Construction Accidents and the Risk of Paralysis
Construction sites are full of many potential hazards, putting workers at risk on a regular basis. When a construction accident results in paralysis, a paralysis lawsuit may provide a means to recover lost wages, as well as damages for pain and suffering.
Although no amount of money can ease the trauma of paralysis, it can help ease the financial burden that so many people face after a workplace injury. By helping victims of construction accidents and paralysis in the Houston, TX, area, attorney Michael E. Shelton can help workers get the compensation they deserve.
Construction Accidents Can Cause Paralysis
Construction sites are known to be dangerous for workers, so much so that, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in the year 2017 alone, one in five work-related deaths were in construction.
Although not all construction accidents in Houston are fatal, they have the potential to cause many different types of serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Both spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries can lead to permanent injury, particularly paralysis.
Let's take a closer look at some common types of construction accidents that can lead to paralysis injuries.
Falling Objects
Falling objects are just one of the many hazards facing construction workers that can lead to serious injuries.
An object may fall as a result of a construction worker dropping a tool or equipment while working on an elevated platform or scaffolding, building materials may break loose from a crane, or machinery may fail and cause an object to fall.
If tools, equipment, building materials, or other heavy items are dropped or fall on someone working on the ground, it can lead to serious injury, including paralysis.
Falls
Construction workers routinely climb ladders, work from scaffolding, work on roofs of buildings, and work around equipment with cords, all of which can pose a fall hazard.
Falls from high above the ground are often most dangerous, but shorter falls can also be devastating, both possibly causing paralysis.
Accidents with Heavy Machinery
Construction sites often require the use of heavy machinery, like bulldozers, forklifts, cranes, and excavators.
Operating such machinery without proper training or failure to perform routine maintenance on machinery can lead to workers being trapped or crushed under equipment. Those who survive accidents may end up with permanent injuries, including paralysis.
Structural Collapse
Construction workers sometimes need to dig tunnels or work beneath structures as they are built. In the event a tunnel or other structure collapses, workers may be pinned beneath debris, which may break bones or injure the neck or back, potentially resulting in paralysis.
Seeking Compensation for Paralysis Injuries
Construction workers in Houston who become paralyzed as a result of a workplace injury may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. When an accident was caused by a co-worker or employer’s negligence, there may be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. Through a lawsuit, it may be possible to recover damages while also holding liable parties responsible for their negligence.
Some damages that may be recovered include:
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Hospital bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
Schedule a Consultation with The Shelton Law Firm
If you have been injured in a construction site accident, you may be able to obtain financial compensation for your injuries. Contact the Shelton Law Firm at (713) 807-0700 so that personal injury attorney Michael E. Shelton can review the details of your case.
