Every day, construction workers face a higher risk of getting injured at work. There are always many moving parts at a construction site, which exposes workers to a lot of potential risks, making them prone to accidents. These construction accidents can range from minor to catastrophic and can even cause wrongful death. After experiencing a loved one’s wrongful death in a construction accident, contacting a Kenosha lawyer could be your best next move.
Types of Injuries at a Construction Site:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Cuts or lacerations
- Concussion
- Eye injuries/loss of vision
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Loss of hearing
- Loss of limbs
- Orthopedic injuries such as a sprain/strain
- Paralysis/spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Post-traumatic stress disorders
In 2018, 1,008 of the 4,779 worker fatalities in the private industry were in construction, according to the data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration agency or OSHA. With so many injuries, maintaining a safe workplace is very important. However, no matter how many safety precautions are observed, accidents can still occur.
In the worst cases, the worker sustains a serious injury and dies. If the worker’s death is caused by another person’s negligence, this becomes a wrongful death case.
What Types of Construction Accidents may Lead to Death?
- Falls – these are the most common cause of construction site injury. These can be on the same floor or a fall from one level to another. In some cases, the injuries can be caused by a wrongly placed ladder or a ladder that is defective. Luckily, falls generally only result in minor injuries such as bruises or fractures. However, more serious fall accidents can lead to concussions, paralysis, and even death. Falls accounted for 33.5% of the total deaths in construction in 2018.
- Falling debris or construction materials – catch platforms are important in construction sites to prevent debris and construction materials from falling and hitting workers and pedestrians. Falling debris and materials are dangerous and accounted for 112 of the 1,008 total deaths in construction in 2018.
- Electrocution – In 2018, 86 of the 1,008 deaths in construction were caused by electrocution. Construction sites have lots of electrical wires and if there are live wires, that can be very dangerous.
- Caught-in/between machinery – Construction works require machinery. The workers operating this machinery can accidentally get caught in between the mechanical parts. 5.5% of deaths were due to getting caught in between machinery.
- Equipment-related accidents – Equipment can fail to work and when it does, serious accidents can happen that can lead to death.
- Fires/Explosions – Fires and explosions in construction sites can occur because of flammable chemicals, leaks, or live/exposed wiring. If not stopped, these can lead to serious injuries and even death.
If you or someone you loved was injured or wrongfully died because of a construction accident, contact the local Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. to talk to one of our skilled Kenosha construction injury attorneys for a free consultation today.
What Causes These Accidents?
Worksite operations should adhere to legal and industry standards. If the site is poorly managed, many problems can occur, and leading to an incident. Here are the most common causes of accidents at construction sites that workers must be familiar with:
- Malfunctioning/defective construction machinery
- Inadequate safety training
- Inadequate equipment training
- Negligent/reckless workers
Who Would be Responsible in the Case of Someone Dying After an Accident?
Construction sites have a large number of workers, each doing their own assigned tasks. In the case of an accident or wrongful death, the following individuals may be held responsible:
- Owner of the construction site
- Engineers/architects
- Construction managers
- Contractors
- Manufacturers of machinery/equipment used in the construction site
What to Do After A Loved One’s Wrongful Death in a Construction Accident in Kenosha
Filing a claim for wrongful death at a construction site can be complicated and expensive. Construction projects involve a lot of people. There are multiple companies or contracting firms and a large number of workers at a construction site.
Aside from the large group of people involved, there are also organizations such as the OSHA, the ANSI (American National Standards Institute), the Wisconsin Safety Council (WSC), and the various laws and regulations that must be considered when filing a wrongful death claim.
Only an experienced construction injury attorney will be able to navigate through all these. With over thirty years of experience, the Kenosha construction accident attorneys at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. has handled many types of wrongful death cases. Contact our firm now for a free consultation.
