Construction Site Accident Claims

Key things to note about construction site accidents:

• Construction sites present dangers to workers and visitors, with injuries ranging from slips and falls to electric shocks.
• In 2022/23, there were 45 fatalities and 2,640 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in the industry.
• If you’ve been injured while working on a construction site, you could be entitled to compensation and support.

Common construction site accidents

Construction sites pose dangers to anyone present – both workers and visitors. The construction industry is consistently one of the most hazardous, with employees suffering a wide range of accidents at work.

In 2022/23, 45 people lost their lives in the industry, while the non-fatal injury rate stood at 2,640 injuries per 100,000 workers, according to the Health and Safety Executive. The only sector with more injuries was agriculture.

With so many different types of work happening on a construction site, there are a number of ways you could be injured there. Some of the most common include:

• Slip, trip and fall
  Suffering a slip, trip or fall is common on building sites due to the large amount of slip and trip hazards. Any spill can result in a slip on the same level, while a piece of equipment left in the wrong place can cause a trip.
• Fall from a height
  A fall from height is one of the most serious accidents that can happen in the workplace, with 29 people dying at work in 2022/23 this way. With so much working at height happening in construction, it is a frequent accident in the industry.
• Being hit by a vehicle or moving object
  Vehicles are necessary on construction sites. But with their presence comes danger. Without the right safety measures in place, workers could easily be hit by vehicles like forklift trucks, as well as moving or falling objects, such as crane loads.
• Electric shocks and electrocutions
  Electricity is a major component of construction work. It’s also one of the most dangerous. Electric shocks and electrocutions happen all too often on building sites, making it one of the most common accidents construction workers can suffer.

Who is responsible for a construction site accident?

When it comes to safety on a construction site, there are actually a number of people and organisations responsible. There are different parties involved in the construction of a building – and that includes demolition, refurbishment and maintenance.

The client (the organisation or individual having a construction project carried out in connection with a business) is responsible for making suitable arrangements for managing a project.

Meanwhile, the designer prepares or modifies design to reduce risks during construction. Site managers are responsible for health and safety checks and the inspection of work. If any of these parties has failed in their duties, they could be considered negligent.

You may also have been injured by a malfunctioning or faulty piece of equipment or machinery. In these cases, the fault would lie with the manufacturer.

For clarity on who is responsible for your building site injury, get in touch with our friendly and understanding advisors. They’ll talk to you about what happened and let you know what we can do to help.

Why should I make a construction site accident claim?

If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you are entitled to compensation. If you have to take time off work after being injured, this compensation could go a long way towards maintaining your financial situation.

Making a claim could also help your employer address something that has gone wrong. This will give them the chance to address the issue, which could help them prevent it happening again in the future.

Other organisations could learn from your employer’s mistakes, too, which could help to improve safety across the wider industry.

How long do I have to make a construction site accident claim?

In most cases of an accident at work, you’ll have three years from the date of your injury to make a claim for compensation. But it’s advisable to begin your claim as soon as possible.

This makes it easier to get hold of evidence that could help you make your case as strong as possible. Supporting evidence should include your employer’s accident report, your medical records and any CCTV or photographs.

The sooner you start your building site accident claim, the clearer the details of the accident will be in your mind, as well as in the minds of any witnesses.

What is the average payout for construction site accident claims?

Each situation and injury is different. This means that without a chat, we won’t be able to tell you exactly how much you may be entitled to in compensation.

Your compensation will depend on your specific injury and how it has affected your life. It will cover the pain and suffering you’ve been through, as well as financial losses you’ve incurred. This could range from medical treatment to lost earnings if you’ve taken time off work.

Some common injuries and their payouts include:

What should I do after a construction accident ?

The first thing you should do is report your accident to your manager and make sure it is recorded in your company’s accident book.

You should then seek medical treatment. Even if it doesn’t feel as if something serious has happened, you may be badly injured. Your health is the most important thing, so it’s vital to get checked out as soon as possible.

Once you’ve been medically treated, you could then consider making a claim for compensation.

To find out how our specialist accident at work solicitors could help you, just give us a call, request a callback or start your claim online.