Indianapolis Construction Accident Attorney

Construction sites are inherently dangerous and many accidents occur each year. Construction site lawsuits can be extremely complicated due to the number of parties who may hold some liability for your accident. The majority of work-related injuries and fatalities in the construction industry occur in four common types of accidents including falls, struck by object, caught/in-between, and electrocutions.

Falls

Falls are the leading cause of construction accident injury, accounting for more than one-third of employee deaths per year. Hazards that cause fall related deaths are:

• Misuse of Ladders: If a ladder is positioned on uneven or unsteady ground, falls are more likely to occur.
• Improper Scaffolding: Heavy equipment and building materials create a limited space on the scaffold. Improper installation of guardrail systems and nonuse of guardrail systems can lead to serious injury from a fall.
• Unguarded Rebar: Stumbling onto an unprotected or unguarded steel rebar can cause impalement, serious injury, and even death.
• Unprotected Sides, Openings, and Holes: When openings and holes are unprotected, they must be clearly marked. If a worker falls through the floor, he or she could become seriously injured.

When a worker experiences a fall on a construction site they are at risk for head injuries, internal bleeding, traumatic brain injury, broken bones, and more.

Struck-By Object

Workers being struck by an object is another leading cause of construction accident injuries or deaths. In 2016, approximately one in ten workers was struck by an object while on the construction site. Fall objects can happen quickly and most often, the construction workers are unable to react to the hazard. The leading causes of struck-by accidents are:

• Vehicles: Heavy equipment and cranes are used on nearly every construction site. Nearly 75% of struck-by fatalities involve vehicles.
• Falling Objects: Objects can fall from cranes, scaffolding, or from stories above and strike a worker.

Construction workers are at a higher risk of injury or death if their employer doesn’t install the proper safety equipment. Workers should also wear high visibility clothing when working near equipment or tools that could result in an accident.

Caught/In-Between

Construction workers who use heavy machinery or equipment may become caught in or between the machines. The lack of oxygen or exposure to harmful chemicals can lead to serious injury or death. Injuries sustained in these accidents include broken bones, crushed body parts, lacerations, and even death. Important safety measures that can help to prevent these accidents include:

• Placing a protective system around a trench or excavation
• Ensuring workers wear high visibility clothing
• Inspecting the area around a trench
• Ensuring that employees stay clear of areas where machines are active

Workers who get caught in-between machines often require months or even years of recovery including therapy, surgery, and other medical issues.

Electrocutions

Construction sites are dangerous and one of the biggest dangers is electrical equipment and wires. Employees who work around this equipment are at an increased risk of electrocution. The most common electrical hazards are:

• Contact with power lines
• Faulty equipment
• Improperly grounded lines
• Improper use of equipment
• Loose or broken wiring

Construction workers can be electrocuted due to improper use of electrical conduits, tools, extension cords, and power tools.

Contact Batesky Law Office

If you or a loved one has been injured on the job site in a construction accident, call an attorney who has the experience and will fight for you. Bulldog Batesky has been fighting for Hoosiers for nearly 30 years. Contact our office for a complimentary case evaluation today. We have helped thousands of Indiana construction workers get back on the road to financial freedom after an accident.