Denver Construction Accident Lawyer

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 1,000 workers in the construction and extraction industries suffered fatal injuries nationwide in a single recent year, while another 200,000 construction workers suffered nonfatal injuries and illnesses that same year.

Because construction workers often perform dangerous work with heavy equipment, the injuries they suffer on the job are frequently more severe than work-related injuries in other industries. That, in turn, means many construction accidents end up costing injuring workers dearly in terms of medical bills and lost income.

If you’ve been injured near or while working on a construction site, there’s a good chance you can recover compensation or receive benefits for your injuries. You just need help from the right attorney, and Olson Personal Injury Lawyers has the experience and knowledge you’re looking for in a Denver construction site accident lawyer. We’ve spent the past 10-plus years fighting on behalf of accident victims.

Contact our office today for a free initial consultation.

Common Causes of Construction Accidents in Denver

Construction sites present many hazards to workers and passersby, including the risk of:

• Falls – Construction workers can fall from heights while on the job, frequently leading to severe injuries or death. Workers can also slip or trip and fall on the ground if the site isn’t free of debris or if there are spilled liquids on the site.
• Struck-by-an-object accidents – Construction workers can be struck by an object if someone drops something from above or if the object slips off a shelf or platform. Careless workers also sometimes injure each other if they’re tossing objects without watching for others around them.
• Electrocution – Loose wires or a lack of proper protective gear can lead to electrocution injuries at construction sites. Similarly, workers can sustain an electric shock if spilled liquids come into contact with a power source.
• Caught-between-objects accidents – A lot of heavy equipment is in use at many construction sites. Workers can become crushed or pinned between large objects if they aren’t careful or if the machines are defective.
• Motor vehicle accidents – Many different vehicles are used at construction sites, from large construction vehicles to semi-trucks to ordinary pickup trucks. If drivers and workers aren’t cautious, someone can easily be struck by a moving vehicle as it’s traveling through a work site.
• Dangerous equipment accidents – Heavy industrial equipment can cause severe injuries if misused or not properly maintained.
• Structural collapses – If a scaffold isn’t constructed properly or a building isn’t built to code, it could collapse while workers are still inside or on top of it, sending workers plummeting to the ground.
• Exposure to toxic inhalants or chemicals – Many building materials and other substances used in construction work can be toxic if inhaled or ingested. Workers can end up sustaining significant injuries if proper precautions aren’t taken around these chemicals.
• Accidents due to negligent supervisors – Construction supervisors should be on the lookout for potential hazards at all times, but many supervisors don’t take these duties seriously, leaving workers vulnerable to injury.
• Accidents due to lack of training – Workers should be appropriately trained in the use of all the equipment they’ll be using on a job site, as well as in general safety procedures. A lack of training can cause workers to make avoidable mistakes that could injure them.

Injuries from Construction Accidents

Some of the most common injuries that occur in construction accidents include:

Who Is at Risk for a Construction Site Injury?

Two main categories of people are at risk for accidents on or near construction sites. The first and most obvious category is anyone working on the site. That includes the construction workers, supervisors, electricians, plumbers, vendors, delivery drivers, and anyone else doing work related to whatever is being built.

The other major category of people who are at risk of being hurt near a construction site is passersby. People traveling by a construction site can be injured by falling objects, fires and explosions, electrical shocks, slip-and-fall accidents, construction vehicles, and more. That is why construction companies should always make sure work zones are carefully marked and that as many people as possible are detoured away from the site.

Types of Claims for Construction Accidents in Denver

If you were injured while working on or passing by a construction site, there are two types of claims you can file to recover compensation for your injuries.

Construction workers who are injured on the job can file a workers’ compensation claim. A successful workers’ compensation claim will cover all reasonable medical bills related to the accident, along with the replacement of a portion of your missed wages. You cannot recover damages for pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses in a workers’ compensation claim, however.

If you’re a passerby who’s injured while traveling near a construction site, you can file a standard personal injury claim against the construction company or any other liable parties. Through a personal injury claim, you can recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, damaged personal property, and more.

Construction workers are generally not eligible to file a personal injury claim for job-related injuries, but they may have a personal injury case if their injuries were caused by a non-employer third party, such as a contractor who constructed scaffolding improperly or the manufacturer of defective equipment. Talk to a Denver personal injury lawyer to explore all of your options for recovering compensation after a construction accident.

How Long Do I Have to File a Construction Accident Claim in Denver?

You have two years from the date of sustaining a workplace injury to file a workers’ compensation claim in Colorado. However, you may have trouble obtaining benefits if you wait more than four days after an accident to notify your employer of your injury in writing.

If you wish to file a personal injury lawsuit related to a construction accident, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury cases applies, which in Colorado is two years from the date of your injury.

Contact Our Experienced Denver Construction Accident Lawyers Today for Help

Hiring a Denver construction accident attorney means you’ll have an experienced, knowledgeable ally in your corner to help you build your claim and pursue the fair compensation you deserve. Contact Olson Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free initial consultation.