Construction sites can be extremely dangerous places. If you’ve been injured on a construction site, whether as a construction worker or someone passing through the area, you know this firsthand. Unfortunately, many construction site owners and managers try to cut corners regarding safety in order to preserve profits and keep the project moving along. When this happens, people like you suffer as a result. If this happens to you, you need to call a trusted Fairbanks construction injury attorney from our team.
A major equipment rental website details statistics taken from OSHA and the CDC regarding construction industry accidents, including the fact that out of every 5,000 private-industry worker fatalities, a full twenty percent are in the construction field. The construction industry is well-known for being one of the most dangerous fields to work in, resulting in fatalities, as well as serious, non-fatal injuries.
Of all worker deaths in the construction field, transportation and material-moving workers accounted for nearly half of those deaths. The “fatal four” leading causes of construction industry deaths include electrocution, being caught in something or between two objects, falls and being struck by an object. About 51 percent of all workplace falls in the United States occur in the construction industry, typically, a fall from a height.
A staggering one in every ten construction workers will suffer some level of injury each year, with lifting, using a tool or machine or carrying heavy objects at the forefront for strain injuries in the construction industry. Construction workers between the ages of 25 and 34 are the most likely to be injured while working in construction and construction site injuries typically account for 6-9 percent of the total project costs.
What Happens When You Have Been Injured on a Construction Site?
If you’ve been injured on a construction site—whether as a construction worker or a person passing through the area—you may be left with serious injuries, medical expenses, and you could even be unable to return to work. Being unable to work can prevent you from earning a living and supporting yourself and your family, and even if you have health insurance, you could find your portion of your medical expenses mounting alarmingly. In short, your life may have changed in the blink of an eye, and you may be unsure what you need to do to ensure your rights are protected and your voice is heard.
At Ringstad Law Office, P.C., we have extensive experience helping Alaska construction workers and citizens regain their lives following a construction site accident. After nearly thirty years of personal injury practice in Fairbanks, we understand Alaska laws and know how to pursue your construction site accident claim properly.
Whether you have been involved in a fall from a height, a scaffolding accident, were hit by a falling object, were involved in a crane, forklift, or other heavy machinery accident, were electrocuted or were involved in an incident involving site debris, we want to hear from you.
Although construction site accidents are, unfortunately, relatively common, you should not see accidents and injuries as simply “part of the job.” Construction accidents are a threat to all workers on the project as well as the project itself, yet many hardworking employees who work on a construction site find themselves frustrated by the limitations of the legal actions they can take against a negligent party. Most of us believe that between OSHA and the more modern construction equipment in use has resulted in fewer on-the-job injuries for construction workers. Unfortunately, this is hardly the case.
Construction Worker Safety
While every construction worker is trained in basic safety issues, remember that a construction site is generally very busy and chaotic. Action is taking place everywhere you look, and each person is focused on his or her particular task, making most construction sites—even the safe ones—at least somewhat dangerous. Construction workers routinely handle hazardous or dangerous materials, operate heavy machinery, and work with a variety of tools and equipment. Further, construction workers often work from excessive heights and in situations which have the potential to be dangerous, or even deadly.
Why are Construction Accidents Increasing?
The construction business continues to boom, with continuous demand for new housing and new businesses. As a result, new construction sites are constantly springing up across the nation, and in Fairbanks. This expanding construction industry often leads to unrealistic deadlines, and working conditions which could be challenging, at best. When taken as a whole, the potential for construction accidents is always present.
Who Is Responsible for Your Construction Accident?
If you have been injured in a construction accident, your Fairbanks construction accident attorney will want to determine who bears the primary responsibility for your injuries. Specific individuals are responsible for different aspects of the safety of a construction site, and should those individuals neglect this responsibility, a construction accident can occur.
Your Fairbanks construction accident attorney will know who should be held responsible for your particular accident and will aggressively pursue compensation for your lost wages, medical bills (past, present, and future) and any other damages which apply to your specific injuries.
Why File a Construction Accident Lawsuit?
Painful or crippling accidents—or even death—are often the result of this boom in the construction industry, leaving construction workers and their families feeling as though they have few options, and are left with a compromised future. In particular, when a construction worker has been forced to contend with hazardous or broken materials, shoddy tools, and equipment, worn out machines or dangerous situations, a lawsuit may be the only way to restore financial security to a family devastated by a construction accident.
Contact a Fairbanks Construction Injury Attorney Near You
Victims of a Fairbanks construction site accident should immediately contact Ringstad Law Office, P.C. for an attorney who is highly experienced in handling the complexities of a construction site accident or death. It is important to speak to an attorney as quickly as possible to ensure the statutes of limitations are not exceeded, leaving you unable to obtain compensation for your injuries. Your Fairbanks construction injury attorney will know the best way to prove negligence in your construction accident—rather than leaving your future to chance, give us an opportunity to help you obtain just compensation for your construction site injuries. If you are injured in a construction accident, contact Ringstad Law Office, P.C. today for a free consultation.
