Fort Wayne
Construction Accident
ATTORNEY

DELVENTHAL LAW

INDIANA CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Construction accidents are preventable, yet they occur with some frequency and often result in serious or life-threatening injuries. Accidents on construction sites can happen for many different reasons, from employer negligence to defective machine parts. Whether you suffered injuries after falling from heights at a construction site or suffered an amputation injury because of poor training, you should speak with a Fort Wayne construction accident attorney about seeking compensation.

GETTING THE FACTS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS

How often do construction accidents happen, and how do they occur? The following are statistics concerning construction accidents and injuries from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

• 5,190 workers died as a result of workplace injuries in 2016;
• On average, more than 99 workers died each week and 14 workers died every day because of on-the-job accidents and illnesses;
• More than 21 percent of all workplace fatalities occur in the construction industry;
• The construction industry is particularly hazardous, and is known as having common accidents categorized as the “fatal four,” which includes falls, being struck by an object, electrocutions, and being caught in-between an object;
• Fatal four cause nearly 64 percent of all construction accident deaths in a given year;
• Almost 40 percent of all construction accident fatalities resulted from falls (38.7 percent) in 2016;
• Nearly 10 percent of all construction deaths happen from struck-by accidents, while about 8 percent result from electrocutions, and 7 percent from caught-in/between accidents; and
• If fatal four were eliminated, approximately 631 construction workers’ lives would be saved every year.

FREQUENT CONSTRUCTION SITE ACCIDENTS IN FORT WAYNE

Construction accidents can vary greatly depending upon the type of site, as well as particular safety issues that might exist. Common construction accidents that result in serious workplace injuries include but are not limited to the following:

• Roof falls;
• Roof collapses;
• Scaffolding accidents;
• Falls from ladders;
• Wall collapses;
• Trench and tunnel cave-ins;
• Electrocutions;
• Gas explosions;
• Crane accidents;
• Forklift accidents;
• Machinery accidents; and
• Auto accidents on construction sites.

COMMON TYPES OF INJURIES AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

Construction accidents frequently result in serious and life-threatening injuries, including but not limited to the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other types of head trauma;
• Spinal cord injuries (SCIs);
• Neck injuries;
• Back injuries;
• Burn injuries;
• Amputations and loss of limb;
• Organ damage;
• Cuts and lacerations;
• Broken bones or fractures; and
• Leg and foot injuries.

CAUSES OF FORT WAYNE CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT INJURIES

According to OSHA, the following are the most common safety violations that frequently result in serious and fatal accidents:

• Lack of fall protection;
• Failing to meet hazard communication standards;
• Scaffolding problems;
• Inadequate or lacking respiratory protection;
• Inadequate or lacking hazardous energy protection;
• Falls from ladders;
• Construction vehicle accidents;
• Machinery and machine-guarding problems;
• Inadequate or lacking fall-protection training; and
• Electrical wiring problems.

FILING A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION AFTER A CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT IN FORT WAYNE

Depending upon how you were injured in a construction accident, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim, or you may be able to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.

Almost all employers in Fort Wayne, including construction companies, must carry workers’ compensation insurance. This type of insurance provides benefits to workers who get hurt or suffer an occupational illness on the job. Like workers’ compensation in other states, Indiana is a no-fault state when it comes to workers’ comp, which means that it does not matter if a construction worker’s own negligence impacted the accident or his injuries. Workers’ compensation policies provide benefits to injured workers regardless of fault. Under Indiana workers’ compensation law, an injured worker must report the injury to his or her employer within 30 days from the date of the accident, although reporting as soon as possible is best.

In some construction accident cases, a construction worker may be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent person. In other situations, the injured party might not be a construction worker at all, but instead a pedestrian who suffered injuries while passing by a construction site. In such situations, it may be necessary to file a construction accident lawsuit. Under Ind. Code. § 34-11-2-4, plaintiffs have two years from the date of injury to file a claim for compensation.

CONTACT A FORT WAYNE CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Were you injured in a construction accident? You should get started on your case as soon as possible with the help of an experienced construction accident attorney in Fort Wayne. An advocate at our firm can look at the facts of your case and can begin working on your claim. Contact Delventhal Law Office LLC for more information and call (260) 484-6655.