Columbia Construction Accident Lawyer

Addressing Construction Site Injuries Caused by Negligence

With all their heavy equipment and potentially hazardous materials, construction sites can be very dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken. Construction site operators and construction workers are required to comply with various safety protocols so that they can reduce the chances of individuals being injured at these locations. Unfortunately, some individuals do not follow the rules correctly and subsequently place other people's lives in danger. In other cases, injuries can be caused by negligent manufacturers who did not properly make the equipment and supplies that are used at construction sites.

When construction accidents occur, they can lead to very serious injuries, including fatal ones. Whether you are a construction worker, a construction site visitor or an individual who was simply near a construction site, you have a right to pursue compensation if you were injured by an accident that was caused by another person or entity. Our Columbia personal injury attorney, James R. Snell, Jr., can help you find the best approach for filing your claim or lawsuit so that you can be fairly compensated.

Construction Accident Injuries in the U.S.

There are various types of construction-related injuries that individuals can receive. They can be injured by falling objects, defective equipment, construction site explosions or exposure to dangerous chemicals, among various other causes. Some injuries might be minor and only affect the victim for a matter of weeks or months, while others can affect individuals for years or even result in lifelong disabilities. In fact, a construction worker might be forced to find another line of work due to an injury that makes him or her unable to perform physical labor.

In 2011, there were a total of 721 construction-related worker fatalities, making up 17.5% of the total 4,114 worker fatalities for that year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). The top four leading causes of construction worker deaths were falls, electrocution, getting struck by an object and getting caught in or caught between objectis. These causes were behind 57% of all construction worker deaths for 2011. In addition to those who are killed in construction-related accidents, there are also many others who are injured in non-fatal accidents each year.

OSHA is a federal regulatory agency that enforces health and safety legislation. In this role, the agency cites and penalizes employers that fail to maintain safe work environments for their employees. Of OSHA's top 10 most frequently cited standards violations in fiscal year 2011, three were violations that specifically related to the construction industry. Those included issues related to scaffolding, fall protection and ladders.

Columbia Workers' Compensation Attorney on Your Side

After your construction accident occurs, you will need to immediately obtain strong legal counsel. When you work with our firm, we can help you go through all of the necessary steps in order to effectively file a claim or lawsuit against the responsible party. Some of these steps include determining which party is fault (such as an employer or equipment manufacturer), setting up a plan for proving the acts of negligence that led to your injury, proving the extent of your injury (such as through medical records) and proving the financial impact your injuries are having on you or will have on you in the future. It could be possible to use certain types of documentation, such as records of previous OSHA citations, to show that the other party or the construction site had a history of safety issues. Get the help you need in your construction accident case by turning to the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC for assistance.

Contact the Columbia construction accident lawyer from our firm so you can obtain legal advice that is tailored to your specific needs. Our firm is ready to fight for you!