Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Construction Accident Lawyer
Common Types of
Construction Accidents
If you have been injured in a construction accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other hardships. The inherent risks of construction sites require individuals to exercise an extremely high level of vigilance and caution when they are working. It is the responsibility of the contractors and construction company owners to maintain a safe work environment for their workers and other individuals on or near the jobsite. They must also employ only workers who have received appropriate and adequate training in the fields they are working.
If a construction company or contractor has failed to meet these standards, and this negligence has resulted in injuries to you, it may be possible to bring a workers’ compensation, personal injury, or premises liability lawsuit. If your injuries resulted from using a malfunctioning or defective tool or product, you may be able to file a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the defective tool or product. If a worker dies because of negligence at the workplace, the worker's spouse and dependents may be able to file a law wrongful death suit against the employer. To discuss your case with a Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania-area construction accident lawyer, contact the Foley Law Firm today.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Construction is a dangerous job, oftentimes involving working at significant heights, heavy lifting, falling objects, and hazards associated with the use of electricity, chemicals, and heavy equipment. The work environment at a construction site leaves even the most alert construction worker exposed to the potential of suffering a serious injury. Some of the most common injuries suffered by construction workers are described below.
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Falls
Because many projects involve the construction of structures that are taller than one or two stories, falls are fairly common and can cause injury and death. Even a fall from a second-story balcony, scaffolding, or roof can be catastrophic. An injury from a fall can result in life-long disabilities that require constant medical care and prevent the victim from ever being able to live independently again. If you have suffered a serious injury as the result of a fall on a construction site, you may be eligible for damages for lost wages, medical bills, and emotional distress. Contact our personal injury firm serving Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and surrounding areas. A construction accident lawyer at our firm will meet with you for a free consultation.
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Falling Objects
A heavy object falling from a crane or off of a building can be deadly. There are numerous risks for falling objects on a construction site. Materials being raised and positioned in place by cranes can fall and injure or kill workers. A piece of discarded steel or concrete ricocheting off of the mouth of the garbage chute can kill or maim. If you have been injured by a falling object on a construction site, or if a loved one has been killed as the result of a falling object, contact our offices today to speak with a construction accident lawyer. Our goal is to help our clients attain just and fair compensation for any injuries they have suffered.
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Heavy Equipment Accidents
If you are a construction worker, you are well aware of the many different types of heavy equipment utilized at construction sites. Equipment of all types and sizes, from forklifts and Bobcat® loaders to dump trucks and cranes, are commonly used on a construction site. Unfortunately, these types of equipment, especially when operating in the relatively small confines of a construction site, can pose a hazard to the workers on the ground as well as to the equipment operators. If you have been injured in a heavy equipment accident, either as an operator or as a worker, you may be eligible for compensation.
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Electrocution / Electric Shock
Electricity can kill, and it should be handled with extreme care. If a loved one has suffered a wrongful death as a result of electrocution, or you have been injured by electric shock, a Wilkes-Barre or Scranton-area construction accident lawyer from the Foley Law Firm may be able to help you. Electrical work should only be performed by qualified electricians. Unfortunately, our firm finds that many contractors pay little attention to safely securing live electrical ends on construction sites because they feel it is neither cost efficient nor time efficient. Construction companies and contractors have an obligation to provide a safe work environment for all of their employees, and part of that obligation entails that any electrical dangers be eliminated or conspicuously labeled.
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Burn and Chemical Accidents
On most construction sites, there are potentially dangerous materials and chemicals that if not handled properly can result in serious injury or death. A welding accident or electrical accident can cause explosions or fires capable of inflicting severe burns on individuals, and workers in the hot tar trade are susceptible to severe scalding injuries. Many of the chemicals found on worksites, such as acids, can cause burns if there is contact with the skin. Burns often require intensive, long-term medical care. If you have been the victim of a construction site burn or chemical accident, contact a construction accident lawyer today to schedule a consultation.
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Lifting Accidents
Many construction workers injure themselves on the job by continuously lifting heavy, awkwardly shaped objects, sometimes for ten or twelve hours a day. Improper lifting techniques, often the result of fatigue, can cause severe damage to the lower back muscles and crippling pain. If you have suffered a back injury on the job, our law firm can help you attain compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other hardships. Our lawyers can also help determine if you are eligible for compensation relating to negligent actions by your employer. If an employer recklessly demands that dangerous labor be performed by employees, he or she can be held liable for any injuries that result.
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Construction Accident Investigation
A construction accident can jeopardize a construction worker. Because the work is strenuous work that requires individuals have full control of all of their faculties, a devastating construction accident can end a worker’s career. If you have been injured on a construction site, our goal at the Foley Law Firm is to make sure that you get just and fair financial compensation for the financial and emotional hardships caused by your injuries. If you have suffered a permanent physical impairment that prohibits you from practicing your trade, we will seek compensation to provide a lifetime of income. If the circumstances warrant, we may also seek punitive damages so that the dangerous conditions that led to your injuries are strongly addressed and hopefully eliminated. At our law firm, we believe that if proper safety guidelines are in place, a preventable accident on a worksite should never occur. When accidents do occur, the responsible parties must be held accountable. If you have been injured on the worksite, a construction accident lawyer from the Foley Law Firm can help you achieve justice and compensation, and your legal action will help to make the worksite safer for everyone.
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Contact the Foley Law Firm
If you have been seriously injured in a construction accident, contact the Foley Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation and case review. A Wilkes-Barre and Scranton-area construction accident lawyer from our office can help you attain full compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
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