Construction Injury Compensation Claims Lawyers.

Construction sites pose a variety of ways for potential injuries to occur. The majority of injuries are minor and do not cause too much disruption to the individual, but occasionally a serious, or even fatal, injury can occur.

Some of the most common construction site injuries that we have helped people to make a compensation claim for include:

• Head injuries – Objects falling from height and hitting someone on the head, or an individual falling from a height can lead to head injuries ranging from mild concussion to severe brain damage.
• Breaks and fractures – Broken bones are a common injury, often caused by slips and falls, a collision with a moving vehicle, or an object falling from height.
• Spinal injuries – This type of injury typically occurs due to a fall from height, and can be very serious, potentially leading to a loss of use of the legs, bladder, or bowel.
• Eye injuries – Dirt, dust, and debris found on a construction site can make its way into the eyes if safety goggles are not worn, causing damage to the eye that could even lead to a loss of sight.
• Sprains and strains – Trips, falls, and manual handling can lead to sprained and strained muscles and tendons, leaving you out of action for a while.
• Psychological injuries – After a construction site accident, many people find that they also develop psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, or post traumatic stress disorder.

This list is not exhaustive, and if you have sustained any kind of injury, both physical and psychological, in a construction site accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Speak to our specialist team of personal injury solicitors today to find out how we can help you to seek justice and get back on your feet after the accident.

Construction sites are inherently hazardous by nature, and accidents can often occur despite the most stringent health and safety procedures being in place. Some of the most common causes of accidents on building sites include:

• Poor site conditions – This can include things like building materials left in unsafe places, cables trailing along the ground, changes in surface level, uneven surfaces, wet and slippery surfaces, and poorly assembled scaffolding.
• Inadequate risk assessments – It is essential that employers carry out regular risk assessments in order to identify any potential hazards, followed by taking reasonable steps to reduce or remove the hazards and prevent harm.
• Inadequate safety training – It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure all workers possess the necessary knowledge and skills in order to carry out their jobs as safely as possible by providing them with adequate training.
• Insufficient breaks – It is vital that construction workers are given adequate rest time throughout the day, and enough time in between shifts to rest properly. Working on a construction site whilst tired or fatigued can be very dangerous.
• Poor electrical safety – When using electrical equipment on site it is important to ensure it is in good working order, portable appliance tested (PAT), and that it is not used in wet conditions, in order to prevent electric shocks.
• Faulty equipment – Construction workers are required to use a lot of different equipment and machinery, and if it is not maintained in good condition it can become dangerous and cause an accident.
• Inadequate PPE – Workers should be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment, such as ear defenders, safety goggles, hard hats, high visibility jackets, and steel toe-cap boots to protect them as much as possible.
• Exposure to hazardous substances – Dangerous chemicals and substances, for example asbestos, are often found at construction sites, and without proper PPE and training they can lead to serious health problems further down the line.
• Repetitive actions – Carrying out the same task repeatedly over a period of time can cause a repetitive strain injury (RSI), and prolonged use of a handheld power tool can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome.
• Poor manual handling – Construction workers are often required to move heavy loads, and poor manual handling practices can put them at risk of injury, for example by lifting loads that are too heavy or above waist height.
• Inadequate working at height measures – Working at height is one of the most dangerous aspects of a construction site, especially when inadequate safety measures are in place, such as a lack of guard rails and harnesses.
• Poor traffic management – A construction site will typically feature several vehicles such as cranes, diggers, excavators, dump trucks, and bulldozers, which can potentially cause an accident if driven without due care and attention.

If you have been involved in any kind of accident on a construction site, caused by somebody else’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. Here at Lanyon Bowdler we have helped many people in your situation to claim what was owed to them after a building site accident, and we’d like to help you too, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly and experienced personal injury team.

On most construction sites you will find a variety of people, such as architects, site managers, and labourers, all working on the same project but independently from one another. It can therefore be difficult to pinpoint who exactly is liable when a building site accident claim is brought about.

Some of the people responsible for construction site safety include:

• Site managers – They are responsible for following instructions from the client, and could be deemed liable if they fail to do so.
• Designers and architects – If they fail to follow the health and safety advice of the client they could be held responsible for any accident that ensues.
• Construction regulations coordinator – They are responsible for ensuring the project is carried out according to regulations.
• Clients – If the client ignores the health and safety advice from the construction regulations coordinator they could be liable for any accidents that happen.

There are a number of legislative acts that govern how a construction site should operate, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations Act 1996, and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The 1996 act states that employers must take all necessary precautions in order to prevent injury, and the 2015 act states that the HSE must conduct site inspections and prosecute those who do not follow the rules.

If you have been involved in a construction site accident and wish to make a compensation claim, we can help you to determine who is at fault. Our qualified and experienced team of personal injury solicitors have handled many cases like yours, so you’ll be in good hands.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 employers, employees, and the self-employed have certain duties, and there is an expectation that all personnel on the construction site will take reasonable care for their own safety, as well as the safety of others.

If you behave irresponsibly, despite being aware of the site protocols and expectations, the court may decide that part of the responsibility for your injuries lies with you, which is known as ‘contributory negligence’. An example of this would be if a worker knows that they should wear a hard hat but chooses not to, and then sustains a head injury in an accident where debris falls onto their head. By failing to wear a hard hat, they didn’t cause the accident themselves, but their injuries were worse than they otherwise would have been.

If you hold contributory negligence for your injuries, it is still possible to claim compensation. In court, the blame will be divided by all those who played a part in the accident. Once the blame has been apportioned, your compensation amount will be reduced by the percentage of blame that you hold. For example, if the court finds the defendant 75% responsible, and you 25% responsible, you would receive 75% of the final compensation award.

We understand that it can be confusing when dealing with a contributory negligence case, which is why we endeavour to explain things as clearly and concisely, ensuring you are kept up to date with every stage of your case. If you have any questions, our personal injury team will be more than happy to answer them for you, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Anyone who visits a construction site is not covered by the same legislation that protects workers. However, it is usually still possible to make a compensation claim if you are injured whilst visiting a construction site.

Under The Occupiers Liability Act 1957, property owners are required to ensure their property is free from hazards that may pose a risk of injury to visitors, and this act also applies to construction site owners. It is the responsibility of the site owner to ensure that all visitors wear hard hats and high visibility jackets, and that they stay within the safe zones of the site. The site manager is also responsible for ensuring good housekeeping practices are adhered to, in order to prevent slips, trips, and falls.

If you visited a construction site and the owner did not adhere to the relevant health and safety legislation, which led to an accident occurring, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Please get in touch with our specialist team of personal injury solicitors and we’ll be happy to discuss your case with you.