Head Injuries
Even a minor construction-related accident can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), impairment or death. If you or someone you know have suffered a TBI while working on a construction site, or if a loved one died from a construction site head injury, an experienced construction accident attorney can help you evaluate your legal options for recovering damages from your employer and others responsible.
This article provides answers to frequently asked questions about construction site head injuries and construction site head injury lawsuits.
How common are life-threatening head injuries on construction sites?
The CDC estimates workers at small construction companies – those with 20 or fewer employees – are 2.5 times more likely to die from a head injury than larger companies, defined as those with more than 100 employees. In addition, males are seven times more likely to die from a TBI than females, and workers in the structural iron and steel and roofing industries have the highest death rate from TBI.
What are the most common types of construction site head injuries?
Depending on the type of construction site and the severity of the head injury, a person can experience:
- Concussions
- Bleeding between the skull and brain (subdural hematoma)
- Skull fractures
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other degenerative brain disorders
- Death
What precautions can be taken to minimize the likelihood of head injuries?
Even a minor construction-related accident can result in a brain injury or death. Wearing a properly rated hard hat is the easiest way to minimize construction site head injuries, along with proper safety training, using fall protection, and being alert and aware while on the jobsite.
How does a hard hat protect you?
Hard hats are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, and must be certified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). There are several types of hard hats available based on the level of protection required. Type 1 hard hats protect against blows to the top of the head, while Type 2 hard hats protect from blows from the back, sides and other angles. Additionally, a hard hat can provide protection against:
- Electrocution
- Fire
- Penetration by a foreign object
Who is liable for head injuries sustained on a construction site?
Construction sites involve multiple parties. Your direct employer’s liability is covered by its workers’ compensation policy, which it is required to carry. You may not sue your employer directly, except in a few unique circumstances; however, other parties – everyone from the site’s landowner to equipment manufacturers – may be liable for your injuries. An experienced construction accident attorney can review your case to determine whether others might be at fault for your injuries.
What are the most important steps to take after sustaining a construction site head injury?
Regardless of whether your construction site head injury is minor or severe, get medical attention immediately. Afterward, it is important you take the following steps:
- Write a detailed description of how you were injured, including what happened before and after you were injured.
- Tell your employer about your head injury.
- Ask for additional information to fully document your case, including your full medical records related to the construction site head injury, any input from other witnesses, and photos of the site and any resulting damage.
- Keep all documents sent to/from your employer and others involved in the case.
- Talk with an experienced construction accident attorney to discuss the details of your case and possible recoverable damages.
How can PCVA help if you have been injured while working on a construction site?
PCVA’s experienced attorneys can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation and damages from your employer, landowners, equipment manufacturers and others who may be responsible for your construction accident injury. If you would like to speak with a PCVA lawyer, complete our online form or call us at (253) 777-0799 or (206) 462-4334. All conversations are completely confidential.
How much do you charge?
Our work is done on a contingency basis. This means that you do not pay us on an hourly basis, and we advance the costs of litigation. If we help you resolve your case, we receive a percentage of the amount you receive, and you reimburse us for the costs we advanced on your behalf.