Negligence at Construction Sites: Were You Injured on the Job in New Jersey
Every day construction industry workers go to work to make a living for themselves and their families knowing the dangers of their jobs. But many of these workers do not realize that their employer can be held responsible for them being injured because of their negligence. This is because many of these workers do not speak English and are not aware of their legal rights. Unfortunately, they can be exploited because their employer may mislead them. We have seen cases where an injured construction worker was not taken to the hospital when they should have been. And in other cases, injured workers are told to go home and rest when their injuries may require a hospital visit. It is imperative to educate these workers and their families about negligence at construction sites in New Jersey and what they should do if they were injured while working at a construction site.
Negligence in Handling Equipment, Chemicals or Machinery and Tools May Lead to Workplace Accidents
The Occupational and Health Administration’s (OSHA) primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of the construction industry and workers at work. Many times, employers fail to provide a safe work environment for their workers, and it results in severe injuries to workers who are just trying to make a living and support their families. If a worker was injured at work OSHA will step in and intervene to determine the cause of the injury and investigate the entire incident. Whether a worker or manager was negligent, OSHA will step in and do a thorough investigation to determine what led to the incident. New Jersey State workers are entitled to have a safe and hazard-free work environment; it is the responsibility of their employer to make sure that they are provided with that.
When a Construction Worker’s Negligence Leads to Falling Object Injuries at Construction Sites
If heavy equipment such as beams or concrete fall from heights and end up hitting a construction worker, the consequences can be devastating to the worker and their family. An accident involving falling objects can lead to the worker becoming paralyzed, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and even death.
Construction industry management and employers are required to provide personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE may include items such as hard hats, safety goggles and glasses, gloves, and other necessary protective equipment that is designed to provide safety for workers who work in hazardous industries such as construction and roofing.
When it comes to falling equipment and objects, it can be difficult to determine who may be responsible. A thorough investigation would have to be done to see which object injured the worker, who was responsible for that object, and what went wrong. When a construction worker fails to secure the object properly and it leads to the object falling and striking an unsuspecting worker; negligence may have played a role. Other times, project managers fail to implement and enforce appropriate safety protocols. In addition, there are times when equipment may be faulty or defective and that may cause a worker to become injured on the job.
An Injured Worker Can File a Workers’ Compensation Claim if They Were Injured on the Job
If a New Jersey construction worker was injured on the job, they could file a workers’ compensation claim to receive benefits for being injured on the job. If the negligence of a third party contributed to the accident at work, the employee may also qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you are unclear if a third party may have been negligent in their actions that led to your injury, consult an NJ personal injury lawyer at Clark Law Firm P.C. at 1-877-841-8855.
If you have a valid case, you may also qualify for additional compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical and hospital bills.
It is Also Possible That the Injured Worker Was Responsible for Their Own Injury
If a construction worker failed to follow safety guidelines or properly use equipment; that may have led to their injuries. In this case, they were negligent of their own injury. A thorough investigation would have to be conducted to determine who or what was truly responsible for causing the injury. A thorough investigation may include interviewing witnesses, other co-workers, and supervisors and evaluating equipment and machinery to ensure it was not faulty.
Handling Construction Site Injuries and Negligence
The most important step is to always seek immediate medical attention. Even if you think you are ok, it is best to get checked out by a doctor. Once you have done that, you should report the injury to your boss and file an incident report. Also, remember to take pictures of your injury and the injury site as they will come in handy to support your case. If you are injured and will need to miss time from work because of your injury, you should investigate filing a workers’ compensation claim. Next, you should consult a New Jersey personal injury lawyer who has experience handling construction accident injury cases.
If You Were Injured on a Construction Worksite in New Jersey, You Should Consult an NJ Injury Lawyer
An experienced New Jersey construction accident lawyer can determine if you may qualify to file a personal injury case for your injury at work. You may not be able to determine if a third party was negligent, but an experienced injury attorney will know what information to gather to determine if you have a case. Call Clark Law Firm P.C. today at 1-877-841-8855 to speak to an attorney or chat with us online. Proudly protecting the rights of injured workers in Monmouth, Essex, and Bergen County. Clark Law Firm P.C. has years of experience handling cases involving negligence at construction sites in NJ.