Accidents Causing Paralysis Are a Danger for Construction Workers

Hard statistics that detail the main types of paralyzing accidents for construction workers are hard to come by. Government agencies tend to focus on fatalities and injuries and their causes without delving deeply into whether, for instance, those injuries included paralysis. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the leading causes of death among construction workers also are some of the leading causes of injuries, including

• Falls
• Being struck by objects
• Electrocution

Being caught between or crushed by an object or objects, including being rolled over by a vehicle, caught in a collapsing structure or tunnel, or crushed between vehicles or pieces of equipment

According to the BLS, these causes accounted for more than two-thirds of construction-worker deaths in 2015, as well as a similar proportion of serious injuries. While no agency seems to track causes of accidents that result in paralysis among construction workers, many sources tend to infer that the major causes of serious injuries and death also are among the leading causes of paralysis-inducing accidents among construction workers. This seems reasonable, given the severity of the injuries these types of accidents can cause.

Certain Types of Accidents Pose a Greater Risk of Paralyzing Injuries for Construction Workers

Workers must be vigilant to avoid accidents that can cause serious injury, including paralysis, on hazardous construction sites. Falls are both frequent accidents on construction sites and a common cause of paralyzing injuries. Construction workers perform their jobs on ladders, scaffolding, roofs, cranes, and other structures that place them above the ground—often high above the ground. Falls are relatively common and pose substantial injury risks.

Falling objects also pose great hazards. Just as construction workers perform their jobs high above the ground, those working high above can drop objects on and seriously injure workers performing their jobs on the ground below.

Heavy machinery is common on construction sites and can pose obvious risks to those working around it. The misuse or failure of forklifts, bulldozers, backhoes, or even nail guns to work properly can result in paralyzing injuries.

Equipment-related injuries also can arise from the operation of large trucks and other vehicles on construction sites. Construction workers are at risk of large vehicles backing over them, trapping them between moving vehicles or a moving vehicle and a stationary object, or otherwise crushing them. Such accidents are among the leading causes of construction deaths, and also could cause injuries resulting in paralysis.

Construction frequently involves digging tunnels and trenches. These place workers in hazardous situations, where a collapse can result in death or crushing injuries. Such situations also are among the leading causes of fatal injuries on construction sites and possible causes of injuries leading to paralysis.

If You Suffer a Personal Injury Causing Paralysis While Working Construction in the Savannah Area, Call Hasner Law

Working construction is a dangerous occupation. That doesn’t mean you have to shrug off the risks and just accept injuries you incur on the job. If you are a construction worker in the Savannah area and are paralyzed in a work accident, look into your compensation options. Take advantage of a free case evaluation to determine if a workers’ compensation attorney can help maximize your compensation for your injuries.