Construction Accident Statistics | Employee Rights

According to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the construction industry has one of the most dangerous environments for workers. 2011 brought 788 fatalities to construction workers or more than 17% of the total amount of deaths in private sector industries in total.

OSHA cites repeated code and safety violations as top causes of death and injury within the construction industry, although it is notable that employee deaths have been on the decline since 1970 when the fatality rate was a startling 38 individuals each day.

When a worker is injured on the job they are entitled to benefits and medical treatment through Arizona workers compensation laws. If an insurance company fails to provide benefits by delaying or denying a claim, the injured worker may be entitled to compensation by filing a workers comp claim with an attorney who has experience in this area.

If you or a loved one was injured on a construction site while on the job, the attorneys of Phillips Law Group can help you file your claim for workman’s compensation or help you fight the insurance company who is denying or delaying payment.

We believe that when employees put their lives on the line every day working in the dangerous environment of a construction site they deserve compensation for their injuries.

To find out how we can help, simply fill out the Free Case Review form located on the right side of this page, at the top. We will always fight for the MAXIMUM amount of compensation due to our clients, and we offer a completely FREE review of your case details. It is strictly confidential and there is never any obligation to proceed.

Construction Site Accident Statistics

OSHA cites the Fatal Four leading causes of death and injury in the construction industry as:

1. Falls from height accounting for 259 out of 738 total deaths
2. Electrocutions representing 69 deaths
3. Workers struck by an object representing 73 deaths
4. Caught in/ between 18

Interpretation of the data suggests that if stricter safety guidelines and adherence to OSHA standards were met, the elimination of these Fatal Four would save 419 construction workers lives every year.

In 2012, OSHA compiled the top 10 most frequently cited safety violations in the industry. They were:

1. Fall protection
2. Hazard communication standards
3. Scaffolding violations
4. Respiratory protection
5. Control of hazardous energy
6. Powered industrial trucks
7. Electrical wiring methods, components, and equipment
8. Ladders
9. Machine
10. Electrical systems design

Proper training also must be provided to workers so potential hazards can be spotted and corrected in advance of any OSHA safety inspections. Cables running across the ground or a lack of fall protection devices, like guardrails and safety nets, are also sometimes the cause of easily avoided accidents. The following construction industry statistics may be shocking, but they are a reality for many workers.

• Tens of thousands of construction workers are injured each year
• One in 10 construction site workers will be injured annually
• Most injuries to workers affect their back or spine
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an average of 150,000 reported construction site accidents yearly
• The most frequently injured demographic are workers ages 25 to 34
• 15% of the costs of workers compensation is estimated to cover those who were injured on a construction site

Recovering from a Construction Site Accident

If a worker is seriously injured while on the job the medical costs can skyrocket. From X-RAYS and MRIs to lengthy hospital stays, surgery and rehabilitative costs a worker and their family can experience a great deal of stress trying to cope with the recovery process.

In many unfortunate cases, a worker will die from their injuries and the family of the worker will have to make up for lost wages and arrange funeral and burial services, which can cost upwards of several thousand dollars.

Victims of construction site accidents have the right to be fairly and swiftly compensated for their pain and suffering. By contacting an attorney with workers compensation experience, the victim and their family can gain much-needed peace of mind during a very trying time.

Our Phoenix AZ Law Firm Can Help

At Phillips Law Group, our lawyers are dedicated to helping workers fight for their rights. If you or a loved one has been injured through no fault of your own while on the job, you may have cause to pursue legal recourse.

As one of Arizona’s largest consumer law firms, the skilled attorneys at Phillips Law Group have the resources and the desire to help the victims of workers compensation claims to receive the maximum benefits due to them.

Our experienced and dependable legal team understands that the death of a loved one can put more than just an emotional strain on a family, but the financial strain it causes can impair that family’s ability to continue to live a full and thriving life.

At Phillips Law Group, we want to help you and your family by assisting you in understanding your rights in cases of workers compensation death benefit claims.

Phillips Law Group has offices in Phoenix and Tucson, AZ, in Salt Lake City, UT and in San Diego, CA. In addition, we are proud to represent clients in the following cities:

• Gilabend, AZ
• Globe, AZ
• Payson, AZ
• Prescott, AZ
• Carlsbad, CA
• Chula Vista, CA
• La Jolla, CA
• Bountiful, UT
• Murray, UT
• Sandy, UT
• and most of the other surrounding towns and areas in each state.

To find out how Phillips Law Group can help you understand your rights and bring much-needed peace of mind, call us nationwide at (800) 706-3000.

If you would prefer to contact us online, simply fill out and submit the Free Case Evaluation form, located on the right-hand side of this page. Its strictly confidential and 100% FREE to send.