Construction Equipment Accident Injury
In ancient times, hand tools and pulleys may have been the only “construction equipment” present on a jobsite. Nowadays, even small construction sites like the site of a new home will have multiple power tools and equipment designed to assist the workers in completing their tasks more easily and more quickly. “Speed” does not always equate with “safety,” however: workers who are in a hurry to complete their job tasks may misuse construction equipment and cause injury to themselves and to those who are simply passing by the construction site.
Types of Accidents with Construction Equipment
Construction equipment is often considered power equipment because electricity, batteries, or a gas engine powers the machine as it completes its intended function. While this gives workers a significant advantage over their ancient predecessors in crushing rock, moving large stones and loads, and in driving nails and fasteners, these machines can quickly cause serious injuries if the user of the equipment is not careful.
Some of the injuries that can be inflicted include:
- Loss of limb injuries, such as might occur if a power saw cuts through a worker’s arm or if clothing or a body part becomes caught in a compactor or intertwined in moving gears. Amputation and loss of limb usually occurs where there is a significant laceration or a crushing injury that is impossible to repair and where the trauma associated with the injury threatens the victim’s life.
- Falls off of scaffoldings, scissor-lifts, and other high surfaces. Although scaffoldings are not powered equipment, they are considered construction equipment and (along with other types of equipment) assist workers in completing the job tasks they must complete at a certain height. Improper use of this equipment can lead to a collapse or failure of the equipment – overloading a scaffolding can cause it to break, or lifting too heavy of a load with a scissor-lift can cause the lift to collapse, resulting in fall injuries to the victim. These fall injuries often result in traumatic brain injuries, head and spine injuries, broken bones, and internal trauma.
- Burns from chemicals, hot substances, or electric currents. Roofers may need to work around equipment that keeps tar hot and able to be spread on the roof’s surface, and electricians on a jobsite routinely work around live currents. Unless proper precautions are taken, these and other dangers can cause second- and third-degree burns to workers. Serious burns can be extremely painful and it can require multiple surgeries to repair the damage caused.
The unfortunate fact is that many construction site injuries resulting in injuries to workers on the jobsite and passersby can be prevented. Construction companies can help accomplish this by properly training their workers on how to use equipment they will need to complete the jobs, not allowing untrained workers to use equipment unsupervised, and by providing workers with the appropriate safety equipment necessary given the dangers the equipment they are using present.
Additionally, workers themselves can keep equipment-related accidents from happening by slowing down on the jobsite and taking the time to ensure the equipment is in good working order before they use it. If there is any question about the safety of a piece of equipment, the worker should ask a supervisor to examine the equipment before using the equipment. Finally, workers should be cognizant of their surroundings when using equipment – a circular saw should not be used, for example, if there is another worker using the space near the saw. Similarly, a dump truck driver should check all of his or her mirrors and enlist the help of a spotter before backing away from a congested job site onto the surrounding road.
Who is To Blame for Accidents with Construction Equipment
Injury victims who suffer injuries on a jobsite need to identify the responsible parties before an attorney can help them determine their legal rights. If an employee from another construction company was the cause of the accident, that worker (along with his employer) are the ones the injury victim will most likely sue for compensation. However, these may not be the only responsible individuals. If a piece of equipment was defective or unsafe to use, the equipment manufacturer and/or the person responsible for maintaining the equipment may also be to blame. In some states, an employer who deliberately and willfully refuses to provide his or her workers with safe equipment and proper safety gear may also be named as a defendant in a lawsuit.
This illustrates the necessity of hiring an experienced and knowledgeable construction site attorney to handle your equipment injury case. Identifying all parties who contributed to your accident and injuries is the only way to obtain full and fair compensation. With years of experience in investigating construction site accidents, Stern Law, PLLC is well-suited to helping you obtain the financial damages you need to address your injuries, your losses, and your pain. Contact Stern Law, PLLC at (844) 808-7529 and let our dedicated team help you move forward from your construction accident.
