The risk of a construction worker being injured in an accident with a vehicle or heavy equipment is higher than in most other professions. If you or a loved one was hurt in a vehicle accident on the job, even if you were not personally operating the vehicle, you may have a strong personal injury case.
The New York construction vehicle accident attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates have the skills you need to recover the compensation you deserve; call 1-800-NOW-HURT to find out whether you have a case.
Types of Construction Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents are more common on construction sites for several reasons. These are hectic and fast-paced vehicles, and the noise of a construction site can prevent workers from hearing backup alarms, horns, or the sound of oncoming vehicles.
Road construction zones are especially dangerous, and behaviors like speeding and reckless driving in these zones carry steep penalties for good reason. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there were 96,000 crash in work zones in 2022, leading to 37,000 injuries and 891 fatalities. Additionally, anyone who works on a site that uses dump trucks, bulldozers, forklifts, or other heavy vehicles is at risk of a vehicle accident, including operators, passengers, and anyone on the site.
Backover accidents are also very common on job sites with large vehicles, as the driver cannot see well enough behind the vehicle to notice human obstacles. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), backover accidents resulted in 195 fatalities from 2005 to 2010, most commonly involving dump trucks and semi-trucks.
Common Injuries from Construction Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents on construction sites often result in injuries typical of vehicle crashes, including whiplash, spinal injury, and head trauma. Additionally, construction workers are at high risk of being run over or crushed in an accident since heavy vehicles on sites often must maneuver tight spaces. These accidents might result in:
- Broken or crushed bones
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic or surgical amputation
These injuries can be debilitating, meaning that workers can go weeks or months unable to work while they recover. This means lost wages and costly medical bills. If you find yourself in this situation, getting in touch with a construction vehicle accident attorney may be in your best interests.
Seeking Damages after a Vehicle Accident
According to our construction vehicle accident lawyers serving New York, these cases may involve both workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims. Your workers’ compensation claim, filed through your employer, covers basic medical care and a portion of your wages. However, if a party who is not part of the construction crew causes the accident, you might have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit.
When a vehicle accident injures you on a construction site, you should not have to navigate the legal system alone. At Buttafuoco & Associates, we understand the dangers and challenges of the construction industry, and if you are injured due to another’s negligence, you are entitled to medical care, wage compensation, and potentially more. We will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free case review.