Portland Construction Accident Attorney
Examining the Dangers of the U.S. Construction Industry
According to the American Community Survey (ACS), more than 11 million people are currently employed in the United States construction industry—which accounts for an astonishing 7.7% of the total civilian workforce aged 16 or older.
- Catastrophic Injury
- Chemical Burn
- Electrical Injury
- Logging Accident
- Railroad Worker Accident
- Workplace Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Although this industry continues to grow each year, it still remains that it is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Not only are workers subjected to grueling work hours, but they are expected to utilize their bodies day-in and day-out.
Some of the daily dangers they face include:
- Working at elevated heights
- Operating heavy machinery
- Utilizing hazardous materials
- Electrocutions and burn injuries
It should come as no surprise that nearly 150,000 construction workers are seriously injured on the job each year—with another 1,000 dying of the injuries that they sustain.
How Do Construction Accidents Most Commonly Happen?
Although there are countless ways in which a construction worker could be injured while on the job, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that many of them fall under one of four categories: falls (35%), electrocutions (9%), being struck by an object (10%) and being caught in between two objects (3%).
There are also a number of other incidents that seriously injured workers, including:
- Fires and explosions
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Roof / building collapses
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Scaffolding accidents
- Cutting / compressor accidents
- Trench cave-ins
- Defective machinery that can cause amputations
If you have been injured in any of these accidents while working in Oregon, it is important that you take steps to secure compensation. Depending on how your injury was caused, you may be entitled to more than just workers’ compensation benefits. In order to determine what course of action is right for you, however, it is highly recommended that you discuss your case with a Portland construction accident attorney at the Law Offices of Timothy Grabe as soon as possible.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways in which an injured worker can recover necessary compensation after a workplace accident in Oregon.
Workers’ Compensation vs. Third Party Claim
In Oregon, an injured worker may be entitled to two different forms of compensation after a work-related accident. First, they would have the opportunity to file for workers’ compensation—which must be provided by all employers in the state. These benefits would reimburse them for a percentage of their lost earnings and cover the cost of any medical treatment that was obtained after the accident.
If the accident was caused by a third party’s negligence, however, the worker may be able to successfully recover damages through a third party claim. This would be the case if, for example, you were injured by defective equipment while working on a construction site.
You would subsequently have the option to file a claim against the responsible manufacturers. In order to determine what form of compensation you may be entitled to, contact a personal injury lawyer at our firm today.
Need a Workers’ Comp Lawyer? Contact our Portland Law Firm!
If you have been injured in a serious construction accident in Oregon, it is crucial that you get in touch with a legal professional as soon as possible. Not only could your claim be jeopardized if you fail to take action quickly, but you may be entitled to more money than you think. For this reason, the Portland personal injury attorney at our firm encourages you to call today for a free initial consultation.
When you contact the firm at 971-645-7176, you can obtain answers to any questions that you may have! We can help you get started on securing fair compensation today.