to work at all, reassigned to “light duty,” or are unsure of what your working life will look like after this accident, trying to take on the stress and emotional burden of the legal aspects of your injuries can be overwhelming. Once you are connected with a lawyer, they will guide you through this process so you can stay focused on your recovery with confidence.
Common Construction Accidents in Florida
The following are the “Big Four” of the many types of accidents common on construction sites in Florida. Whether or not you see your accident below, contact us now to connect with an attorney who can help you understand your rights as an injured worker and who is willing to work to ensure that you receive the benefits you rightfully deserve.
Falls make up roughly 40% of all fatal construction accidents in the US each year, and electrocution, caught-in, and struck-by accidents each account for between 5-10% of all fatalities. In addition to fatal accidents, these big four are also responsible for many non-fatal injuries each year.
Falls
Many trade workers find themselves working above ground level daily, whether they are on a ladder, scaffolding, assembling iron girders, painting, or any number of other tasks. Working at heights requires many different safety protocols such as harnesses, tethers, and many other measures intended to prevent a fall, but these safety measures may be ignored or may fail even if used properly.
Falls accounted for 38% of all construction fatalities in 2019 and are most commonly falls to lower levels, whether through open holes in floors, off of scaffolding or girders, or other scenarios where a worker slips or trips and falls from the floor they are working on.
Electrocution
Whether new construction or doing work to an existing structure, working on a construction site almost invariably means electrical work is being done in the area. In 2015, there were a reported 0.8 electrocution fatalities per 100,000 full-time workers, according to the CDC.
Electrocutions can happen due to direct contact with a wire or other electrical conductor but may also happen when a live wire is touching exposed metal or is submerged in water, among many other possible ways that someone can be inadvertently electrocuted while taking all necessary safety measures.
Caught-In
With many large machines in constant operation at a construction site, it comes as no surprise to learn that being caught in a piece of equipment is another of the four most common construction site accidents. Miscommunications between equipment operators and others around them may lead to a situation where someone is caught in a gear, conveyor, or pinched between other heavy objects.
When large objects are being moved around by cranes, workers are marrying large pieces of steel or wood, and a variety of other tasks that involve moving large objects, there is endless opportunity to be caught in, pinched by, squeezed, or compressed between two or more heavy objects, and the results can be catastrophic.
Struck-By
Much like the risk of being caught or pinched between large pieces of machinery or construction materials, there is the equal risk of being struck by an object, whether it is a hand tool dropped from a higher level or a large piece of equipment or material being moved by a crane or other large piece of machinery. Construction materials must be continuously shuttled from ground level to the work areas, and this continuous distribution of materials increases the risk of workers being struck by objects significantly.