Construction Site Fall Injury
Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death both away from and on construction sites. Falls can result in particularly severe injuries given the fact that many falls result in injuries to the brain, head, neck, and spinal column – some of the most important and most delicate areas of the body. When the worker or passerby is injured in a construction site fall is older, there is an increased risk that the injuries will be permanently-limiting or fatal. A lawsuit brought on behalf of a fall victim may not be able to restore the victim to full functioning, but it can certainly assist the victim in moving forward with his or her limitations.
How to Falls on Construction Sites Occur?
One might be surprised to learn how frequently falls occur on construction sites. What is also surprising is that the vast majority of construction site falls occur because one or more individuals are attempting to complete their job duties too quickly or are otherwise distracted and not giving due care and attention to the task they are completing at hand.
A construction site fall can easily occur when:
- A worker is using a ladder but does not exercise due care and falls from the ladder, or if a worker uses a ladder that is in poor repair and has one or more dangerous defects;
- A worker falls off of a roof, an elevator, or scaffolding to floors below. While construction workers whose jobs require them to work at significant heights are supposed to wear fall-arrest harnesses and other safety equipment, in some cases the workers are not properly trained on how to use the equipment, choose not to use the equipment, or the equipment itself is not safe for use;
- A worker falls into an open pit or manhole that was not properly marked off. While the worker may bear some responsibility for watching where he or she is going, a construction company that opens up a hole on the job site must take reasonable steps to alert others who might be on the job site as to the presence of the hole or pit;
- A worker falls up or down stairs. These injuries can be particularly serious if the worker’s arms are full with supplies and he or she is unable to brace him- or herself against the fall. Even temporary stairways on the jobsite should comply with building codes and have sturdy handrails for use by individuals going up and down them.
In a typical construction site fall accident, there may be individuals other than the injured worker whose own careless or reckless behavior contributed to the victim’s fall. For instance, a fall caused by a defective ladder may have been brought about because (1) the victim did not adequately inspect the ladder before using it; and also (2) the owner of the ladder did not properly maintain the ladder or replace it once it had become too dangerous to use. Victims who fear they may be to blame for their fall injuries should know that in many states compensation is available so long as the victim’s negligence was not the predominant cause of the accident.
Injuries Associated with Falls on Construction Sites
When a worker or passerby falls on a construction site, the severity of that person’s injuries will depend on a number of factors such as: (1) the age and general health of the victim; (2) the type of surface onto which the victim fell; (3) what part of the victim’s body hit the ground first, as this generally indicates what body party received the brunt of the trauma; (4) whether the fall was on an uneven or even surface; and (5) other factors about the fall and the location thereof. Depending on these factors, a fall victim may suffer:
- Moderate or severe whiplash or blunt force trauma traumatic brain injuries;
- Neck and back injuries;
- Damage to or severance of the spinal column (which can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis);
- Broken bones in the back, ribs, arms, and/or legs.
Because many injuries associated with falls can be serious, it is always a good idea for an injured fall victim to seek prompt medical treatment at a hospital emergency room or urgent care clinic. This can prevent injuries sustained in the fall from becoming worse and more complicated to treat.
Fall victims can expect to spend a considerable amount of time recovering from their injuries, meaning they will be facing expensive medical bills, lost income (and perhaps lost ability to earn future income), and pain and suffering. The construction accident injury lawyers at Stern Law, PLLC are here to assist by helping construction site fall victims hold others who may have caused or contributed to the accident accountable for their actions. Contact Stern Law, PLLC today at (844) 808-7529 for help with your construction site fall injuries.
