Crush Injuries From Construction Accidents Can Be Deadly
Injuries at a workplace can be quite serious. For people who work in construction, these dangers are pervasive. While construction work can be inherently dangerous to some extent, accidents are often preventable and avoidable. When you or a loved on is harmed in a workplace accident, our Provo-based lawyers can help. We have years of experience with construction accident lawsuits, which includes disputes over workers’ compensation and wrongful death cases. Crush injuries are a potential hazard at many construction sites around the country. Let’s consider what these kinds of accidents involve and why they need to be taken seriously. What Are Crush Injuries at Work Sites? A crush injury refers to cases in which a person or part of a person’s body gets trapped, caught, and crushed by another object. This could involve a vehicle, a tool, heavy equipment, building materials, or any objects that may be common around construction sites. This also refers to cave-ins of tunnels or structures under which a person is working. Crush Accidents and the OSHA Fatal Four Crush accidents are part of what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identifies as the “Fatal Four”. This refers to the most common kinds of deadly accidents that occur at constructions sites across the country. Below is a list of the Fatal Four and the average percentage of annual construction accidents these incidents comprise: Falls – 39.9% Electrocutions – 8.2% Struck by Object – 8.1% Crushed, Caught In, or Caught Between – 1.3% Reasons Why Crush Accidents Happens The reasons for crush accidents occurring can vary. Sometimes they are the result of inattention by other workers at a construction site. Other times they occur because of structural instability. There may also be other forms of negligence involved in these kinds of incidents. Whatever the case may be, crush accidents need to be taken seriously because injuries may be catastrophic or even fatal. How Crush Accidents Can Change Your Life The nature and severity of a crush accident will determine what sorts of lasting repercussions you will experience. If a limb is crushed or caught, it might be seriously mangled, resulting in broken bones and nerve damage. The affected limb may need to be amputated, or the use of the affected limb might be severely limited following the crush accident. This, in turn, can impact your livelihood, preventing you from performing tasks at your job or various activities in normal everyday life. In the case of fatal crush injuries, the loss of a loved one is a major hardship. In addition to the emotional pain and suffering that comes with the death of a spouse, child, or parent, there is also a major financial burden associated with these tragedies. How Construction Accident Attorneys Can Help Our team of construction accident lawyers can carefully examine the circumstances of your case. They will offer expert legal counsel throughout, helping you understand your legal options and the damages to which you are entitled. Our lawyers can also provide guidance when filing workers compensation claims. This peace of mind can be crucial during a difficult time, and may be what’s needed to get your life back on track. Contact the Lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton For more information about your legal rights and options following a major injury at a construction site or a workplace, be sure to contact our injury and accident lawyers today. Our attorneys will help you hold negligent parties accountable.
Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents on Stairs Can Cause Major Injuries
We expect to be safe when we visit a business, yet accidents can happen wherever you go. Those in Provo who were injured while visiting a business establishment can work with an experienced slip and fall lawyer from our law firm, receiving expert legal counsel about premises liability issues. Many severe injuries occur while people are ascending or descending the stairs. Let’s consider why that is and what your legal options are in such incidents. Injuries on Stairways Can Be Severe When people fall down stairs, there’s a great likelihood of serious injuries. This is especially true of violent falls down stairs of major tumbles. Head injuries, brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other types of severe harm may occur. If the victim is elderly, the extent and nature of the injuries could be more severe. When these kinds of accidents occur, it of the utmost importance that negligent property owners be held accountable for their actions. Causes of Stairway Slips, Trips, and Falls There are many potential causes of falls on stairs. Some of the most common reasons these accidents occur include: Broken Steps – When steps are broken in some fashion, it’s possible for people to slip on loose tile or materials, or to simply lose their footing while they are ascending or descending the stairs. Uneven Steps – Uneven steps can throw off people’s balance. When a stair is slanted or when the height or distance between steps varies, people can misstep and fall. Wet or Slippery Surfaces – When liquid or other slippery items are on stairs, there’s a much greater likelihood of people slipping while they are on them. This is an especially important concern for steps that are exposed to the elements. Rain, snow, and other sources of moisture can lead to major hazards. Objects on Stairs or Landings – When a foreign object is on the stairs, it can make slips and trips more likely. This could be a discarded bottle, a ball or rock, or even just a plastic or paper wrapper. Lack of Banisters/Handrails – Banisters are crucial for the safe ascent and descent of stairs. When banisters are not present, people can lose balance and fall. In many cases, a banister can prevent someone from falling. Poor Lighting – When stairways are nor properly lit, it can be difficult to notice slipping hazards or to gauge where the next step is. There should be proper lighting available in all stairways and stairwells. How Property Owners Can Improve Safety on Stairs Property owners can keep visitors and customers safe by using common sense with regard to stairways and staircases. Banisters and guardrails should be in place so people can maintain their balance. Proper lighting should be in place, the the stairs themselves should be maintained and cleaned regularly. In the event of a dangerous condition, access to the stairs ought to be restricted until they are safe. How Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help You When a loved one is injured at a business or property, it’s crucial to have skilled attorneys on your side. A premises liability lawyer can help guide you through the legal process, offering expert counsel when it comes to injury laws and premises liability laws. We will fight on your behalf to help collect damages from injuries you’ve sustained and hardships related to your injuries. Contact the Lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton For more information about your legal rights and options following a serious slip, trip, or all, be sure to contact our injury and accident lawyers today. Our attorneys will help you in your time of legal need.
