Construction sites are inherently dangerous locations. The construction workers who work on the sites each day are required to wear heavy protective gear, such as helmets and steel-toed boots, to protect them from the many hazards possible on the site. Construction can go on for weeks or even months, and until the construction is finished, many elements of the site remain unstable. This not only poses a threat to the workers, but of all of the drivers, pedestrians, and others who pass by the construction sites on the off-hours. If you walked or drove by a construction site and were injured, your first priority should be to call an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your case.
According to the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are four main causes of injury or death for construction workers:
- Getting caught in between or in materials
- Electrocutions
- Being struck by falling objects
- Falls
Construction workers are not the only people in danger of these injuries or deaths. Many people who are passing by construction sites are injured by unstable materials from construction sites.
For instance, recently in Chicago, there was a woman riding her bicycle on a well-marked path past a construction site. A temporary mesh fence was not properly secured, got blown out of the grown by the wind, and got tangled in the bicycle tires. This caused the woman to crash, and she suffered a severed hand ligament and fractures in her skull, and she underwent serious surgeries as a result. Furthermore, in April, a very small brother and sister decided to play by a home construction site in their neighborhood. Unstable ground caused a wall of dirt to fall on them, tragically killing both of them.
Such accidents can happen to anyone near a construction site. In the unfortunate case that such an accident happens to you or a loved one, it is important that you call a personal injury attorney who is experienced in these types of cases. Call Shane Smith Law today at (980) 246-2656 for a free consultation, and an attorney will help you get the settlement you deserve.