Heavy Equipment Injuries
The use of heavy equipment is essential on any substantial construction project. The term “heavy equipment” may refer to excavators, bulldozers, cranes, forklifts, dump trucks, rack trucks, bucket trucks, or lifts, to name a few.
It’s no surprise that construction sites can be dangerous environments and the use and operation of heavy equipment in confined areas is one of the reasons why. Using heavy equipment requires training and an understanding of the hazards that can be created by using this equipment around workers, individuals and other structures. When construction equipment is not used correctly or other preventable mistakes are made on the construction site, serious injuries or even death can occur.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), a Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (COFI) revealed that 346 deaths occurred as a result of the use of excavation equipment including, backhoes, bulldozers and other machines during the period of 1992 to 2000. Most fatalities were caused by workers being struck by moving excavation machines or booms as well as fatalities caused by rollovers, cave-ins or malfunctioning equipment.
General Safety Precautions for Using Heavy Equipment
There are a number of relatively simple safety precautions that can and should be taken to avoid injuries from heavy construction equipment. A few examples include:
- Wearing the proper safety gear such as fluorescent vests and hard hats
- Properly maintaining construction equipment and/or removing broken equipment from the site
- Having spotters and properly trained personnel on site at all times
- Using barricades or other visual warnings around equipment or excavation areas
Recovering Compensation for Construction Site Injuries or Accidents
Injuries from heavy equipment such as forklifts or buck trucks can be serious and may require extensive medical care and rehabilitative care. Injuries from construction accidents are not just physical in natures but usually result in financial harm in the form of accruing medical expenses, future medical care needs, and the loss or reduction of future earnings, just to name a few.
The first step towards recovering for your harms and losses should be to hire a qualified Boston construction injury attorney who will work to protect your rights and will make sure you recover the compensation that you are entitled to.
Hire a Massachusetts Construction Accident Attorney
Heavy equipment or other construction site accidents can result in serious and permanent injuries. Contact a Boston construction law and construction site attorney at Curran Law Group, P.C., today at 781-331-3811 to discuss your legal rights and learn what options may be available to you. Our consultation is always FREE and we will not receive any compensation unless we are able to secure a favorable settlement or award on your behalf.
The Boston area construction law and construction accident attorneys at Curran Law Group, P.C. handle many forms of construction related injuries including, but not limited to:
- Injuries caused by heavy construction equipment
- Injuries caused by construction trench cave-ins
- Injuries caused by excavation
- Injuries caused by malfunctioning or defective machines or equipment
- Injuries caused by falling debris or tools
- Injuries due to scaffolding collapses
The Boston area construction injury lawyers at Curran Law Group, P.C. serves client throughout Massachusetts including clients in Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, Malden, Medford, South Boston, Revere, Winthrop, Weymouth, Braintree, Norwood, Newton, Canton, Dedham, Rockland, Scituate, Abington, Holbrook, Randolph, Plymouth, Brockton, Taunton, Stoughton and else ware. Call us today at 781-331-3811.