Poor Safety Standards Increases Construction Accident Risk
At a construction site or any kind of industrial workplace, it is of the utmost importance that safety standards be recognized and adhered to. When an employer or the employees at a construction site do not take safety standards seriously, there can be major injuries, some of which can be fatal. Should such a tragedy occur, the Provo-based lawyers at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton can help. They have years of experience dealing with injury lawsuits and legal claims involving construction accidents. Construction workers need to make sure that proper safety standards are in place and that they watch out for fellow employees and contractors. Sometimes just a little bit of common sense worker safety is all that’s needed. Let’s consider this matter in greater detail. Types of Safety Hazards The primary safety hazards at construction sites tend to involve falls, being caught between objects, falling objects, and electrocutions. Additional hazards include burn injuries, malfunctioning heavy machinery or equipment, exposure to toxic or harmful substances, and inhaling dangerous fumes. It’s important for supervisors and workers to ensure that their work site is as safe as possible, and that they are wearing proper gear to protect from injury. This includes hard hats, reflective clothing and vests, goggles, gloves, masks, and so forth. Injuries and Dangers When Safety Standards Are Ignored If safety standards are ignored or totally neglected, the chance of serious injury is quite high. The potential for head injuries, brain injuries, loss of limbs, neck and spine injuries, and serious burns or lacerations increase. With regard to dangerous substances and chemicals, there is an increased risk of health problems later in life if proper safety standards are not adhered to. There’s also a major risk of fatalities to consider for major construction accidents. According to some numbers, there are roughly 9.8 deaths for every 100,000 workers in the United States each year. This number is higher than most European countries, in some cases more than double their average rate. The Importance of OSHA Standards Passed in 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) helps prevent worker injuries and fatalities by setting guidelines for safety when people are at work. These on-the-job protections require proper safety equipment be made available to workers, and that any workplace or work site meets some general health and safety standards. Any OSHA violations at a construction site need to be identified and taken seriously. Holding Employers Accountable If there is an accident at a construction site that was the result of poor adherence to safety standards or a total lack of safety standards, it’s of the utmost importance that speak with experienced attorneys about your case. We will help hold the negligent party liable for the injuries they caused, and help you recover damage for any hardships that have been endured. Contact Our Team of Attorneys Today To learn more about your legal rights following a serious accident or injury, be sure to contact our team of experienced injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help you ensure your workplace or work site is safe.
Poor Lighting Can Lead to Slip and Fall Accidents
Accidents can happen anywhere, from the highways and city streets to your local grocery store. When injuries occur at places of business, it’s important to consider filing a premises liability lawsuit. A Provo slip and fall lawyer at our firm can help you negotiate the legal process. Slips, trips, and falls are common injuries at places of business. While these are often associated with liquids and tripping hazards, they can also be caused by poor lighting. Problems Caused by Poor Lighting Whenever part of a business is poorly lit, it presents a number of serious risks to safety, both for employees and for people who visit the premises. Low light situations, broken lights, and outright darkness in parts of a business increase the risk of trips, falls, slips, and other kids of serious accidents occurring. The bottom line is that adequate lighting needs to be in place at a business at all times. This is just a common sense way of going about things at a business. Not Seeing Hazards in Hallways and Walkways One of the major dangers of poor lighting is that hazards in hallways and walkways may not be visible. This may be objects in the way, such as products and supplies, or it may be tripping hazards, such a power cords, snags in the carpet or rug, and so forth. Difficulty Seeing Slipping Hazards Liquids and other items or objects that can lead to slips and falls are another hazard that may be obscured due to poor lighting or low-light situations. When this happens, the chances of a serious injury are likely. Even just a little bit of moisture on a slick surface can increase the dangers of a property. Major Dangers in Stairwells and Stairways When lighting is poor in stairways and stairwells, the dangers are increased immensely. Even if there are banisters in place, the inability to see steps increases the risk of a slip or fall occurring. These dangers are increased if there are possible slipping hazards or tripping hazards. Property Owners Should Address Light Problems ASAP Whenever there’s an issue with the lighting at a property, it’s of the utmost importance that these problems be addressed as soon as possible. Change light bulbs or having the light fixtures/wiring fixed will ensure the safety of a property. If the issue cannot be addressed in a timely manner, it’s important that alternate lighting be used or that people be restricted from the hazardous area. When property owners fail to maintain a safe and well-lit environment and an accident occurs as a result of this negligence, it’s important that these property owners be taken to task for their actions. How Premises Liability Lawyers Can Help You Premises liability lawsuits can be complicated given the nature of some cases the the laws in Utah regarding safety at a property or place of business. Yet filing a lawsuit may be essential in order to receive damages for injuries and to prevent future incidents like the one that led to your injury. By working with an experienced premises liability attorney, you will be able to receive expert legal counsel while you focus on recovering from injuries and moving forward with life. Contact the Lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton For more information about your legal rights and options following a slip, trip, or fall accident, be sure to contact our team of experienced injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to offer strong legal counsel.