Most people go to work every day with a feeling of safety and security. Unfortunately, for many others, the job carries a degree of risk and danger. This is especially true of construction workers, who work in one of the fields with the highest number of work accidents. A combination of a hazardous work environment, physically tiring responsibilities, and dangerous work equipment significantly impacts the potential dangers of this line of work.
Construction accidents can lead to severe injuries, many of which result in time away from work, medical bills, and emotional and physical pain and suffering. When an injury does occur, employers may be quick to deny blame or cover up vital accident evidence. That is why it is so important for construction accident and crush injury victims in the Indianapolis, IN area to work with experienced construction accident attorneys, such as those at Golitko & Daly, to ensure their legal rights are protected and they receive adequate compensation for their losses.
Crush Injuries
Crush injuries include any type of injury in which a part of the body, or the entire body, is trapped between two objects. The two objects do not have to both be pieces of construction equipment or machinery. In fact, the majority of crush injuries occur when a worker is trapped between an object and the ground.
Crush injuries are some of the most damaging injuries to result from construction accidents. OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, classifies a crush injury as one of the “fatal four” construction industry accidents. This is because crush injuries are one of the top four leading causes of death among construction workers. Even when a worker survives this type of injury, the consequences are likely to be severe, and may include broken bones, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain, neck, or back injuries.
Causes of Crush Injuries
With the many hazards that are present on a construction site, it isn’t that surprising that crush injuries are such a concern for construction workers. Some of the most common causes of crush injuries at construction sites include:
- Falling objects or debris
- Accidents involving construction site vehicles (i.e. bulldozers, steamrollers, forklifts)
- Workers getting pulled into heavy machinery
- Cave-ins
In the majority of cases, crush injuries are completely preventable, and are the result of failure to adhere to rules and safety protocols, faulty machinery, or improper training.
Protect Your Rights
Many crush injury victims fail to seek legal advice following a construction accident because they believe they are protected by worker’s compensation laws. However, an IOSHA certified construction accident attorney can examine all the details of the case to determine if any third parties share responsibility for the accident. In short, contacting a construction accident attorney after sustaining crush injuries (or after a loved one has died as a result of crush injuries) is the best way to ensure your legal rights are protected and that you will be justly compensated for the full extent of your losses.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, the IOSHA certified construction accident attorneys at Golitko & Daly are here to help. Contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss the details of your case and find out your best course of legal action.