An electrician working on a project at a Maryland college was injured in a construction site accident after the load he was carrying in his Bobcat shifted and crashed into the vehicle. According to a news report in the Baltimore Sun, the construction site accident occurred at Harford Community College. The man was working on a project to expand and renovate the arena on campus. Firefighters had to stabilize the Bobcat before extracting the man and having him taken to a local trauma center. The victim suffered a serious leg injury. Officials said the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Construction is considered one of the most risky industries in the United States and it tops the list for workplace accidents. According to the New York City Department of Buildings, there were 157 construction accidents in 2010. Nationwide, more than 800 construction-related fatal injuries occur every year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one out of every five work-related deaths in the United States occurs in the construction industry.
Machinery malfunctions are a common cause of construction site accidents in New York City. A construction site typically uses heavy machinery and equipment such as cranes, forklifts and booms to do various jobs. Employers, in addition to maintaining a safe environment for their employees, must give them the necessary job training. They are also required to provide workers with safety equipment such as hard hats, harnesses, vests, gloves, and safety goggles – depending on the type of job they are performing. Employers must make sure an employee is properly trained on how to use all equipment and tools concerning his or her task. It is their responsibility to make sure the building or site being worked on meets safety standards.
Injuries caused by heavy machinery are often catastrophic. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, limb or finger amputations, and severe bone fractures are common types of injuries suffered by workers as a result of machinery malfunctions. An injured construction worker may be able to file for workers compensation benefits through the employer. A worker may also be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent party such as a building owner, general contractor, sub-contractor, equipment maintenance firm, or the manufacturer of a defective product, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York construction accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker who was injured on the job – one of the highest construction case settlements in New York in 2010. Please contact us at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
www.work4youlaw.com
Source: The Baltimore Sun