Construction Accidents In Alabama
Construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, making up a high proportion of workplace fatalities each year. While an employee must do their best to minimize the risk of injury, it is also the responsibility of the employer to ensure that their employees are not harmed in avoidable accidents. If you have been injured on a construction site, you will usually be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
If, however, your employer disputes your rights, or if other circumstances apply, you may need the services of our Birmingham construction accident attorneys to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve. Goldasich, Vick & Fulk can help you set things right.
An Inherently Dangerous Industry
Data from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) shows that in the most recent available year, the construction industry was cited the most, with nearly half of all citations given in the 12-month period. This is not necessarily because the industry is slipshod or lax in safety protocols – rather, there are so many inherently dangerous situations in construction work that accidents simply happen more often.
For example, OSHA’s “Focus Four” or “Fatal Four” are the four most common causes of fatalities in the construction industry: falls, electrocutions, getting struck by an object or vehicle, and being caught in between two objects. All of these are day-to-day hazards on many construction sites, carrying a high risk of injury even if safety protocols are scrupulously observed.
How To Seek Compensation?
While it is true that construction is one of the few industries that can be described as ‘inherently’ dangerous by virtue of its very nature, this does not mean that negligence will be ignored. If you believe that your injuries were caused by the negligence of another person, you have the right to seek some kind of compensation in court, though establishing negligence can be an uphill battle in some cases.
Workers’ compensation may be another option, but in Alabama, only construction workers who are involved in the construction of “single-family residential dwellings” are required to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. If you work on commercial buildings, for example, your employer is not required to carry coverage, meaning that filing suit against them may be a better option.
Call Us Today – We Can Help
Working in construction requires a focused mind and healthy body, but an injury can still happen in the blink of an eye. If you have been injured on an Alabama construction site, the Birmingham construction accident attorneys from Goldasich, Vick & Fulk can help clarify your options for the future. We are ready and willing to work hard for you – call our office today to schedule a consultation.
Source:
osha.gov/ords/imis/industryprofile.stand?p_stand=Total&p_state=FEFederal&p_type=2&p_esize=
