Workers compensation refers to a type of insurance that helps employees receive compensation for injuries they sustain at their workplaces. The laws regarding workers compensation vary from one state to another. In most states, employers must have workers compensation insurance.
According to a 2009 report by the Centers for Disease Control, 9% of non-fatal injuries and illnesses are experienced in the construction sector. Let us look at the most common workers compensation claims that result from construction site accidents.
A slip and fall claim most often results from an employee who slips on a wet surface at the workplace. Some of these cases arise when individuals slip and fall on snowy or icy surfaces at the workplaces. Construction zones at least partially open and vulnerable to the elements. In winter or in the rainy season, workers may be more susceptible to slip and fall accidents which can cause serious injuries.
Employees involved in lifting, pulling or pushing heavy objects are likely to suffer from overexertion. When your muscles are stretched beyond their limit, or when a joint extends beyond its usual range, you are likely to suffer from severe injury. In some cases, overexertion requires a lengthy recovery time.
Machinery accidents often occur when heavy and large machinery injures a worker by mutilating or crushing them. The costs associated with these injuries are immense. Many states have laws requiring employees to be specially trained before permitting them to use equipment. Employees should be educated on the use and maintenance of equipment in an effort to protect them from a serious or fatal injury.
Falling to a lower level occurs when a construction worker falls from a ladder or a roof, or when they fall down stairs. These accidents can result in broken limbs and other long term injuries.
In a third-party construction injury, liability rests on the general contractor, subcontractor, site owner, the manufacturer of defective equipment, and other third parties who might have contributed to the accident or injury because of gross misconduct or negligence.
The level of control that contractors and construction site owners exercise over the premises and the work that is being done will determine to what extent they are responsible for a construction worker’s injury. If they are held even partially liable, they may be at least partly responsible in paying workers comp benefits such as death benefits, medical expenses, rehabilitation services, and lost wages.
According to the rules set out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, contractors must provide a safe work environment to construction workers. Furthermore, contractors are required to warn workers if there are any dangers inherent in a particular task. Equipment manufacturers also have a duty to provide machinery that is not defective and that has sufficient labeling instructions on how to operate or use equipment safely.
If you have been injured while working on a construction site, a qualified workers compensation lawyer Queens, NY trusts can help you determine who is liable for your damages. He or she can also help you obtain maximum compensation for your accident related losses.
