Construction Accidents
Sometimes it seems like construction is happening all around us. Large commercial buildings, old structure renovations, and new residential facilities are underway all over Georgia. Responsible builders and construction companies regard safety as a top priority for its employees, visitors to the construction site, and for people passing by.
Unfortunately, there are times when a construction company, its site superintendent, or one of its employees will cut corners in safety, which can cause serious injury or, worse yet, death.
Employee Safety
In Georgia Workers’ Compensation insurance covering their employees as annotated under Code Section 34, Chapter 9. When an employee is injured on the job, this coverage is designed to provide medical, rehabilitation, and income benefits to help the injured employee return to work. It also provides benefits to dependents if an employee dies as a result of a job related injury.
What complicates compensation for a construction site injury is the presence of sub-contractors. Virtually all construction companies rely on the services of tradesmen who are trained and competent in several areas of expertise such as plumbers, drywall installers, painters, electricians, pipe-layers, and more. Workers trust in each other to apply the same focus on safety as they would themselves. When the negligence of an employee of a third-party company – or a subcontractor – causes an injury, Workers’ Compensation benefits may apply, but the injured worker may also have a cause of action against the company that employs the negligent worker. In that case, a claim would be filed against the company, independent of Workers’ Compensation.
To explain this better, let’s consider a plumber and a drywall installer. They are working on the same job site, but are employed by different contracting companies. The plumber, packing up for the day, drops a pipe on the floor but decides he’ll pick it up on his next trip from the truck. As he leaves, the drywall installer enters the room carrying an 8’ by 4’ piece of wall, steps on the pipe and breaks a leg. Who is going to pay the drywall installer for his injuries?
That’s where we can help – we can cut through the complications, identifying responsible parties, including contractors, subcontractors, site owners, engineers, and equipment manufacturers, and hold them all accountable.
Construction Zone Injuries to Non-Workers
Employees are not the only people at risk of construction accidents. Invited visitors to the site, as well as individuals walking or riding their bikes, are also at risk.
The areas surrounding a construction site should not be hazardous, but it is not uncommon for injuries to occur. Falling debris such as nails, tools, building materials or scaffolding, can injure unsuspecting passers-by because they are not wearing personal protection equipment such as a hard-hat or reinforced footwear that would be required for workers at the site.
Construction sites – with cranes as tall as the buildings they help create, 30-ton concrete mixers, jackhammers, drills, and nail guns – are hazardous by nature. Company workers, managers, employees, and everyone else involved in the construction process must comply with standards and practices established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) through their training and certification programs and continuing education. Injuries occur when those practices are not understood or disregarded altogether.
If you are injured within or around a construction zone, you need a lawyer who will investigate the circumstances of your injury to identify all responsible parties. We will take the time to help you understand your legal rights, present possible courses of action, and pursue your claim – all while you are focused on getting better. We want you to have a fair chance at getting the compensation you deserve. Give our office a call at (770) 731-1447 today for a free consultation.
Construction Safety
Sometimes it seems like construction is happening all around us. Large commercial buildings, old structure renovations, and new residential facilities are underway all over Georgia. Responsible builders and construction companies regard safety as a top priority for its employees, visitors to the construction site, and for people passing by.
Unfortunately, there are times when a construction company, its site superintendent, or one of its employees will cut corners in safety, which can cause serious injury or, worse yet, death.
Employee Safety
In Georgia Workers’ Compensation insurance covering their employees as annotated under Code Section 34, Chapter 9. When an employee is injured on the job, this coverage is designed to provide medical, rehabilitation, and income benefits to help the injured employee return to work. It also provides benefits to dependents if an employee dies as a result of a job related injury.
What complicates compensation for a construction site injury is the presence of sub-contractors. Virtually all construction companies rely on the services of tradesmen who are trained and competent in several areas of expertise such as plumbers, drywall installers, painters, electricians, pipe-layers, and more. Workers trust in each other to apply the same focus on safety as they would themselves. When the negligence of an employee of a third-party company – or a subcontractor – causes an injury, Workers’ Compensation benefits may apply, but the injured worker may also have a cause of action against the company that employs the negligent worker. In that case, a claim would be filed against the company, independent of Workers’ Compensation.
To explain this better, let’s consider a plumber and a drywall installer. They are working on the same job site, but are employed by different contracting companies. The plumber, packing up for the day, drops a pipe on the floor but decides he’ll pick it up on his next trip from the truck. As he leaves, the drywall installer enters the room carrying an 8’ by 4’ piece of wall, steps on the pipe and breaks a leg. Who is going to pay the drywall installer for his injuries?
That’s where we can help – we can cut through the complications, identifying responsible parties, including contractors, subcontractors, site owners, engineers, and equipment manufacturers, and hold them all accountable.
Construction Zone Injuries to Non-Workers
Employees are not the only people at risk of construction accidents. Invited visitors to the site, as well as individuals walking or riding their bikes, are also at risk.
The areas surrounding a construction site should not be hazardous, but it is not uncommon for injuries to occur. Falling debris such as nails, tools, building materials or scaffolding, can injure unsuspecting passers-by because they are not wearing personal protection equipment such as a hard-hat or reinforced footwear that would be required for workers at the site.
Construction sites – with cranes as tall as the buildings they help create, 30-ton concrete mixers, jackhammers, drills, and nail guns – are hazardous by nature. Company workers, managers, employees, and everyone else involved in the construction process must comply with standards and practices established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) through their training and certification programs and continuing education. Injuries occur when those practices are not understood or disregarded altogether.
If you are injured within or around a construction zone, you need a lawyer who will investigate the circumstances of your injury to identify all responsible parties. We will take the time to help you understand your legal rights, present possible courses of action, and pursue your claim – all while you are focused on getting better. We want you to have a fair chance at getting the compensation you deserve. Give our office a call at (770) 731-1447 today for a free consultation.