Because Relationships Matter 
Construction sites, while essential for building our cities, are also high-risk environments where various hazards can lead to injuries. Here are the most prevalent construction injuries construction workers face.
Common Construction Accident Injuries
Bone Fractures
Any construction accident can cause severe breaks or bone fractures, but they are common in falls when a worker hits the ground or an object on the way down. When severe, these injuries often need surgery and/or a cast, as well as physical therapy and other ongoing treatment.
Burns
Burn injuries can result from various sources, such as:
- Chemical Exposure: Construction workers may encounter various chemicals, including corrosive substances and flammable materials. Improper handling, spills, or accidents involving these substances can result in chemical burns.
- Hot Surfaces and Materials: Construction sites often involve the use of hot surfaces, such as welding equipment, hot tar, or molten metal. Accidental contact with these hot materials can cause thermal burns.
- Explosions and Fires: Combustible materials, flammable gases, or other explosive substances present on construction sites can lead to fires and explosions, causing severe burns.
- Steam and Hot Liquids: Steam pipes, hot water, or other liquids at high temperatures can cause burns upon contact. Workers involved in tasks like pipefitting or plumbing are particularly susceptible to steam burns.
Electrocution
Exposure to live wires, faulty equipment, or contact with power lines can lead to electrocutions.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a primary cause of fatalities and long-term disabilities. A TBI is most often caused by a sudden impact or blow to the head, disrupting the normal function of the brain.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can vary in severity, with the most extreme cases resulting in paralysis. Workers may require surgical intervention, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and other treatment and may still have to live with chronic pain.
Loss of Limb or Amputation
In a catastrophic accident, a limb can be crushed or brutally mangled, leading to amputation. As a result, workers can suffer permanent pain and lifelong disability.
Internal Organ Damage
The impact of a construction accident or the body being thrown can damage internal organs. This type of injury can quickly become life-threatening if not treated immediately.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Severe lacerations, burns, and other injuries to the skin can cause significant scarring or disfigurement, permanently altering a worker’s physical appearance.
Wrongful Death
When a construction accident causes a worker fatality, it is considered a wrongful death. In these cases, the worker’s surviving family has the right to hold the at-fault party accountable by pursuing a wrongful death claim.
Types of Compensation You Can Recover
After a construction accident, you can file a workers’ compensation claim to receive benefits. Those benefits cover:
- Reasonable medical expenses
- Up to two-thirds of your average weekly wages
- Rehabilitation programs
- Permanent disability benefits
- Death benefits
If a third-party other than your employer or a coworker (e.g., property owner, contractor, equipment manufacturer, etc.), you can pursue a personal injury lawsuit for compensation beyond what workers’ compensation covers. If successful, you may be able to recover medical expenses that are not covered by workers’ comp, the difference in lost wages and benefits that are unpaid, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
If you have been injured in a construction accident, a trusted Westchester County construction accident lawyer can help ensure you recover the compensation you deserve. Call (914) 993-0393 or contact us online today to arrange a free consultation.