Cities like Chicago are ever-expanding and as housing needs continue to increase, even the suburbs are becoming more densely populated. As communities grow, construction projects naturally become more prevalent.
That being said, construction companies are expected to do everything they can to keep their sites safe for their workers and any civilians passing by. So if you have been injured on a construction site, the construction company is likely responsible for covering any expenses that resulted from the accident such as medical expenses, rehabilitation, or even lost wages.
Here’s what you need to know about construction site injuries and what to do if you are ever in a construction accident- whether you are a construction worker or pedestrian in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In this Article:
- Construction Site Injury Statistics
- Causes of Construction Site Accidents
- 10 Most Common Construction Site Injuries
- Preventing Construction Site Injuries
- Contact a Construction Injury Lawyer Today
Construction Site Injury Statistics
Construction sites can be hazardous so it should be no surprise that injuries are not uncommon. The most recent construction site injury statistics from 2022 show the risks construction workers take every day on the job.
- From 2021 to 2022, construction fatalities increased by 11%.
- 1,056 construction worker fatalities.
- Falls, slips, and trips in construction increased by 1.8%
- 316 of the 792 foreign-born Hispanic or Latino worker deaths were in the construction industry.
Common Causes of Construction Site Accidents
The top four leading causes of construction accidents account for 65% of all construction-related deaths. They include:
- Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Falling objects, Debris, Materials, and Equipment
- Electrocutions
- Crushed between Equipment, Objects, and Materials
Other common causes of construction site accidents leading to injury are:
- Hit by Motor Vehicles
- Fires and Explosions
- Overexertion
- Trench Collapses
Top 10 Construction Site Injuries
Here are the top 10 construction site injuries many construction site workers often suffer following a work-related accident.
1. Head Injuries
These include brain contusions, skull fractures, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, hematoma, lacerations, and concussions.
2. Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating injury as they may lead to brain damage, partial/complete paralysis, and long-term disability.
3. Cuts/lacerations
Cuts and lacerations may be simple to treat, but if not treated quickly or properly, these injuries can lead to life-threatening infections.
4. Broken/Fractured/crushed bones
Construction site accidents such as slip and fall or crush accidents will often result in broken bones. Bones may crack or break in different directions, and crushed bones are typically harder to fix.
5. Loss of Limb/Digit
While a construction site accident may result in a worker losing an arm, a leg, a finger, or a toe, a worker might also need amputation in case of a severely mangled or crushed limb/digit.
6. Loss of Vision
Prolonged exposure to toxic gases, chemicals, and other substances may result in partial/complete loss of vision.
7. Loss of hearing
Construction equipment and machines can be very loud and persist for a long time. Even with the proper hearing protection, hearing loss is still a common injury on construction sites.
8. Heat strokes
Construction workers work long hours, often in the summer months when temperatures can get extremely hot. This puts workers at great risk of heat stroke. Heat stroke must be treated immediately to prevent fatalities.
9. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
In the aftermath of a work-related accident, it’s not uncommon for workers to experience emotional distress leading to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
10. Repetitive motion/stress injuries
Construction worker often involves manual labor which can result in repetitive motion or stress injuries. For example, repeatedly using a hammer can cause injuries such as carpal tunnel.
Preventing Construction Site Injuries
Falling debris is a leading cause of construction site injuries, affecting workers and pedestrians. Several common mistakes made by construction companies contribute to these accidents. Workers frequently leave tools and equipment unsecured as they move around the site, leading to the risk of items falling and causing serious injuries below.
Additionally, equipment like hoists and cranes, which endure harsh conditions, often goes uninspected, increasing the likelihood of malfunctions. Safety barriers and warning signs are also critical for preventing pedestrian injuries, yet many sites have inadequate or missing barriers, leaving hard hat zones open and unmarked. These oversights create dangerous conditions that could easily be avoided with proper precautions.
Making Your Personal Injury Case
When a construction worker is injured at a construction site, their damages are generally covered under workers’ compensation. Other people such as pedestrians who are injured by falling debris at construction sites may be able to make a personal injury case against the construction company. In order to win your case and receive compensation for your losses, you must demonstrate the following three elements:
- The defendant was responsible for maintaining the safety of the construction site. This sounds pretty simple upfront, but two issues can complicate this element. The first is that it isn’t always clear who exactly is responsible for the safety of the construction site, although it should be written somewhere in their construction contract.The second issue is that there may be a discrepancy over what a safe construction site actually means. But generally, if an object falls from a construction site and hurts someone, the site probably could have been made safer somehow.
- The defendant breached this duty of safety. As we said, if you were hurt at a construction site by falling debris, the company likely failed in maintaining the site’s safety.
- This breach of safety directly caused your injuries. This element is critical in making your case. Even if you can prove that the defendant failed to keep their site safe, that doesn’t automatically mean that you win. You must demonstrate that their breach of safety directly caused your injuries.
Contact a Lawyer if You Were Hurt at a Construction Site
Whether you were hurt at a construction site in Chicago, IL, our expert team of injury lawyers at Disparti Law Group is here to help. Construction workers deserve to know that they are financially protected in case of a construction injury.
Union workers in particular could benefit from a union workers’ comp lawyer following an accident to help navigate any possible issues related to their collective bargaining agreement. For a FREE case review, call (312) 600-6000 and find out why thousands say… Larry wins!
