There are many hazards on construction sites, including heavy machinery, high scaffolding, and more. However, a common hazard that people often overlook is the increased likelihood of trip and fall accidents on worksites. Fall hazards on construction sites are numerous, and they result in countless serious injuries each year. If you’ve been injured in a trip-and-fall accident at the workplace, please contact the experienced lawyers of Dell & Dean, PLLC, for assistance.
Common Workplace Trip and Fall Accident Injuries
Trip and fall accidents include ground-level falls, such as slipping on a wet floor, and falls from elevated heights, such as falling from scaffolding to the ground below. Depending on the type of fall, injuries that result from these accidents can range from mild to catastrophic. Common injuries from fall incidents include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Joint injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Workplace Trip and Fall Causes
As noted above, there are many trip and fall hazards on construction sites. And these accidents routinely result in serious injuries. Common causes of trips and falls on worksites include:
- Wet floors
- Failure of employees to wear slip-resistant shoes
- Obstacles on the walking surface, such as debris or construction materials
- Failure to designate proper protective gear for hazardous working areas
- Improperly installed scaffolding or ladders
- Failure to use fall catch lines for tools or employees
- Failure to install catch nets for construction workers
- Failure to provide anti-fall protective equipment and training to workers
Workers’ Compensation for Trip and Fall Accidents
Injuries sustained in trip and fall accidents on construction sites can have a serious financial impact on victims. In addition to expensive medical bills, injured employees often find themselves unable to work due to their injuries. Fortunately, if you’ve been injured in a trip and fall accident on the worksite, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim.
To begin your workers’ compensation claim, you must notify your employer of the trip and fall accident within 30 days of its occurrence. To qualify for workers’ compensation, you must be a regular hourly or salaried employee, and the trip and fall accident that caused your injury must have occurred during the course of your employment.
When you file your claim, you will have to demonstrate that you sustained your injury while performing work for the benefit of your employer, and you must support your claim with medical documentation. When you hire Dell & Dean, PLLC, to represent you in your trip and fall accident case, we will help ensure that the appropriate paperwork is filed by the deadline, and we will present your case in a persuasive and legally sufficient manner.
If your workers’ compensation claim is approved, workers’ compensation will cover the medical expenses associated with your injury and a portion of your lost wages.
Liability for Workplace Trip and Fall Accidents
If your employer doesn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance, you still may be able to obtain financial compensation for your injuries. For example, you may still be able to file a workers’ compensation claim against your employer, or you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer or a third party responsible for your injuries. To do so, however, you will have to demonstrate negligence on the part of your employer or a third party.
Going outside the workers’ compensation process for a workplace trip and fall accident can be complicated, however. Therefore, regardless of your circumstances, it is imperative that you contact an experienced trip and fall attorney as soon as possible for assistance with your legal claim.
Contact a Long Island Workplace Trip and Fall Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a trip-and-fall accident in New York, the experienced attorneys of Dell & Dean, PLLC, are here to help. At Dell & Dean, PLLC, our experienced trip and fall accident lawyers have the experience and knowledge necessary to obtain financial compensation on your behalf. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation with a trip and fall accident attorney.
Dell & Dean, PLLC, represents personal injury victims throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, as well as the boroughs of New York City and the surrounding areas.
