Types of Construction Accidents

Construction workers face some of the most dangerous workplace hazards in the entire country, across any occupation. Data compiled by the National Safety Council shows that there were 5,199 fatalities and 467,950 injuries in the construction industry nation-wide from 2011 to 2016. Over that time, construction-related fatalities made up 18% of all on-the-job deaths. Compared to other job types, the construction industry had the third-highest fatal injury rate of any occupation in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Below is a list of the most common types of construction accidents in New York, including information on your legal options if you have been injured in one of these types of accidents:

• Bricklayer Accidents
• Building Collapse
• Carpenter Accidents
• Construction Site Falls
• Construction Safety Gear
• Crane Accidents
• Crane Accidents: Facts and Statistics
• Debris on Stairs or in Work Areas
• Defective Ladders
• Defective Power Tools
• Demolition Accidents
• Dropped Loads from Trucks or Cranes
• Electrocution Accidents
• Elevator Accidents
• Excavation Accidents
• Falling Object Accidents
• Faulty Stairs
• Fires & Explosions
• Forklift Accidents
• Heavy Equipment Accidents
• Hoisting Accidents
• Holes in Construction Floors
• Improper Cleanup & Maintenance
• Ironworker Accidents
• Ladder Accidents
• Maintenance Worker Accidents
• Nail Gun Accidents
• Open Elevator Shaft Accidents
• Painter Accidents
• Plumber Accidents
• Roofing Accidents
• Saw or Cutting Blade Accidents
• Scaffolding Accidents
• Slips, Trips & Falls
• Staging Collapses
• Struck-By Hazards
• Trench Accidents
• Tunnel Accidents
• Union Worker Accidents
• Wall & Roof Collapses
• Welding Accidents
• Window Installation Accidents
• Worn or Defective Rope or Cable

From 2015 to 2016, there was a 3.59% increase in non-fatal injuries and a 5.76% increase in fatalities for construction workers nationwide. In fact, the number of construction workers killed on the job has increased every year from 2011 to 2016:

Many construction site accidents could be avoided if contractors, subcontractors, developers and employers would follow the proper safety procedures. Far too often, however, this does not happen, and construction workers suffer as a result. And while there are many different ways a worker could be injured when safety precautions are not taken, the vast majority of construction accident injuries break down to a few key injury mechanisms, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

• Falls 38.7% of construction deaths in 2016
• Struck by Object: 9.4%
• Electrocutions: 8.3%
• Caught-in/between: 7.3%

Employers have a responsibility to keep construction sites safe for workers. In addition to implementing and overseeing task-specific safety procedures, employers should also ensure that equipment is readily available and properly maintained, protective gear is worn by workers, and safety training is provided. Failure to perform these duties may give injured workers grounds for a construction accident lawsuit.

If you or a loved one have been injured on a New York construction site, contact our New York construction accident law firm today for a FREE consultation. We will fight for your rights and hold the negligent parties accountable. Call 212-736-5300 or fill out our case evaluation form to pursue compensation for your medical bills, time away from work, and other damages. Serving the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Long Island, Staten Island, all of New York State and New Jersey.