Fighting for the Rights of Victims of Construction Accident Injuries in Seattle, Washington
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012, in the State of Washington alone, 67 individuals were fatally injured on the job. Of course, this doesn’t count the thousands of other construction site accidents which leave their victims in despair, broken and in financial shambles. Construction sites are particularly dangerous for workers on sites that involve contractors or subcontractors who put greed above safety. General contractors and employers are required by law to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Unfortunately, sometimes the bottom line becomes more important than workers’ safety.
In many instances a crew foreman will tell his employees not to clean debris from the site each day because the foreman wants the crew to spend all of its time working toward job completion in order to maximize profit. Another example is a subcontractor who follows the cues of a general contractor that doesn’t want the crew to use anti-fall equipment because the work is slowed down because men do not have the same maneuverability if they are “tied down” to a tether when working at high elevations. The most effective way to stop such robber barons is to hire an attorney like Dick McKinney who is more aggressive in proving a contractor’s rule-breaking than the contractor was in risking the safety of the men and women working for him.
If you have been injured on a construction site, it is important to know your rights. You are entitled to Worker’s Compensation, and may be entitled to additional reimbursement for expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering not that goes beyond Worker’s Compensation. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury or wrongful death as a result of the negligence by a worker in another trade or failure to create a safe working environment by a general contractor, you may be entitled to seek reimbursement or remuneration for your disability, disfigurement, inability to enjoy life, pain and suffering, and lost time on the job. McKinney Law understands that the time following a workplace injury can be very stressful and challenging to victims and their families. The firm takes pride in working to understand each client’s unique circumstances to help them seek the maximum possible compensation for their injuries.
Construction Site Hazards
Exposed live wires on construction sites can be hazardous if employers don’t take proper precaution to protect workers from electrical currents. Proper management of electricity is very important on construction sites, particularly in areas where electrical wiring is exposed and where workers are exposed to power supply sources. Employers are required to provide proper protection and training to workers who are exposed to electrical hazards on the job. Employers of other trades, general contractors, jobsite owners and even power companies don’t always take the required precautions, and this carelessness frequently leads to tragic consequences. Burns, amputations and even fatalities are among the injuries that result from failure to monitor and control electrical power.
Other hazards of construction sites include areas where caving and trenching work is being completed. In a five year period, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded over 250 worker fatalities from cave-ins and trenching work. Employers are required to protect their employees from these very preventable injuries, but haste in completing a job or indifference to safety because a crew has ignored it so can override workers long term wellbeing.
Other dangers of construction sites include long falls from scaffolding and ladders. Falls are among the primary reasons why workers get injured. Yet, with proper prevention, protection, and training, these injuries are easily preventable. Many safety options are available to employers to protect their workers from the severe impact of long falls. Sadly, in some cases, employers don’t provide proper harnesses or tethering equipment for their workers. These failures are often catastrophic. Look on this website for the video testimonial of a client of McKinney Law who suffered a life-altering fall and also see the actors’ reenactment of his broken life before Dick McKinney won his case in the highest courts in the State.
Heavy construction equipment, when not properly operated or monitored can result in catastrophic injuries. Drivers of heavy equipment must be properly trained, but we know that this isn’t always the practice in the real world. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury on a construction site, you need a Washington construction site accident lawyer who can help you seek the maximum possible damages for your pain and suffering, inability to enjoy life, disfigurement and vocational retraining. McKinney Law is expert in Washington personal injury law and the protections afforded to workers. The firm works to ensure that every construction site injury claim is properly investigated in order to seek full compensation and justice for every client’s jobsite injuries.
McKinney Law: Demanding Your Rights
Injuries that take place on construction sites are frequently debilitating because of the fast moving equipment, strict construction time schedules which add to the pressure and the risk, and because a lot of powerful men are working hard within a relatively small space. Broken bones, concussions, head trauma, burns, internal injuries, back and neck injuries are among some of the consequences of an employer’s failure to create a safe workplace environment. A construction site injury lawyer in Seattle, Washington can help you to make the strongest case and receive proper reimbursement for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Don’t suffer in silence. Contact the McKinney Law today and see what an experienced personal injury lawyer can do for you. Del’s testimonial on this website proves that Dick McKinney got Del a large recovery for a construction site injury when no other attorney would take his case. He can do at least as well for the typical case that has not been rejected by so many other members of the local Bar.
