Construction sites are dangerous due to the risk of injury from uneven work surfaces, falls from heights, heavy machinery, buried power lines, and falling objects. Any of these hazards can cause serious injuries to people working at the construction site or passing by. If you were hurt in a construction accident in Las Vegas, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.
The attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law can help you pursue fair compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and other expenses if you are eligible. First, we will help you understand your legal options during a free consultation. Having an experienced and compassionate attorney representing you can give you some peace of mind during a challenging time.
You deserve What’s Right, and we want to help you demand it. Contact us today to speak with a Las Vegas construction accident lawyer. Sam & Ash Injury Law has recovered more than $400 million to date on behalf of deserving clients like you.
Construction Site Accident Statistics in Las Vegas
The following statistics illustrate just how dangerous construction sites can be:
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports more than 174,000 nonfatal injuries occurred among construction workers nationwide in a recent year, including more than 106,000 cases where injured workers had to miss work, transfer to a new job, or work under medical restrictions due to their injuries.
- Additional BLS research shows more than 1,000 construction workers died from work-related injuries across the U.S. that same year.
- The Nevada Department of Business & Industry Industrial Relations (DIR) reports there were 1,210 nonfatal work-related injuries among construction workers in the state in a recent year. DIR also reported nine construction workers died from work-related injuries.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falls continue to be the number one cause of work-related deaths among construction workers, accounting for a third of fatal injuries.
- According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the top four causes of fatal injuries among construction workers are falling, being struck by objects, getting caught in or between objects, and electrocution.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Some of the most common types of construction accidents include:
- Falls – Construction workers often perform their duties high off the ground. Falls from ladders and scaffolding are common injuries. Slip-and-fall accidents caused by loose debris, slippery surfaces, and other hazards can cause severe injuries to construction workers and passersby.
- Falling objects – When dropped tools, debris, building materials, or other objects fall from heights, they can injure construction workers or pedestrians passing beneath them.
- Electrocution – Making accidental contact with an unmarked buried cable or energized overhead power line can lead to a serious or fatal electrocution accident. Power tools can cause electrical shocks if they malfunction.
- Fires and explosions – Many chemicals used in construction work are flammable and can ignite if exposed to a spark or heat source. This can lead to fires or explosions, severely injuring anyone nearby.
- Machinery accidents – Construction workers frequently use heavy machinery that can be hazardous if the machinery malfunctions or is mishandled. In some instances, the machinery may pose an unreasonable danger due to the design. The manufacturer of the machinery may be financially liable for injuries caused by unsafe machinery.
- Workers caught between objects – A worker who becomes pinned between two heavy objects may sustain crushing injuries, such as broken bones or internal bleeding.
- Motor-vehicle accidents – Construction workers often work in close proximity to moving vehicles and machinery. Workers can be severely injured if a driver or equipment operator fails to see the work on foot and strikes them.
- Structural collapses – If a building is being renovated or was not built to code or is being demolished, a floor or wall might collapse, sending workers plummeting to the ground.
- Overexertion – High temperatures and humidity levels put a lot of stress on workers’ bodies, leading to dehydration, fatigue, heatstroke, and more.
Who Pays if You Are Injured in a Construction Accident in Nevada?
A construction worker injured on the job in Nevada may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits from their employer’s insurance provider. In Nevada, all private employers must carry workers’ comp insurance, with few exceptions.
Workers’ compensation benefits are no-fault benefits. A construction worker injured on the job may receive workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who caused the accident. Workers’ compensation covers all necessary medical treatment until an injured worker either fully recovers or reaches the point where additional treatment will not improve their condition.
Worker’s compensation provides weekly checks to partly replace lost wages for injured workers. You may be eligible for temporary disability benefits if you miss more than five consecutive days of work because of your injury. The amount of the benefit equals two-thirds of your average weekly wages, up to a limit set by state law. If you are able to work in a reduced capacity at a lower wage, you may receive two-thirds of the difference between your pre- and post-accident wages.
In certain situations, an injured construction worker may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury claim may be appropriate if a property owner, another construction company (not your employer), or the manufacturer of unsafe equipment created unsafe conditions that led to the injury.
If you are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, you may seek compensation for the following types of losses:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life if you can no longer participate in daily activities or hobbies
Nevada Construction Injury Statutes
Various Nevada construction injury laws may apply if you are injured on a construction site:
- Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapters 616A, 616B, and 616C – Together, these three chapters outline Nevada’s workers’ compensation requirements, how benefits are paid, and who is eligible for benefits. In particular, injured employees, including most construction workers, are generally barred from suing their employers after an accident. The laws require employers to pay for all necessary, reasonable medical treatment employees need for their injuries. Crucially, an injured employee must notify their employer of any work-related injury or illness within seven days of the accident.
- NRS 41.141 – This chapter outlines Nevada’s comparative negligence rules, which are important when determining who caused an accident and is liable for injuries. Under the law, if a party is found to be more than 50 percent responsible for an accident that caused their injuries, they are ineligible to recover compensation against another party. If an individual is partly liable for an accident, the compensation they may seek will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
- NRS Chapter 40 – This section explains homeowners’ rights if a contractor’s shoddy work creates a risk of injury.
Liability for Construction Accidents
Construction workers injured on the job are generally barred from suing their employers, but not any third parties who contributed to the accident. These third parties could include:
- The property owner
- Manufacturers of defective products
- The site engineer or architect
Passersby who are injured in construction accidents can bring lawsuits against any parties at fault for their injuries. Talk to a Las Vegas construction accident lawyer at Sam & Ash Injury Law to learn about your legal options after a serious injury.
How Do Construction Accidents Happen?
Construction accidents can happen for many reasons, most commonly:
- Falling objects
- Equipment failures
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Loose objects scattered around the site
- Uneven sidewalks or surfaces
- Defective safety equipment
- Unsafe operation of equipment, machinery, or vehicles
What Should You Do if You Are in a Construction Accident?
If you are injured in a construction accident, you should call 911. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, take pictures of the accident site and get the contact information of any potential eyewitnesses.
If you are a construction worker, you should also report the accident to your manager as soon as possible. Under state law, you are required to do so within seven days of the accident. You must file a workers’ compensation claim within 90 days of the accident if you have received medical treatment for your injury and have missed work.
If you are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident, you have two years from the date of your injury in Nevada to do so. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your opportunity to seek compensation in civil court.
Contact Our Construction Injury Attorneys in Las Vegas
Construction accidents can result in serious injuries, require long-term medical care, and put victims out of work. If you’ve been hurt on a construction site, the caring attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law want to help you pursue the full and fair compensation available by law. We believe that you deserve What’s Right. Let us help you get it.
Contact our construction injury attorneys in Las Vegas today for a free consultation.
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