Construction site accident claims regularly involve severe injuries with serious consequences. Falls from ladders or scaffolding and into holes are common, as are being struck by falling objects and vehicles. Staff members may be tasked with using machines which are faulty, poorly repaired or missing safety guards. There are also risks of incorrectly stored or labelled chemical substances, exposed electrical circuits and more. While falls from height result in the most serious injuries, the most common reason for a claim is down to injuries sustained through lifting and handling.
Employer responsibility for construction site safety
Employers are legally obliged to provide a safe and secure environment for workers, and ensure they are properly trained for the job. This includes construction site management companies, contractors and other bodies working in the industry. They are also responsible for the safety of visitors to the site.
Injury claims for construction accidents will succeed if it can be proven that the organisation responsible for health and safety has been negligent and failed to comply with their statutory duties. In such cases, the employer will be found liable and the claimant will receive compensation.
Why claim compensation after a construction site injury?
If you have been injured at work on a construction site, claiming compensation can help ease some of the problems you’ll experience and help in a number of ways:
- It’s your legal right, and fairly compensates you for injuries that were not your fault.
- It can pay for private medical treatment and rehabilitation therapies to speed your recovery.
- It can make up for lost wages now and in the future if you are prevented from working again. This is by way of a special damages claim that relates to losses above and beyond any compensation settlement awarded to cover the injuries and distress caused.
- In fatal accidents it can provide loved ones with some measure of compensation for their loss.
As all construction accident claims are made on a No Win No Fee basis, you will never be charged if your claim does not succeed. A successful claim will lead to a compensation settlement being made to you.
How much can you claim?
How much compensation you’ll receive depends on the seriousness of your injury and its impact on your life. Solicitors will use guidelines issued by the courts which give upper and lower figures for each injury. The value of the claim will include any lost income and incurred costs, as well as a settlement for the injuries, psychological trauma and medical treatment that you have received.
As well as getting a financial settlement, your solicitor will look to help you to recover more quickly by obtaining rehabilitation therapies or private specialist treatments, at the expense of the 3rd party.
It maybe that you will be able to obtain further treatments unavailable in usual circumstances to help you recover more quickly and return to work and normality. Further information on this will be available from your solicitor once your claim has been started.
When can you claim for a construction site injury?
In the majority of cases, claims will succeed if employer or site management negligence can be proven. Construction employers and site management providers must ensure:
- That site staff are given a safety induction relating to the site on which they are working. That they are made aware of the likely risks to health and made aware how to deal with accidents and seek first aid.
- That the site health and safety signs are properly and prominently displayed.
- That all workers are made aware of their obligations to work safely.
- That all people on a construction site are wearing the correct personal protective equipment.
- That workers have been given manual handling and lifting training.
- That site staff are adequately qualified to use any tools or machinery that they are asked to use.
- That the tools and machinery that site staff are tasked with using are fit for purpose, by way of regular servicing and repair of the same.
- That any tools or machinery that are faulty are removed from use and only returned to active service once fully repaired.
- That any noxious or dangerous chemicals are handled in compliance with the ‘Controls of Substances Hazardous to Health’ (COSSH) guidelines, and that chemicals are stored and controlled accordingly.
Any person who suffers a construction accident at work as a result of employer negligence is entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
If you believe that your employer or a construction site management company (or a contractor) exposed you to the risk of injury due to a lack of training or inadequate health and safety management in the workplace, you should contact Direct2Compensation today to start your claim.
How Direct2Compensation can help with your claim
Direct2Compensation are experts in managing accident at work injury claims. Over the years we have successfully assisted many claimants who have been injured on a construction site, we know your rights and can help you to understand whether the specifics of your accident are such that you are likely to win compensation.
As with all accidents at work, it is important to make sure that the details have been recorded properly within an employer’s or site accident book and that medical attention is sought for any injuries that you have sustained. If you haven’t done this already, we can help you to do so.
If you have suffered a construction site injury and want to know if you can make a claim for compensation, contact us today. You can start your claim online or , and one of our expert team will be in touch to offer help. Alternatively, call us on 01225 430285.
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