Utah construction accidents are quite common. Working in construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in America. The construction industry employs more than 9 million US workers. Workplace injuries are commonplace in the construction field, with over 150,000 injuries occurring each year. According to OSHA, one in five workplace fatalities occurs on construction sites. There are many reasons these accidents can occur, whether it be human error or a machine malfunctioning.

Common Construction Accidents

According to OSHA, the “Fatal Four” construction accidents which result in serious injury or fatality are:

• Falls
• Being Struck by an Object
• Electrocution
• Being Crushed by an Object

These account for nearly 64.2% of all construction industry injuries. If we could eliminate these “Fatal Four,” we could save approximately 602 workers’ lives each year. Other common injuries include burns, hearing loss, broken bones, back injuries, repetitive stress injuries, etc.

Causes of Accidents

Utah construction accidents can be caused by many variables. Construction sites are very busy, and it’s not uncommon for someone to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and end up injured or worse. Sadly, one of the leading reasons these accidents occur, is the lack of safety standards on a site, some examples of this include:

• Unprotected sides, and holes in both the floors and walls – these hazards can cause injuries due to falls and falling objects
• Improper Scaffold Construction – lack of guardrail systems or fall protect can cause serious injuries and death as a result of a fall
• Unguarded Exposed Steel Rebar – protruding rebar with no protection can cause serious injuries such as impalement
• Exposed wires – these can cause electrocution
• Defective Equipment – defective equipment can cause injuries or death from being run over, electrocution, loss of limb, or explosions.
• Improper use of Equipment – Human error when using a heavy piece of machinery can result in severe injury or death.

Construction companies are required to provide a safe environment for their employees. OSHA has specific safety rules that construction companies must comply with. If a company doesn’t provide a safe workplace, it could be held responsible for the injuries which occurred due to their negligence.

Liability and What to do After an Accident

Utah construction accident cases can be very tricky. This is because determining who is liable for the accident is often very confusing. Oftentimes the employer themselves can not be sued, leaving workers with only worker’s compensation. However, it is possible that a third party could be held liable for damages suffered on a job site. If you’ve been injured in a construction accident and are wondering what your options are, follow these steps:

• Go to the hospital – Get a professional checkup even if you don’t think you have any injuries
• Report the accident – Report the accident to the construction site supervisor. Do this even if you are a pedestrian.
• Hire legal counsel – Call LeBaron & Jensen P.C. and meet with one of our construction accident attorneys.

Our skilled attorneys will help you determine who was liable for your accident and help you pursue your claim with the appropriate insurance company. Call today at 801-773-9488 for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Utah construction accident lawyers.

After you have been injured in an accident, you don’t want to have to deal with any more stress. Unfortunately, even though the claims process should be simple, insurance companies often complicate matters and make it difficult for you to understand your rights and how this should be handled.

Even though insurance companies need to tell the truth, they often lie to claimants. You shouldn’t have to stress yourself by dealing with them yourself. When you are filing an auto accident claim, it’s important to understand how they may lie to you, and to get help when needed.

Claiming That you’re At Fault

The most difficult part of being a plaintiff in a personal injury case is proving that the other party was responsible for the crash. Insurance companies often try to counter such arguments and claim that you are to blame for the accident. They will try different tactics to try and put you at fault so that they don’t have to pay out. For the most part, insurance companies are just trying to protect their profits and give you as little as possible for the damages you’ve suffered.

Claiming Your Damages aren’t Covered by Your Policy

Most people don’t fully understand their insurance policy. Instead, they get the minimum and hope that it will be enough. When this happens, insurance companies try to say that the minimum policy won’t cover the property damage or physical injuries you have sustained. While insurance companies are supposed to be honest with claimants, they often stretch the truth. When they try to take advantage of your rights, they may to be blamed for acting in bad faith, i.e. not paying out claims, delaying payments, inadequate investigation, etc.

At LeBaron & Jensen P.C., our car accident attorneys work hard to help you deal with insurance companies. We understand and recognize the tricks they may try to use. Our legal team will work diligently to assure that you are taken care of and that you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact LeBaron & Jensen today at (801) 773-9488 to discuss your case with one of our auto accident attorneys and ensure that insurance companies are not taking advantage of you.