North Carolina construction workers know that their job comes with many potential hazards. There are many types of accidents that can happen on a construction site, causing workers serious injuries.
Construction workers are increasing in number. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 11.4 million workers in the United States worked in the construction industry in 2019. This represented a 25% increase from 2011’s numbers.
More construction workers lead to more accidents
The increase in construction projects and workers means construction accidents are likely to increase. Falls are one of the most common types of construction accidents, and are often fatal, with more than one in three making up the total number of construction site deaths.
While some accidents may be unavoidable, many construction accidents are caused by the negligence of another party. If you can establish negligence, you may successfully pursue a personal injury claim for damages.
Finding the negligent party
Before pursuing your claim, you must determine who was negligent. There are various third parties that could be found liable for negligence, including the property owner or another worker.
If you were working with a piece of equipment that malfunctioned or didn’t work properly, it could be due to the negligence of the manufacturer or designer.
Proving negligence
Once you have identified the negligent party, you must show that they had a duty to provide a safe and hazard free environment or product, and that they breached that duty, causing you damages. You could then receive compensation for damages.
You are likely to have many damages after a construction accident. Your injuries might be severe, leaving you with high medical costs and requiring you to take time off work. Pain, suffering and mental and emotional distress are common.
Proving negligence can be complex, and a successful claim often depends on the specific facts of each case. Understanding the legal standard for negligence is necessary. Personal injury attorneys evaluate situations and provide accurate advice and guidance.