On-the-job injuries when working in construction are sadly common. While construction is essential and can be extremely rewarding, construction work can also be extremely dangerous. Though most experienced construction workers understand the risks they take on the job, accidents still happen. Workers are injured every day because of the very safety equipment meant to protect them. If you’re one of them, you must be wondering, What do I do if I was injured due to defective safety belts and lifelines?
If you’ve been injured due to defective safety belts and lifelines, the D’Amore Law Group can help. We’ve prepared this brief guide to help you navigate the steps you should take after a construction site accident. We’ve helped hundreds of folks get back on their feet after construction accidents and injuries.
What Should You Do First?
Seek Medical Attention
Seeking medical attention after a jobsite injury of any kind should be your first priority. At the hospital or at urgent care, you should be especially clear that your safety belt and lifeline failed. That way, the medical staff can check you for injuries that might not be immediately apparent, like internal bleeding. This is both for your safety and for documenting all your injuries for any claims you might make later.
Serious but silent medical issues can include hairline fracture, internal bleeding, or concussion. Medical issues like these can cause permanent damage that requires long-term rehabilitation or care. The sooner you’re able to identify them, the better.
Document Your Injuries
Document your injuries as best you can. If you’re able to take accident photos or videos, that can be very helpful later. If you’re able, you can record your first impressions of how you feel or what your surroundings are by using your cell phone as a voice recorder.
Having a witness document your injury from a failed safety belt or lifeline can also be essential. Save the clothes and shoes you were wearing during the accident if you can. Sometimes, these items can be helpful in determining who was at fault for defective protective equipment.
Reporting the Accident
Workers can be scared to report accidents. Some worry that they will be looked upon badly in the industry. Sometimes, workers are concerned about possible retaliation from colleagues. However, it’s important to report an accident to prevent further injury. You can save a life by notifying others of a dangerous condition. You can also help build your own case to recover for your injuries.
Filing Insurance Claims
If your injury was severe enough to cause you to miss work, there are some additional steps to take. You may need to consider filing workers’ compensation insurance or disability claims. Make sure to document all the work you’ve missed and why. Keep a clear record of your medical expenses. Filing an insurance claim is also important to help determine who’s liable for the accident. Filing an insurance claim can help you collect essential funds to help you recover from your injuries. If you’re injured and cannot work due to a defective safety belt and lifeline injury, being compensated is extremely important.
How Can You Determine Who Might Be Liable?
Determining who might be liable for your injury from defective safety belts and lifelines can sometimes be difficult. Our team at the D’Amore Law Group has plenty of experience helping clients get to the heart of this issue. The following parties are the ones who typically have liability for defective safety belt and lifeline accidents:
- General contractors,
- Subcontractors,
- Safety belt and lifeline manufacturers,
- Other materials manufacturers,
- Site owners,
- Site lessors, and
- Engineers.
Each of these various parties may play a role in defective safety belt and lifeline injuries at any point in time. Determining any party’s liability is a complex calculus. We recommend you speak with an experienced construction injury attorney to discuss your claim. We can also help identify any other legal issues around defective products and what possible additional claims you might have.
What Else Went Wrong?
A defective safety belt or lifeline is sometimes just the tip of the iceberg at a construction site. An accident involving safety equipment rarely occurs in isolation. Construction sites are so full of activity and heavy equipment that anything can go wrong. When filing a claim for being injured due to defective safety belts and lifelines, you may have other claims against the responsible parties as well.
“The Fatal Four” are the leading causes of worker accidents and death according to the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Worker fatalities due to Fatal Four conditions occur on construction sites routinely. OSHA announces the Fatal Four each year. In 2021, The Fatal Four are:
- Falling,
- Electrocution,
- Being struck by an object, and
- Being caught between objects.
Knowing that the number one fatal hazard is falling illustrates the serious threat defective safety belts and lifelines pose for workers. When talking to a construction accident lawyer, make sure to consider all the things that went wrong on site as you seek recovery for your injuries.
How D’Amore Law Group Can Help You
Construction accident and injury lawsuits are very complex. Our firm has over 30 years of experience helping folks like you recover from construction injuries. Whether the accident is from a commercial or residential jobsite, our focus on results and client care has won cases for over three decades. Contact us today for a free consultation.
