Many brain injuries on construction sites are caused by blunt force trauma to the head, but these injuries can also come from exposure to dangerous chemicals over prolonged periods of time.
Common types of construction accidents that can lead to brain injuries can include:
- Machinery malfunctions, including motor vehicle accidents and defective products
- Employee error, such as mishandling nail guns or failing to secure scaffolding
- Being struck by falling objects
- Slip and fall cases
- Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as paint thinners and pesticides
- And more
However, research from the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (AJIM) shows that falls were the most common cause of fatal traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in construction accidents between 2003 to 2010. This report also indicates that workers in construction companies with less than 20 employees were more likely to die from a TBI injury than workers in companies with over 100 employees by a factor greater than 2.5.
- Brain Injuries Are Common Construction Accidents
- Why Construction Workers Are at Risk of Brain Injuries
- New York Construction Accident Lawyers Fighting for Your Rights
Brain Injuries Are Common Construction Accidents
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that over 2,200 construction workers died from TBIs between 2003 to 2010. As such, TBI accidents accounted for 25% of all construction fatalities during these years.
While there are many other injuries every year that do not result in brain damage, countless workers are exposed to head injuries during their duties, and they may not even realize it.
For example, individuals who frequently work with jackhammers may not realize their brain is being rattled on a consistent basis, which can be exacerbated by other work-related hazards. If workers injure their heads gradually, over prolonged periods, it may cause subtle symptoms that only become apparent as the years go by.
In some cases, employees may continue working after hitting their head, while operating under the misguided belief that their injury must not be serious. Workers may also do this if they are living paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to miss work. However, when injuries like concussions and whiplash are left untreated, they may quickly escalate to more worrisome conditions.
If you were hurt in a construction accident, the wisest course of action is to see a doctor for an immediate evaluation.
For a free legal consultation, call 516-932-0400
Why Construction Workers Are at Risk of Brain Injuries
Construction workers may face numerous serious risks at any given time. These may include:
- Being surrounded by employees working long hours, themselves included, which may gradually affect their decision-making skills
- The frequent use of heavy machinery, sometimes operated by undertrained, distracted, or intoxicated individuals
- Working for employers who may attempt to cut costs, resulting in companies using improper materials, hiring inexperienced workers, being understaffed, ignoring safety measures, and more
- Exposure to extreme heat, rain, or other forms of inclement weather on the job, further impairing workers’ judgment while putting them at risk of environmental dangers
- The lack of communication between employees
- Negligent third-party individuals, such as property owners, failing to provide workers with a reasonably safe environment on the job site
- And more
New York Construction Accident Lawyers Fighting for Your Rights
As long as business owners and employees continually fail to uphold proper safety measures, anybody can be thrust into harm’s way on a construction site—whether you work there or not.
Here at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., our team understands New York’s personal injury laws, liability in construction accidents, and the types of construction accidents that lead to brain injuries. We help people injured in the five boroughs who live on Long Island and elsewhere throughout the New York metropolitan area.
Ultimately, if you have been involved in an accident caused by the negligence of someone else, we are here for you. We are ready and able to offer guidance and aggressive legal representation throughout all proceedings related to your case.
If your loved one perished in such an accident, we extend to you our heartfelt sympathies and condolences. We will represent you in a wrongful death claim and handle all the stressful communications with insurance companies and defense lawyers, technical case details, and important deadlines during this tragic time. One of our goals is to relieve you of these stressors so that you can grieve, heal, and begin to rebuild your life. Other goals of ours are to win the monetary compensation you need and the justice that your departed loved one deserves.
At the end of the day, the state of New York has laws in place to protect victims just like you, potentially allowing you to recover damages related to your mental, physical, and financial suffering. If the responsible party’s insurance company does not offer an appropriate settlement, depending upon the unique circumstances of your case, we are able to take your case to trial before a judge and jury as we fight for your right to compensation.
To learn more about your potential legal options after a construction accident, contact a representative at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. today for your free consultation at (516) 932-0400.
Call or text 516-932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form