Even the fairest and most safety-focused employer can balk at paying the full and fair amount needed following a Bakersfield workplace injury. When injuries occur, insurance rates can increase and payouts can come right off the bottom line. If you are in need of a construction accident attorney, contact us today.
As employers work to protect their interests following an accident, workers should work to protect their interests. The Bakersfield construction accident lawyers of Rodriguez & Associates can provide the assistance and representation you need following accidents at:
- Construction sites
- Oil and gas facilities, and wells
- Manufacturing and industrial sites
What Leads to a Construction Injury?
When it comes to construction accidents, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) identifies four types of accidents that lead to the highest causes of death in the industry: falls, being struck by an object, electrocutions, and catching in or between equipment or materials. However, not all construction accidents result in fatalities, and many more injuries may occur due to other causes.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 20,000 construction accident injuries in 2020 that resulted in sprains, strains, tears, fractures, cuts, lacerations, bruises, contusions, soreness, and pain. The part of the body most affected by construction work injuries is the back with over 10,450 cases reported. Over 6,000 people suffered from injuries to multiple body parts.
The top causes of construction accident injuries include the following.
- Floors and walkways can be hazardous without proper caution on construction sites, and issues with floors, the ground, and stairs led to 24,430 injuries related to falls in 2020.
- Injuries caused by objects were very common in construction injuries during 2020, cited in 13,640 cases. Falling objects and pieces of equipment, as well as slipping and moving object injuries, led to serious injuries to workers.
- Hand tools caused approximately 9,760 construction worker injuries in 2020, including both powered and non-powered tools. Knives, shovels, and hammers were some of the most common sources of injury, as well as power saws and drills.
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments on a construction job contributed to 6,580 injuries.
Your Legal Options After a Construction Accident
If you suffer injuries on a construction site, you may face expensive medical bills, lost wages due to work, and other emotional and physical consequences, such as a disability that prevents you from working. You can claim the compensation you need to recover from these injuries in a number of ways, depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
- If you are a construction worker and suffered an injury on your job site, you can file a workers’ compensation claim to receive benefits. You will need to prove that you suffered the injury while you were working. You can receive benefits for medical expenses and disability if the injury prevents you from returning to work.
- If your injury occurs as a result of a negligent third party, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the entity or entities responsible for your construction accident. In construction injuries, these outside parties are usually subcontractors or vendors hired from outside the company.
- If you are the loved one of someone who died as a result of a construction accident, you can file a wrongful death claim on his or her behalf. This lawsuit can provide the family with compensation for the worker’s final expenses, as well as provide funds for the emotional impact of the wrongful death.
- If a tool, utility, or other object had a defect that led to the construction accident, you can collect compensation for your injuries through a product liability lawsuit. You can hold the manufacturer of the product responsible, as well as any other party involved in its manufacturing and sale.
How We Approach Construction Accident Cases
At Rodriguez & Associates, we don’t have to try and put ourselves in your shoes following an employer/employee dispute. We’ve been there already and can empathize with your frustrations, anxieties, and concerns.
Firm founder Daniel Rodriguez grew up in half a dozen states as his migrant farmworker family moved from place to place following the crops. Before becoming a personal injury attorney in Bakersfield, Rodriguez worked in farm fields, warehouses, plants, oilfields, and other industrial sites. Now, as an experienced trial lawyer with a degree in engineering, attorney Rodriguez brings the legal and scientific expertise to handle industrial accident cases. That expertise combined with his experience doing hard manual labor means that the Rodriguez firm will make sure that the wrongdoer is held accountable for every bit of harm he has caused the injured worker.
We have handled construction injury cases involving falls, fallen debris, slip-and-falls, on-site vehicle accidents, machinery issues and a broad range of other issues. To schedule a consultation regarding your injuries at no cost, please contact our Bakersfield office.
Contact A Skilled Construction Accident Lawyer
Rodriguez & Associates is conveniently located in downtown Bakersfield, California. We are available for weekend and evening appointments, charge no fee for consultations and speak both English and Spanish. To contact us, please call (661) 777-7575 or 800-585-9262 Toll-Free to schedule a free consultation with one of our Bakersfield construction accident attorneys today.