Construction Lawyers in NYC
Common injuries in NYC construction lawyers
Construction work is inherently dangerous. The U.S. Department of Labor issued research data in 2009 showing that construction laborers had the fourth highest number of non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in lost days at work—31,310 such cases in 2008 alone. The cause of 40 percent of these construction accidents was contact with an object or equipment, while another 19 percent were overexertion related.
Common construction work injuries requiring legal help
The following are the kinds of on the job injuries that often are caused by construction accidents in which other parties may be involved or be liable.
Head injuries
Blunt force to the head from construction accidents can have devastating and permanent results. One of the most common effects of a construction site accident head injury is a concussion—a type of brain injury that is caused by a sudden blow to the head. Most concussion victims recover within a few weeks, but a severe concussion may require surgery to heal or may result in long term or even permanent impairments.
Burn injuries
Many construction accidents result in severe burns, permanent scarring, disability or death. Scenarios that cause such burns include—
- A construction vehicle rollover in which a worker gets pinned against a hot engine component
- Fuel spills that cause explosions
- Wood dust or shavings that ignite and quickly burn anyone nearby
- An accident victim being unable to escape from a burning wreck
- Caustic burns suffered from hazardous chemical spills
Paralysis
Paralysis in construction accident injuries is often the result of spinal cord damage caused by falls from upper levels on the site, bodily impact from falling or moving objects, or slip and fall accidents. The impact causes the head to snap back suddenly, severing or severely injuring a portion of the spinal cord in the neck or back. Temporary or permanent paralysis may result.
In worst case construction accidents, a worker becomes completely paralyzed from the neck down or may even suffer death. Partial paralysis may be caused by crushing or stabbing injuries to limbs, both common in construction accidents. For example, a person whose hip is pinned and crushed may suffer sufficient damage to the nerves to produce permanent paralysis.
Blinding injuries
Construction sites are a full of sharp materials and tools. When they make contact with an eye, permanent partial or full blindness is likely. Caustic liquids splashed into the eyes also commonly cause blindness.
Hearing loss
Construction sites pose two risks to hearing—long term exposure from consistently loud and repetitive sounds and sudden, sharp blasts from close proximity to explosions, concussive blasts, and loud horns. The decibel level of common construction tools including power saws, air hammers, and sanders is more than sufficient to cause permanent hearing loss after long-term exposure. Single blasts may be much louder, and one exposure may be enough to produce profound hearing loss.
What to do if injured on the job
If you are injured at work, you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits. These benefits may help you with medical treatments and some of your lost income while recovering. To fully recover damages from your on the job injuries, you will need to work with an experienced construction attorney to help you make a legal claim against your employer or the workers compensation company.
