Falls are one of the most significant risks for construction workers, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Severe injuries may happen when falls occur from significant heights, such as rooftops. There are many reasons why rooftop falls happen, from insufficient scaffolding to simple negligence. There are many ways for injured workers to get compensation. You are entitled to seek workers’ compensation payments.
You should hire an attorney if you or your family member suffered injuries in a rooftop accident while working. As an alternative, you can file a lawsuit or submit an injury claim to recover damages.
How Risky Is Roofing Accident
Each year, falls from heights lead to millions of dollars in damages and multiple injuries.
Among the reasons for these occurrences are:
- Inadequate safety against falls: Construction sites are required to equip rooftop workers with sufficient scaffolding, pulleys, ropes, ladders, slings, and supports. A landowner may be declared negligent if they do not provide these things. The manufacturer of the product may be held responsible if any of these elements fail.
- Construction workers must take care of one another: If an employee fools around, shows up intoxicated to work, or puts another employee in danger, they may be held legally responsible for any related expenses.
- Various risks: A contractor or property owner has to advise their employees of any rooftop risks (such as holes, decomposing timber, or live wires). In the case that a worker fell due to a hazard that these companies knew or should have known, this is regarded as negligence.
Other Risks to Workers at Construction Sites
The construction industry has one of the highest rates of injuries in 2019, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Apart from the danger of falls, roofers also come across:
- Exposure to hazardous substances such as asbestos
- Risk of explosions and flames
- Injury from repetitive motion
- Extended exposure to heat
These kinds of accidents can result in severe burns, puncture wounds, traumatic brain damage, and broken bones.
Your lawyer can do the following things:
- Obtaining Benefits from Workers’ Compensation
Many construction workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which allow them to receive reimbursement for medical costs and a proportion of lost wages. However, it is not as simple as it sounds to apply for benefits.
- Pursuing a Lawsuit or Filing an Injury Claim
Workers’ compensation only reimburses you for a portion of your losses caused by injuries. On the other hand, an injury claim or lawsuit may compensate the whole extent of your losses, including suffering.
