Construction sites are often filled with hazards that frequently lead to catastrophic injuries for workers. Heavy machinery, challenging environments, and high-risk tasks combine to endanger employees on these builds. However, legal options exist, and you should consider working with a Lansing construction truck accident lawyer when enduring an injury from unsafe working conditions.
When accidents happen on job sites, complex questions of accountability come into play. Multiple parties like contractors, supervisors, equipment manufacturers, and more may share in the liability. Call White Law PLLC to see what options you may have working with a Lansing truck accident lawyer.
Determining the Liable Party
Establishing liability in construction truck accidents can be complex. Several parties like the driver, construction company, trucking company, and more may share fault. An experienced attorney thoroughly investigates to identify each party that failed to uphold safety responsibilities.
The truck driver’s actions leading up to the crash require examination. Were they distracted, intoxicated behind the wheel, or did they fail to yield or observe traffic laws? Their employer’s safety record and training procedures also come under investigation.
Other contractors and supervisors on site bear responsibility, too. Did they follow safety protocols, or were trucks operating in a sectioned construction zone? Careful legal analysis may uncover each liable party after a construction-related accident.
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Types of Construction-Related Accidents
Construction sites contain many large vehicles like dump trucks, cement mixers, and bulldozers moving in limited space. Workers on foot are vulnerable to being struck and crushed by trucks backing up or making tight turns. Fatalities often occur when employees are pinned against objects or pulled under wheels.
Falls from heights frequently happen on builds lacking proper safety protocols. Scaffolds, platforms, and rooftops may lack guardrails and stability or suffer from floor openings. Plunging off structures accounts for over a third of construction deaths annually.
Trench collapses and excavation accidents also seriously injure many workers each year. Soil walls lacking proper shoring give way rapidly, trapping employees under dense earth. Crush injuries lead to asphyxiation, organ damage, and internal bleeding.
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Types of Unsafe Working Conditions
Failure to provide proper safety training and equipment jeopardizes construction crews. Workers unfamiliar with machinery operation or site hazards suffer needless injuries. Lack of hard hats, harnesses, and protective clothing further endangers employees.
Fatigued, overworked staff also face heightened risks on busy job sites. Long hours of handling heavy materials lead to slips, trips, and other accidents. Impaired judgment from exhaustion can result in dangerous errors involving powerful equipment.
Poor housekeeping and disorderly work zones create tripping dangers. Tools, materials, and electrical cords strewn about lead to falls and collisions. Insufficient lighting, warning signs, and guardrails on chaotic sites also endanger workers and pedestrians.
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Common Injuries in Construction Truck Accidents in Lansing
Blunt force trauma from trucks, machinery, and falls leads to broken bones, organ damage, and head wounds. Fractured limbs, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries result in long-term disability. Amputations also frequently happen when containers or vehicles crush extremities.
Drivers and pedestrians struck by dump trucks and other construction trucks suffer catastrophic crushing injuries. The intense weight of these trucks causes dismemberment, pelvic fractures, and upper body traumas. Death is an unfortunate result of some collision incidents as well.
Trench collapses can also cause treacherous outcomes for workers. The pressure damages internal organs and asphyxiates someone who is trapped if not quickly rescued. Septic shock, hypothermia, and dehydration can make injuries worse.
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Michigan Laws Regarding Construction Truck Accidents
Michigan no-fault insurance law covers injuries from vehicle collisions regardless of fault. This guarantees some medical and wage loss benefits for injured construction workers after accidents. Additional damages can still be pursued in personal injury lawsuits.
Michigan workplace safety statutes also provide recourses after dangerous site conditions cause harm. State OSHA laws penalize employers for negligence, noncompliance, and retaliation. Public policies protect workers who refuse dangerous duties or report violations.
The Jones Act allows maritime construction workers certain benefits after job-related harms whether on land or over water. Cases against third parties also have less restrictive filing deadlines with possible higher awards for those who get injured. A Lansing construction truck accident attorney can help determine the best course of legal action, and you can contact White Law PLLC to get started.
When You Are Partially at Fault
Comparative negligence laws in Michigan reduce compensation if the plaintiff holds any responsibility. Damages get reduced by a percentage attributed to the construction worker’s actions. It is important to build the strongest case possible under the circumstances.
For instance, cell phone use while operating equipment leads to avoidable distractions. Injured workers may recover less if messaging contributed to the incident. However, other liable parties should still justify their own negligent safety breaches.
Violating protocols like improperly securing loads or ignoring warnings also reduces injury claims. However, you may still demand accountability from companies requiring excessive work hours or permitting unsafe machinery operations. Having a negotiator on your side is beneficial to attempt and limit deductions despite faults.
Recoverable Damages in Construction Truck Accidents
Those who endure construction injuries may recover damages for medical bills, lost income, and disability costs from liable parties. Treatments, therapy, assisted living care, and special equipment expenses add up following these catastrophic events. Lost wages and reduced future earnings capacity may also lead to adequate compensation during recoveries.
Successful legal claims further seek compensation for pain and suffering damages after negligence. No amount of money can undo severe trauma and loss. However, favorable verdicts often do grant resources for those with injuries and families to heal, which you may be able to obtain with a construction truck accident lawyer in Lansing.
Punitive awards also apply pressure to change safety behaviors in the construction industry. Hits to profits motivate companies to better train workers, maintain equipment, and supervise sites. Safer job practices protect future crews from preventable disastrous accidents.
Fight for Potential Compensation with a Construction Truck Accident Attorney in Lansing
If you or a loved one suffered catastrophic injuries in a Michigan construction accident, a dedicated attorney at White Law can help. With years of representing clients of construction negligence, we have the experience to build strong injury claims against multiple liable parties. Contact our Lansing office today for a free consultation to see how we can help.
Litigating these complex cases requires comprehensive investigation, resourceful strategizing, and relentless negotiation. Let White Law’s proven record of results go to work for you as we attempt to fight to recover full and fair compensation. We will carefully examine all factors causing your accident to demand maximum accountability while compassionately guiding you through the legal process.
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