Walpole, MA Construction Injury Lawyer

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Construction accidents in Walpole are far from negligible, and victims should respond by documenting their injuries and pursuing compensatory damages.

Most construction accident injuries and fatalities in Walpole happen because of vehicle accidents, slips, trips, and falls. Often, injuries sustained are serious, requiring immediate medical attention and involvement from law enforcement to document the scene. The path to compensation looks different from victim to victim, as filing a lawsuit might only be an option when a third party is negligent, not a victim’s employer. Because of this, we will immediately start investigating the matter, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing additional evidence to determine your next steps.

The Law Office of John J. Sheehan’s Walpole, MA construction injury lawyers can assess your case for free when you call us today at (617) 925-6407.

Construction Accident and Injury Statistics for Walpole, MA

Construction workers face occupational risks daily and might be injured in various accidents, from falls to vehicle accidents in Walpole. When such accidents happen, it is important to determine the cause so that victims can get the necessary damages.

Fatal Injury Statistics

According to a 2023 report from the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, there were nine total workplace fatalities in the construction industry in Massachusetts. Of these fatal accidents, four were due to transportation incidents, and three were due to falls, slips, and trips. When victims survive transportation accidents on construction sites, they might do so with life-long injuries. For example, if an excavator topples over on a construction site and partially lands on a victim, they might sustain crushing injuries. Not all accidents are immediately fatal, as victims might succumb to serious injuries in the coming days or weeks.

Safety Violations Data

The report also stated that 83.5% of violations reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) during 2022 were serious, willful, or repeat violations, demonstrating the ongoing issue of unnecessary workplace accidents due to poorly maintained construction sites.

Inform our construction accident lawyers if you were hurt because of an OSHA violation on your worksite. If the accident happened because of your employer’s serious or willful misconduct, the compensation paid to you may double, according to Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 152, § 28.

Non-Fatal Injury Statistics

According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, construction workers experienced occupational injuries or illnesses at a rate of 6.7 cases per 100 full-time workers. This already high injury rate only increases when employers fail to properly train workers or provide them with the necessary safety equipment to avoid certain accidents, like falls.

Falls are some of the most common construction accidents in Walpole and elsewhere. From tall heights, falls might lead to fatal head injuries or paralyzing spinal cord injuries. By tripping over a hazard on the floor, a construction worker might also fall and sustain a head injury. Head injuries are among the most serious and are sometimes fatal.

Struck-by accidents are also common. These happen when an object falls or otherwise collides with and hits a victim. Struck-by accidents are how many passersby get injured in construction accidents. For example, a tool or piece of construction material might fall from scaffolding and hit a passerby. Struck-by accidents also include vehicle incidents on construction sites. Accidents might happen when negligent drivers hit roadside construction zones. In these types of situations, victims may be able to seek compensation against at-fault drivers in Walpole.

Immediate Next Steps After Construction Accidents in Walpole, MA

Construction accidents are rarely minor, and victims often need immediate medical attention. Calling 911 may also be necessary to document an incident thoroughly.

If there is a major accident on a construction site, like a vehicle accident, explosion, structure collapse, or falling accident, you should call the police. With so much on the line for victims, it is important to have ample documentation of the incident and what exactly happened. Your employer should not deter you from calling 911, as you may need emergency care from paramedics.

At the very least, you should inform your employer or supervising manager about the accident right away. Before further investigating the matter, you may not know whether filing a Workers’ Compensation claim or lawsuit is correct. So, make sure you are on record with your employer as having been injured at work.

Victims’ medical records are crucially important evidence in construction injury claims, especially if they cannot return to work and need compensation for lost wages. In light of this, go to the hospital directly from an accident and begin documenting your injuries.

Getting Compensation for Construction Accident Injuries in Walpole, MA

It is important to start preparing your compensation claim immediately after a construction accident, as you will need to confirm your path to recovery.

Typically, unless a third party is liable, victims file Workers’ Compensation claims to recover damages. Because compensation in these claims is limited, our construction injury lawyers will investigate your accident further, as liability may be traced back to someone other than your employer.

Negligent equipment and product manufacturers may share fault for a victim’s injuries on a construction site, making filing a lawsuit a possibility. For example, if a victim fell from scaffolding because their harness failed, it could be because the harness was defective and negligently distributed by the manufacturer. In that case, the victim could file a third-party construction accident lawsuit and would stand to recover considerable economic and non-economic damages.

Furthermore, when grossly negligent, third parties liable for construction accidents might have to pay punitive damages to victims in Walpole. To get any compensation, you have to file on time, which is why our lawyers will focus on determining fault and preparing your claim soon after an accident.