Mendez and Sanchez - Construction Accident  Attorney in Montebello, California

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The construction profession is naturally one of the most hazardous professions in Montebello. Every year there are thousands of worker injuries and fatalities in California because of construction site accidents. Construction injuries can be some of the most painful and intense. Additionally, with a long path to recovery, you and your loved ones might require substantial compensation from those responsible. There could be a loss of income, medical costs, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a family member suffer injury in a construction accident in California, reach out to the Montebello Construction Accident Attorneys at Mendez & Sanchez for a complimentary case assessment.

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What Are The Fatal Four of Construction Accidents?

Out of 4,674 worker deaths that happened across the country in 2017, approximately 1,000 of them (or about 20%) happened in the construction industry. To put it another way, 1 in 5 work-related fatalities every year take place on a construction site. These are frightening statistics and they indicate a major problem when it comes to construction accident injuries and death.

The leading causes of worker deaths in the construction industry are:

• slip and falls
• struck by object
• electrocution
• caught-in between

These common causes of construction accidents and injuries are known as the Fatal Four. These causes are responsible for virtually 60% of worker deaths in the construction industry.

• Construction site falls account for 39.2% of construction accident deaths.
• Being struck by an object makes up 8.2% of construction accident fatalities.
• Electrocution makes up 7.3% of construction fatalities.
• Getting caught in between or crushed by two objects or vehicles made up 5.1% fatalities.

Further, while not on the list of four, work zone highway accidents are also quite common. There are many safety initiatives to address this recurring problem. Along with criminal charges, when a driver strikes a worker, there will usually be a civil case as well.

Do Construction Accidents Cause Serious Injuries Often?

In some instances, the true effects of an accident might take time to reveal themselves. Some injuries become progressively worse as days and even weeks pass. What might seem minor while on the job may in fact be a severe, potentially life-long injury. Occasionally adrenaline masks injuries or they simply take a while to develop.

In other situations, a routine injury might be exacerbated or worsened throughout the course of treatment. For example, an infection developing during or after surgery, or a greater muscle tear occurring during rehabilitation. Injured employees are protected in these events by the laws of California but they are required to actively seek relief from their injuries. Consulting with a personal injury attorney early can help secure your legal rights and enable you to recover your damages.

That being said, construction accidents can cause serious or catastrophic injuries, such as:

• Fractures requiring surgery
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
• Spinal cord injuries that result in a worker to become a paraplegic or quadriplegic.
• Electrocution.
• Burns.
• Eye injuries that lead to permanent vision impairment or blindness.
• Death.

Our construction accident attorneys in Montebello are here to help you get compensation and we offer our services at no cost unless we win.

What Are The Top 10 Most Frequent Safety Violations at Construction Site?

The following is a list of the most frequent health and safety infractions on construction sites. These infractions can result in accidents and injuries that put employees' health and lives in danger. Usually these violations are discovered after an evaluation of the worksite by OSHA.

OSHA publishes this kind of information to help avoid injuries, illnesses, and deaths on work sites. These incidents are easy to avoid when you abide by safety guidelines.

The ten most common construction infractions are:

• Failure to use fall protection equipment.
• Failure to communicate hazard material information.
• Dangerous scaffolding.
• Lack of respiratory protection.
• Hazardous power or energy supply on site.
• Unsafe ladders.
• Industrial vehicles not complying with regulations.
• Not complying with fall protection guidelines.
• Disregarding machinery protection guidelines.
• Lack of appropriate eye and face protection.

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Should You Request a Complimentary Construction Accident Case Consultation?

Under California law, an injured employee has the right to file and receive workers compensation benefits for injuries at work.

In addition to workers' compensation benefits, an injured construction worker may also have a third-party negligence case. The case could be against a contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or other person or business. There can be a third-party claim as long as the responsible party is not the employer or colleague of the injured or deceased individual. Typically, these types of claims include either general negligence in maintaining safe working conditions, or products liability for negligently maintained or manufactured equipment or vehicles.

For example, if a construction fatality or injury is due to a crane that was constructed with faulty or recalled parts, the manufacturer of the crane could be accountable. Here, victims can get reimbursement to pay for their injuries with a third-party claim.

Another example of a construction site injury third-party case would be: a subcontractor erects scaffolding which another company's employee will use to perform his job. Further, the subcontractor neglects to make sure that the bolts holding the scaffolding are secure, causing the scaffolding to collapse. If the worker sustains an injury in this sort of construction accident, the subcontractor can be liable for the worker's injuries. This, since the worker was not an employee of the subcontractor.

What Are the Statute of Limitations on Construction Site Injuries in California?

According to California Legislation, there are time restrictions from the day of the accident to submit a construction negligence lawsuit. These time limits differ depending on who was responsible for your accident (like your employer or a third-party, as discussed above).

• If a local government, like the city, county, or school district is responsible for your injury, the California statute of limitations is 1 year from the date of the construction accident.
• When a private person negligently manages a construction job and you suffer injury, the statute of limitations is 4 years from the date of the construction accident.
• If the reason for your construction injury is more general, like dangerous working conditions, and then the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of the construction accident.

Usually, to be safe and prevent any issues, a construction injury lawyer in Montebello will submit a lawsuit within 2 years from the date of accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a construction accident, an accident lawyer needs to be consulted as promptly as possible to review your case and to protect your rights. Your Montebello construction accident attorney will investigate the cause of the accident, the extent of injuries and the responsible parties.

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If the facts of your construction accident case do not call for a third-party negligence claim, you or your family still have a right to collect workers' compensation benefits. When a costly injury occurs as a result of a construction accident or auto accident, you may have a valid personal injury claim for negligence. The Montebello construction accident and personal injury lawyers at Mendez and Sanchez can help you understand your rights and options. FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, CALL US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.