Working in construction can be a dangerous job. When the Bureau of Labor Statistics looked at fatal workplace injuries in New Jersey for one recent year, construction workers made up the largest group of injury victims. If you have been hurt in a construction accident in New Jersey, contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Our knowledgeable and compassionate construction accident lawyers can help you pursue workers’ compensation benefits and understand New Jersey’s workers’ comp laws. We may also be able to help you file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party responsible for your injuries, so you can recover additional compensation.

Our New Jersey & New York personal injury law firm has helped more than 30,000 accident victims in over 40 years in business, recovering more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients. We are prepared to defend your rights and make your case our top priority. Contact us today for your free case review with a New Jersey construction accident attorney.

What Are the Most Common Construction Accidents in New Jersey?

The New Jersey Department of Health reports that construction accidents accounted for over 20 percent of all fatal workplace injuries statewide for nearly 25 years, making construction accidents the largest share of all workplace fatalities in that period.

Some of the most common types of construction accidents in New Jersey are:

• Falls — Many fall accidents at New Jersey construction sites result from some form of negligence, such as a spill that wasn’t cleaned up or a lack of safety railings. Falls from unsafe ladders can be traumatic and devastating. Even a minor fall can result in significant injuries such as head trauma, spinal cord injuries, or injuries to internal organs.
• Workers struck by objects — A helmet is not always enough to protect construction workers if they are struck by falling objects, such as tools or equipment that have been dropped. Construction workers can also be injured by objects flying through the air after an explosion or equipment malfunction. These accidents can lead to puncture wounds, traumatic brain injuries, and other serious medical conditions.
• Electrocutions — Construction workers frequently work around live electrical wires and heavy-duty machinery. If these wires become frayed or there’s an equipment malfunction, a worker could suffer a severe electric shock. Electrocutions can cause burns, nerve damage, and other injuries.
• Workers caught between two objects — Construction sites have heavy equipment and large vehicles, which means workers can easily become crushed or pinned between two heavy objects if proper precautions are not taken. These accidents can lead to crushed or severed limbs and other traumatic injuries.
• Structural collapses — If a building comes down at a construction site while workers are inside or nearby, the results are often catastrophic. Workers can be struck or crushed by falling objects, or they might sustain a serious injury after falling to the ground.
• Explosions and fires — Certain chemicals used in the construction industry can ignite if exposed to heat or electricity, leading to a fire or explosion. Workers caught in a fire or explosion can suffer severe burns and other injuries.
• Equipment failures — Many pieces of construction equipment can cause severe injuries if they fail or malfunction. These malfunctions can happen if the equipment is not properly maintained or workers are not adequately trained to use it.
• Faulty railings and stairways — A half-finished building is a safety nightmare for construction workers. If the stairways are not built properly or safety railings are not installed, a single slip-up can cause a worker to fall and sustain a major injury.
• Toxic chemical exposure — If construction workers do not have proper respiratory equipment, inhaling fumes from certain chemicals can cause lung damage. Touching certain chemicals can cause painful chemical burns.

Common Liable Parties in a New Jersey Construction Accident

Generally, you cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer after an injury if they have workers’ comp insurance in New Jersey. In exchange for giving up the right to sue, workers’ compensation benefits will cover all your medical bills and a portion of your missed wages.

However, you may be able to file a third-party lawsuit against someone other than your employer if you and your construction accident attorney can demonstrate how the third party was negligent.

Some parties that may be liable for a New Jersey construction accident include the following:

• The construction site owner — Many construction accidents result from the construction site owner’s negligence. This is when the owner can be held liable for an accident. If the owner knew about a hazard at the site and did nothing to address it, they may be responsible for an accident. These hazards include uncleaned spills, faulty railings or stairways, and other environmental dangers.
• Contractors — Contractors must maintain a safe working environment in line with regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). They are also required to warn workers of any known hazards. If the contractor fails in either of these duties, they could be held responsible for a construction accident.
• Other construction workers — Sadly, many construction accidents are caused by careless workers. For example, being injured by someone driving a construction vehicle on the job site qualifies as a workplace injury. You could file a lawsuit against the driver of the vehicle for compensation.
• Equipment manufacturers — If a piece of machinery or equipment malfunctions at a construction site, the manufacturer may be liable if you can show the equipment had a defect.
• Architects and engineers — Architects and engineers must make sure any structures they design are safe and structurally sound. If these requirements are not met and an accident occurs, the architect or engineer who designed the structure can be held liable.
• Passers-by — Construction workers can be injured by passers-by who aren’t being careful. This risk is especially prevalent among road construction crews, as anyone driving nearby could crash into the construction site and hit a worker if the driver is not paying attention.

Are you ready to discuss your case? Contact us now to set up a free consultation.

Common New Jersey Workplace Violations in the Construction Industry

OSHA takes workplace safety violations and their resulting injuries very seriously. They keep detailed statistics to monitor ongoing trends. According to OSHA’s list of commonly used statistics, five of the most common safety violations in one recent year specifically involved the construction industry. Those violations were:

• Fall protection systems violations
• Ladder safety violations
• Scaffolding safety violations
• Fall protection training violations
• Eye and face protection violations

How Much Do You Get Paid on Workers’ Comp in New Jersey?

Workers’ compensation benefits will cover all medical expenses related to the accident that your doctor has authorized. These benefits will continue until you either make a full recovery or your doctor decides that further treatment will not improve your condition.

If you miss more than seven days of work after an accident, you are entitled to wage-replacement benefits backdated to the day of the accident. These benefits are calculated using your average weekly wages before the accident. You will receive 70 percent of your average weekly wages in wage-replacement benefits, up to a maximum amount set by state law. In order to obtain maximum compensation, you should hire a New Jersey construction accident attorney.

Sometimes a workplace injury results in a worker sustaining a permanent partial disability. These benefits begin once any temporary disability has healed.

The duration and amount of these benefits are based on the extent of your disability and what parts of your body were injured.

If a construction accident leaves you permanently disabled, you are eligible for permanent total disability benefits. These benefits are based on your average weekly wages and last up to 450 weeks. You can seek to have these benefits extended after 450 weeks. However, your doctor will need to certify that you are still totally and permanently disabled.

Contact Our New Jersey Construction Accident Lawyers Today

If you’ve been hurt on the job and are worried about how you will pay your bills after a construction accident, you can rely on the New Jersey construction accident lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., to guide you. We can develop a strong case with the input from our outstanding team of experts, working to secure the benefits you deserve. You should not have to worry about your finances after a construction accident. Our experienced attorneys are here to make sure the New Jersey workers’ comp system works for you instead of against you.

We have convenient locations throughout New Jersey and can meet at your home or remotely. Contact us today for a free case review with a skilled construction accident attorney in New Jersey.