“Scaffolding accidents can be caused by defective scaffolding equipment, negligence, or property owners and employers who fail to provide safe conditions for workers.”
Scaffolding Accident Injury Attorneys In Waterbury CT
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), scaffolding-related accidents account for approximately 60 deaths and 4,500 injuries each year. Further, falls from scaffolds account for roughly 25% of fatal falls from any working surface. Scaffolding accidents may result in temporary or permanent disability, and the cost of the related medical care for scaffolding accident injuries can be hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. You will need the assistance of a construction accident attorney familiar with workers' compensation laws and construction liability.
Buckley Wynne & Parese, Personal Injury Attorneys in Connecticut, have been handling construction-related accidents for over 25 years.
What Causes Scaffolding Accidents?
The most common causes of scaffolding accidents include:
- Defective scaffoldings
- Improper construction or securing of scaffoldings
- Improper training
- Improperly assembled scaffoldings
- Lack of proper workplace or worker supervision
- Scaffolding that has come into contact with electrical wires
- Slippery or loose scaffoldings
- Use of scaffoldings without proper testing
Common Injuries Caused by a Scaffolding Accident
Construction workers work in various environments and on a variety of surfaces. As such, they are prone to various risks that can lead to accidents. The state of Connecticut has identified the most common construction accidents based on data provided by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Those four include falls, being struck by an object, electrocutions, or being caught in structures due to someone else's negligence. And though scaffolding accidents aren't part of what Connecticut calls these 'Fatal Four,' scaffolding accidents are indeed a common construction worksite injury.
Some common injuries caused by scaffolding accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries including paralysis
- Death
- Traumatic brain injury
- Back injuries
- Neck and head injuries
Many of these scaffolding accident-related injuries are due to unsafe work conditions. In these situations, your employer will be responsible for covering your damages.
What To Do If You are Injured in a Scaffolding Accident
If you’ve been injured in a scaffolding accident in Waterbury Connecticut, there are certain next steps you should keep in mind. Following this guidance will benefit you should you decide to seek legal action.
- Try not to panic.
- Thoroughly document your injury and take photos of the scene.
- Document the contact information on any witnesses, including full name, phone number, and email address.
- Call 9-1-1 and request an ambulance right away. Even if you do not think you need an ambulance, it is important to have a paramedic assess the extent of your injuries.
- Contact an experienced construction site/scaffolding attorney at Buckley Wynne & Parese Personal Injury Attorneys.
However, taking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do if you are involved in a scaffolding accident in CT. This means you should seek medical attention immediately.
What Type of Compensation Might I be Entitled to If I am Injured in a Scaffolding Accident?
If you have been injured in a scaffolding accident, it is within your rights to seek compensation for any damages or losses you have incurred. Injuries can take months to heal.
If you’ve been injured in a scaffolding accident, an experienced scaffolding attorney in Connecticut can help you seek the following compensation:
- Lost income both present and future
- Overall earning capacity
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Permanent injury and disability
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Wrongful death and funeral expenses
- Other general damages
The best way to determine what compensation you are eligible for is to contact Buckley Wynne & Parese Personal Injury Attorneys.
Top 10 OSHA Violations
The top ten OSHA violations in the United States from 2020 are:
- Fall Protection (5,424 violations)
- Hazard Communication (3,199 violations)
- Respiratory Protection (2,649 violations)
- Scaffolding (2,538 violations)
- Ladders (2,129 violations)
- Control of Hazardous Energy (2,065 violations)
- Powered Industrial Trucks (1,932 violations)
- Fall Protection Training (1,621 violations)
- Eye and Face Protection (1,369 violations)
- Machinery and Machine Guarding (1,313 violations)
Proving Negligence and Pursuing Compensation for a Waterbury Connecticut Scaffolding Injury
Scaffolding accidents can be caused by defective scaffolding equipment, negligence, or property owners and employers who fail to provide safe conditions for workers. When scaffolding is put up in a rush or workers are not adequately trained in the safety of the scaffolding equipment, unsecured supports or planking can cause a worker walking on the scaffolding to slip, trip, or fall. Further, damaged, aged, or rusted scaffolding or rotted wood can cause scaffolding to collapse.
When filing a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible for your scaffolding accident, your attorney at Buckley Wynne & Parese Personal Injury Attorney may file a claim against:
- The scaffolding manufacturer
- Construction company
- Contractor or subcontractor
- Other workers
- Property owner
According to Connecticut law, you must prove four distinct elements to assert a successful negligence case for a scaffolding accident injury. A Buckley Wynne & Parese Personal Injury Attorney would be required to establish the following:
- The defendant owed the injured party a duty of reasonable care.
- The defendant breached that duty of care and failed to act with the care which a responsible individual would usually exercise in a similar situation.
- The plaintiff was injured by direct causation of the defendant’s breach.
- The plaintiff incurred damages due to the negligence of the defendant.
Allow your attorney at Buckley Wynne & Parese Personal Injury Attorneys to identify the complex specifics of your scaffolding accident case. This will allow you to focus on healing and recovery so that you can get back to work and back to your life.
Contact Buckley Wynne & Parese
A scaffolding accident injury could turn your life upside-down instantly. But you do not have to face the aftermath of such an injury alone. Call the team at Buckley Wynne & Parese Personal Injury Attorneys right away to schedule a consultation and case review and find out what legal recourse you could take and what compensation you can anticipate.
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