Most construction injuries come from a short list of hazards: falls, being struck by falling objects or materials, trips and slips, and electrocution. Most of them are preventable when the people running the site follow the safety rules.
Managing partner Stephen D. Phillips and attorney Stephen J. Phillips both answered this question on video.
Falls, Falling Materials and Trips
Stephen D. Phillips: “Construction injuries vary. They can be due to trip or slips on job sites. They can be due to falls. They can be due to falling equipment, falling materials, failure to secure materials on a job site. It is not uncommon to see slips or trips on job sites or injuries to the head or other body areas with regard to falling materials.”
Electrocution and Falls From Heights
Stephen J. Phillips: “There are a couple of common injuries on a job site or a construction site, electrocution, a fall from heights, or a trip and fall. Most of these injuries are preventable, and that’s why it’s very important to contact a personal injury lawyer with experience in construction law to help protect your rights.”
Watch both answers with full transcripts: Stephen D. Phillips on construction injuries and Stephen J. Phillips on construction injuries.
The Hazards Behind Most Job-Site Injuries
OSHA groups the leading causes of construction deaths into four hazards, often called the “Focus Four”:
- Falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolds and unprotected edges. On most construction work, federal rules require fall protection at 6 feet.
- Struck-by injuries from falling tools, unsecured materials, swinging loads and moving vehicles.
- Caught-in or between injuries, such as trench collapses and workers pinned by equipment.
- Electrocution from overhead power lines, exposed wiring and tools that are not grounded.
The injuries that follow are often serious: broken bones, head and brain injuries, spinal injuries, burns and amputations.
Workers’ Comp Is Not Always the Whole Claim
If you were hurt on the job, workers’ compensation usually covers your medical bills and part of your lost wages, and you generally can’t sue your own employer. But construction sites have many companies on them. A general contractor, another subcontractor, the property owner or an equipment maker may be responsible too, and a claim against them can include losses that workers’ comp does not pay, such as pain and suffering. Our guide explains suing other companies while you collect workers’ comp.
Not a worker? Delivery drivers, visitors and people walking past a site have their own rights. See construction site injuries when you don’t work there.
Talk to a Chicago Construction Accident Lawyer
Evidence on a construction site disappears fast. Scaffolds come down, equipment gets repaired and the site keeps changing. Photos, witness names and incident reports gathered early make a real difference.
Call (312) 346-4262 for a free consultation with our Chicago construction accident lawyers. You pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common construction injury?
Falls cause more construction deaths than any other hazard, and slips, trips and falling materials cause many non-fatal injuries. Electrocution and caught-in accidents round out OSHA’s “Focus Four.”
Can I sue if I was hurt on a construction site?
You usually can’t sue your own employer because workers’ comp covers that, but you may be able to sue a contractor, property owner or equipment maker whose negligence caused the injury.
Are most construction injuries preventable?
Yes. Fall protection, secured materials, safe wiring and proper training prevent most of them, which is why a missing safety measure is often the center of a construction injury case.
