Clearwater Construction Accident Attorney
Thousands of workers are killed on the job every year. In fact, more than a dozen people die every day due to work-related injuries. Perhaps not surprisingly, one in every five of those deaths occur in the construction industry. Although construction is a dangerous occupation, construction companies and contractors have a duty to provide a safe workplace and prevent construction accidents. When construction accidents do occur because of negligence or the failure to provide a safe worksite, the Clearwater construction accident attorneys at Roman & Roman help injury victims recover compensation from the property owners, developers, contractors or others who should be held accountable for the harm they have caused. Our construction accident attorneys in Clearwater represent workers injured in all types of construction accidents in Clearwater and Tampa, including accidents involving forklifts, ladder falls, scaffolds and cranes.
Clearwater Forklift Accidents
Forklifts, also known as lift trucks or powered industrial trucks, are federally-regulated by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Specific OSHA standards cover everything from the design and construction of approved trucks to required procedures for loading and unloading, working with hazardous materials, and vehicle maintenance. In addition, employers are required to protect employees from serious recognized hazards, which in regards to forklift operations may include providing fall protection such as body belts or harnesses.
Forklift injuries frequently occur because forklift operators are not properly trained or supervised. Common forklift accident injuries include the following:
- Forklift driven off loading dock
- Lift falls between dock and an unsecured trailer
- Worker struck or crushed by lift truck
- Worker falls while standing on elevated pallet or tines
- Worker struck by falling load
- Forklift overturns while ascending or descending a grade
Clearwater Ladder Falls
Ladders are in use in just about every construction project, and they are a frequent source of injury. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 80% of fall injuries among construction workers requiring emergency room visits involve a fall from a ladder. Ladder falls are serious and can cause permanent disabilities from head, neck or back injuries, and even death. Frequent causes of ladder falls include:
- Using the wrong ladder for the job
- Placing the ladder on a slippery surface or without slip-resistant feet
- Leaning the ladder against an unstable surface
- Standing the ladder on another object to get more height
- Placing the ladder in the path of workers or machinery
- Workers hauling heavy or bulky materials up the ladder
- Using old or worn-out ladders
- Failing to provide workers with fall protection or restraints
Construction companies are responsible for providing a safe workplace and can be liable for ladder fall injuries even when the accident was caused by the worker or co-workers.
Clearwater Scaffold Collapses
Scaffolding is an integral part of most construction projects. Whether scaffolds are brought in and assembled or built on-site, assembling and maintaining scaffolds properly are essential to preventing serious injury or death from a scaffold collapse. Other dangers involving scaffolding include falls from scaffolds or being struck by objects falling from scaffolds. Erecting scaffolds with appropriate guard rails and sufficient planking, and providing workers with adequate fall arrest systems, including nets, hoists, safety belts or harnesses, are all essential to prevent serious injuries on and around scaffolds. Working on heights may be inherently dangerous, but there is no excuse for contractors who fail to take the necessary steps to avoid preventable accidents.
Clearwater Crane Accidents
Crane collapses and other crane accidents make up more than 20% of deaths at construction sites. As cranes continue to be manufactured to go higher, faster and carry larger and heavier loads, the risks to workers and others in and around construction sites continues to grow. Great care and planning needs to be taken with any crane operation to ensure worker safety. Not only must the crane operator be properly trained, but all those who work with or around cranes need to be properly educated about crane safety. Some of the most common causes of crane accidents include:
- Setting up the crane improperly
- Selecting the wrong crane for the job
- Failing to account for overhead electrical lines
- Extending outriggers improperly
- Failing to guard pinch points
- Failing to keep the area around the crane operation clear
Get Help Now With Experienced Clearwater Construction Accident Attorneys
If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident involving a forklift, crane, ladder, scaffold or other construction accident, you should consult with a Clearwater construction accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. A delay in obtaining legal representation may impair your personal injury attorney’s ability to gather and preserve important evidence, including inspecting the equipment involved and obtaining crucial documentation regarding the training and experience of equipment operators and site superintendents.
Remember, you can speak with a Clearwater construction accident attorney from Roman & Roman right now at no charge for the initial consultation. In addition, if there is no monetary recovery, you won’t owe us anything. We also represent clients with their criminal defense and business and real estate cases. Call us now at 877.767.1032.