Work-related accidents are a bit different than automobile accidents because they involve different mechanisms that create the injuries. We’ve represented people that have been injured as a result of a fall from a height on a ladder or a scaffold, have had things dropped on them from a height, and have received chemical and electrical burns. Work-related accidents are a bit different than automobile accidents because they involve different mechanisms that create the injuries.
Investigating work-related accidents immediately is important because property owners and contractors often quickly fix the problem that caused the accident, either to prevent further accidents or in an attempt to avoid liability. Having fellow employees assist by obtaining photographs, copies of records, names of witnesses, etc. helps to document what caused or contributed to your accident. It is crucial to investigate immediately through your co-workers and with a private investigator. Other sources of information are OSHA site investigations and municipal investigations.
When it comes to accidents involving heights and the construction industry, there are special sections in the law relating to these “labor law cases.” The statutes involved provide for an enhanced ability for the injured party to recover by lowering the burden of proof required to establish liability on the property owner and contractors on the site. Therefore if you can prove basic facts involving the mechanism of injury and the fact that it involved either a fall from a height, or something that fell from a height and caused the injury, then the focus is on the injury and compensation rather than who is responsible. The relevant statutes create absolute liability upon the owner and contractors involved.
