While workplace accidents can happen just about anywhere, it’s no surprise that a large number occur on construction sites. If you are injured in a construction accident, the experienced Ohio workers’ compensation lawyers at Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA can help you fight to get the workers’ compensation benefits that you deserve.
Attorneys Victor Kademenos and Adrienne Hines are certified by the Ohio Bar Association as Workers’ Compensation Specialists. Combined, they have over 70 years of experience handling these cases.
Common Causes of Ohio Construction Accidents
Accidents in construction workplaces can be caused by many factors, ranging from personal error to equipment malfunction to simple accident. While just about anything can happen in a construction zone, the following are some of the most common causes of Ohio construction accidents:
- Falls from scaffolding, ladders, equipment, and other heights
- Falling debris or equipment
- Electrocution
- Slips and falls on uneven terrain
- Machinery malfunction and incidents
- Vehicle crashes
- Inadequate safety measures or equipment
- Poor hazard communication or lack of hazard training
- Toxic or hazardous substance spills and leaks
- Fires and explosions
- Overexertion
As you can see, some of these incidents can be the fault of employees or pure accidents, but quite a few are caused by a company or construction site’s failure to properly protect workers from unsafe conditions. OSHA investigates construction zone accidents where management may be at fault and workers injured by this negligence can be awarded additional penalty settlements in addition to the workmans’ compensation benefits they may be able to receive.
Common Injuries Caused by Construction Accidents
Regardless of fault, Ohio workmans’ compensation covers workers medical needs and provides for paid time off to recover after a work-related construction injury.
Construction accident injuries can be very serious and result in long-term impairment or disability. The following are some of the most common injuries that workers suffer in construction accidents:
- Heat stroke and overexertion — While often ignored on construction sites, overexertion and heat stroke should be taken seriously, as they can even do muscular or brain damage.
- Burn injuries — When a fire breaks out on a job site, you can sustain minor to serious burns. You can even suffer chemical burns due to contact with a hazardous chemical.
- Spinal cord injuries — Damage to the spine needs to be taken seriously, as it can lead to permanent disability. These injuries must be treated immediately with great care.
- Traumatic brain injuries — Concussions or even more serious brain injuries can cause lasting brain damage.
- Broken limbs — These types of injuries can make it impossible to do your job on a construction site. You will need to recover at home.
- Catastrophic injuries — If a construction accident leaves you very seriously injured — either temporarily or permanently — to the point that you cannot carry out regular activities, it may be classified as a “catastrophic.” A catastrophic injury typically involves long-term consequences, such as the loss of a limb, but also may mean a larger workers’ compensation settlement.
- Wrongful death — A construction zone accident can even cause the wrongful death of a loved one. While wrongful death benefits cannot bring back the person you dearly miss, it can help your family to manage the expenses and deal with the loss.
At Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA we represent clients suffering from all kinds of workplace injuries, so you can trust us to listen to your case compassionately and help you get what you need to heal — no matter how you were hurt.
