Most Common Types of Construction Accidents 

Construction work is – hands down – one of the most dangerous forms of employment out there, and there is a wide range of accidents that are common to the industry. If you or someone you love has been injured on the job as a construction worker, an experienced Virginia workers’ compensation attorney is standing by to help. 

OSHA Weighs In

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shares the following primary standards violations (on the job) in 2020 that are directly related to construction work:

• Violations related to fall protection requirements
• Violations related to general scaffolding requirements
• Violations of ladder requirements

The CDC Takes a Turn

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fleshes out the kinds of dangerous accidents that are most common in the booming construction industry (the number of construction workers in the United States increased by 25 percent from 2011 to 2019). These include: 

• The number one cause of construction site fatalities is falling, which – in 2019 – accounted for more than a third of the total number of construction-related deaths. Falls from elevations are the deadliest accidents of all. 
• Of all the fatal construction accidents in 2019, being struck by something in the course of one’s work accounted for 15.4 percent.
• Of all the fatal construction accidents in 2019, being electrocuted in the course of one’s work accounted for 7.2 percent.
• Of all the fatal construction accidents in 2019, being caught in or being caught in between heavy objects accounted for 5.4 percent. 

It’s important to note that small construction companies are overly represented in these accident statistics. In fact, 75 percent of all fatal falls on construction sites between 2015 and 2017 are attributed to companies that employ fewer than 20 construction workers. These small companies, however, generated only about 39 percent of the industry’s payroll. 

How Workers’ Compensation Works

Workers’ compensation is federally mandated insurance coverage that employers are required to carry on their employees. Workers’ compensation is designed to protect the rights of workers and their employers. As an employee, you can expect coverage if you are injured in an accident on the job – without having to prove your employer’s negligence (as you would in a personal injury claim). Your employer, on the other hand, avoids the threat of negligence-based lawsuits. Workers’ compensation helps to balance the protections on both sides. It’s important to recognize, however, that obtaining the benefits that fairly cover your losses is challenging and that working closely with a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney is in your best interest.  

Don’t Put Off Consulting with an Experienced Virginia Workers’ Compensation Attorney

If you have been injured by an accident on the construction site, seeking the compensation to which you are entitled is important to your recovery, and the practiced Virginia workers’ comp attorneys at Hampton Injury Law PLC are standing by to help. Our trusted legal team has an impressive track record of guiding claims like yours toward favorable resolutions, and we’re here for you, too. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.