Construction is one of the most dangerous industries that a person can work in. A construction site is filled with more hazards than most workplaces with limitless hazards increasing the chances of suffering a slip-and-fall accident. Slips and falls may not rank among the most dangerous kinds of accidents in your mind, but they can have serious and even fatal consequences. In fact, nearly 250,000 workers, many in the construction industry, are injured in slip-and-fall workplace accidents each year seriously enough to require time off of work. If you are one of them, it’s important to make sure that you are proactive in getting the support, benefits, and compensation that you are entitled to. If you are struggling to get the workers’ compensation benefits that you deserve, it’s important to contact an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation and personal injury attorney to make sure that you are on the correct path to recovery.
Slip-and-Fall Accident Injuries
Slip-and-fall accidents are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries including concussions, skull fractures, and brain swelling. This is because people often hit their heads when they fall. Because of the vulnerability of the head and neck, falls on same-level surfaces can be just as deadly as falls from another height. In fact, nearly 200 of the 900 employees killed in slip-and-fall accidents were killed in slips or falls that happened on the same ground they were standing on. Same-level slips and falls can occur due to spills, debris, or uneven ground. Below are some of the most common injuries resulting from slip-and-fall accidents:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic Brain injuries (TBI)
- Broken and fractured bones
- Hip fractures
- Sprains
- Soft Tissue Injury
- Injuries to the wrist
- Injuries to the shoulder and arms
- Neck and spine injuries
- Herniated disks
- Cuts and flesh wounds
If you have suffered any of these injuries, or another injury, as the result of a construction site workplace accident, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible, and then consult with a lawyer. These injuries are not to be taken lightly and can have life-long effects for the employee. It’s absolutely critical that you are able to get the support and benefits that you are entitled to.
How a Lawyer Can Help
It can be complicated knowing what to do after a workplace accident, especially for construction workers who may not always be classified as employees. Employees qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, but independent contractors do not. It is fairly common in the construction industry for employers to misclassify employees as independent contractors, so it’s important to check with a lawyer to make sure that your classification is correct.
Talk to the Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Attorneys at the O’Donnell Law Offices
If you are a Pennsylvania construction worker who has been seriously injured due to a construction site accident, or another workplace accident, our experienced personal injury attorneys want to hear from you. Schedule a free initial consultation with the personal injury attorneys at the O’Donnell Law Offices serving clients in Kingston, Wilkes Barre, Hazleton and Pittston at 570-821-5717 or online today. There is no fee or costs until we win your case.
Resource:
nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/slips-trips-falls