Our Los Angeles Lawyers Provide Immediate Results For Construction Accident Claims

Scaffolding is one of many common construction-related injuries. In the United States, more deaths and fatal accidents occur due to inadequate preparation before high-rise scaffold use. Engaging in unsafe scaffolding can lead to immediate involvement from a legal professional that is well-versed in construction law, and cases. If you or a loved one were recently injured, you deserve a chance to fight for compensation. Our personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles can help you understand your rights and what to do next. This article serves as an added resource to discuss scaffold cases outside of workers’ compensation.

What Is A Scaffold?

If your loved one was injured, and you are unfamiliar with the construction industry, you may be unfamiliar with scaffolding. A scaffold is used to elevate or suspend work surfaces to support construction workers and materials. While there are many types, there are specific requirements that must be met for each to ensure everyone’s safety.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforce strict regulations on scaffold safety. In the state of California, construction workers should follow the government mandated Guide for Working Safely with Supported Scaffolds. Victims can report violations of the published regulations or standards. Additionally, your construction accident lawyer in Los Angeles can use this as evidence when presenting your personal injury case.

Construction Accidents Make Up 20% Of Deaths

While there have been many changes and advancements when it comes to construction safety equipment, without proper maintenance checks, it can result in fatal and non-fatal injuries. OSHA reported an extensive report, as of 2019. In the past year, with the pandemic a report has not yet been issued for the previous year.

Unfortunately, 20% of worker deaths in the U.S. are in the construction industry. Though construction workers only make up 6% of the labor force, it is still a substantial rate of employees getting hurt annually. Construction site managers are responsible for managing and improving the safety for those working on and off site.

Construction Injuries and Deaths by The Numbers

For a better understanding on the amount of fatal accident occurrences, here are four statistics reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and OSHA:

  • One in five deaths of U.S. workers is in the construction business.
  •  In 2019, more than 1,000 construction workers died on the job.
  • Yearly, 9.7 of every 100,000 construction workers sustain fatal injuries.
  • Falls account for 33% of all construction related deaths. If stricter safety requirements were enforced, it could save more than 300 lives.

Non-fatal accidents take a toll on the construction industry similarly. Here are four statistics reported by BLS, OSHA, and The Center for Construction (CPWR).

  • According to BLS, 1.7 percent of construction workers get injured, and miss work each year.
  • The construction industry reports 8.5% of all injuries that require workers to call out.
  • More than 25% of workers have not accurately reported a work-related injury.
  • In 2018 there were nearly 200,000 injury cases reported pertaining to construction.

When victims face minor to severe injuries on the job, we understand it can be difficult to 1) report the accident and 2) take time off work to heal. Whether you have a family to support or depend on your job for health insurance and benefits, it can be a challenging call to make. However, you can hire a lawyer for scaffolding accidents to develop a strong foundation for your claim if your injuries were due to the negligence of another employee or site manager.

Who Holds Responsibility?

Determining liability, or responsibility for damages caused in a construction-based scaffolding accident can be tricky. In most cases, your employer (the main contractor) on site is responsible for your health and safety. To win your Los Angeles accident injury lawsuit caused by falling from a scaffold, your attorney must be able to prove three things:

  • The defendant had a responsibility to provide and maintain safe conditions for the worker.
  • The defendant is in breach of their responsibility.
  • Due to the breach, the worker was caused harm.

Your construction injury lawyer in LA will work with you to go over all facets of your case. It is important to keep in mind that not all construction projects require a deep level of involvement from your employer. Scaffolding is one exception, as an improper set up can result in faulty support.

In addition to the general contractor, you can take legal action against a co-worker that holds responsibility to make decisions when the employer is not on site. Whether your injury was minor or severe, it will serve as an indicator that they were not maintaining safe conditions in court. OSHA refers to this violation as “breach of the duty of care.” Common accidents that happen in scaffolding include:

  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Broken bones
  • Damage to bodily organs
  • Amputations

When your Los Angeles worksite injury lawyer pursues compensation on your behalf, the damages owed to you may be coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering. It is vital that you have sufficient evidence, and act immediately.

The Law Offices of Oscar H Gutierrez

Our law firm specializes in helping those who were injured due to an accident or someone else’s negligence. Navigating the insurance agencies and legal framework for compensation can be difficult, especially if English is not your first language. That’s why you should call the bilingual lawyers of The Law Offices of Oscar H Gutierrez to make sure you are compensated for your pain and suffering. 

When you meet with one of our English-speaking and Spanish-speaking personal injury attorneys, you can tell them how your accident occurred and who might be responsible. Your attorneys will then launch an investigation into your accident and the events surrounding it to find who is responsible. If someone was negligent and their lack of care led to your injury, then they will build a case to make sure they pay your medical bills. You should contact our law firm if you were injured in a: 

We can also help you with product liability and premises liability suits. Don’t leave your medical bills and property damage to chance; instead, hire a law firm that can win you the maximum settlement. Contact our office for a free consultation at 323-999-3500 or email us at contact@gutierrez.legal.