Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Construction Accident: Tips for Victims from Tom Kiley (Part A)
Construction accidents occur more frequently than you would expect.
It is important for the victims of these accidents, especially serious construction accidents, to know what to do after they have been injured in a work place accident.
Construction Site Accident Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Construction accounted for 1,178 fatal work injuries, the most of any industry sector in 2007.”
That means that in 2007:
- 98 people died per month
- 23 people died per week
- 3.23 people died per day
As a personal injury attorney with 30+ years of experience, Tom Kiley, advises victims of construction accidents or forklift accidents in Massachusetts, to not hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney right after their accident.
Waiting too long may cost you millions of dollars in compensation for your injuries. Massachusetts has a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit if too much time passes, so be sure to start your legal action before the deadline for filing expires.
Besides, the best personal injury law firms in Massachusetts will offer Free Consultations to injured victims and their families, so the call and visit to your lawyer will not cost you anything. In many cases, attorneys will travel to your house, so you don’t even have to concern yourself with gas mileage or transportation costs for meeting with an attorney.
Types of Construction Accidents
Minor Construction Accidents
Minor accidents are usually just a scratch or bump or something that is not deemed serious.
These accidents usually require the following actions be taken:
- Report to the foreman
- Seek proper medical attention
Sometimes employers will not want to report minor Massachusetts construction accidents because it will increase their worker’s compensation rates.
It is important to report all accidents in order to have a complete accident history for a company and to ensure your accident is on record if further treatment is required. In addition, if the accident is reported, the company is on notice for that hazard, which means the company should is on notice to fix that hazard to prevent a future injury or accident.
Construction Accidents with Moderate Severity
These are little more serious than minor accidents. They may not require outside medical treatment but you will also want a free consultation from a lawyer experienced in building code violations.
The following actions should be taken:
- Examine the wound to determine if first aid is enough or if emergency medical treatment is required.
- Document the actions leading up to and including the accident.
- Report the information to the foreman or through the chain of command.
- Seek experienced legal representation, if needed.
Continue to Construction Accident: Tips for Victims from Tom Kiley (Part B) >>
