Caught-In Accident Lawyers in Delaware

Helping Construction Site Injury Victims Seek Justice

When most people walk or drive by construction sites, they don’t realize how vital those workers are to a functioning economy. Without the men and women of the industry, growth in Delaware would come to a grinding halt. Unfortunately, most people also don’t realize the dangers inherent to this job. In fact, dozens of construction workers are killed yearly after being trapped inside or underneath objects. In such cases, a caught-in-accident lawyer in Delaware can prove invaluable.

At Schwartz and Schwartz, Attorneys at Law, many of our clients came to us after suffering serious construction site injuries in Delaware. When this happens, there are often multiple avenues available for recovering monetary compensation. The personal injury attorneys at our law firm can help you better understand your rights and what you may be eligible to receive. And since we offer free consultations, there’s no risk in seeking advice from our legal professionals.

What Are Caught-In/Between Accidents?

“Caught-in accidents” are actually a type of construction site mishap that is typically discussed as “caught-in/between accidents.” These are incidents that result in workers and other individuals being stuck either inside, in between, or under a variety of objects. It is a particularly devastating type of harm, and that’s why it’s on the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) “Fatal Four” list of construction injuries.

Our caught-in accident attorneys have served Delaware and the surrounding region for years, so we’ve seen these mishaps occur in a variety of ways. They include:

• Stuck between heavy machinery
• Caught inside mechanical tools
• Excavation and trench collapses
• Collapsing materials and structures
• Caught between rotating equipment

It’s easy to envision how any of these incidents can lead to serious injuries or even wrongful death. While such accidents are tragic in their own right, they’re made even more disheartening when they result from negligent, malicious, or reckless acts. In such situations, accident victims or their loved ones may be entitled to recover damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, emotional distress, and other losses.

The most important thing you can do following such an incident is to reach out to a caught-in attorney in Delaware. These injuries can result in workers’ compensation benefits and even personal injury damages. While it’s typically non-workers injured in construction accidents that will qualify for the latter of these, there are some circumstances where employees may be entitled to workers’ comp and personal injury damages.

What’s the Risk of Caught-In/Between Accidents?

The risk of experiencing a caught-in/between accident on a construction site depends on many variables. In most cases, it comes down to negligent acts on the part of someone. Injury victims could negligently harm themselves by not wearing appropriate safety equipment, or a company itself could be at fault for not properly training employees. Regardless of the underlying cause, the risk of injury and even death in such cases is substantial.

Of the Fatal Four incidents recognized by OSHA, caught-in/between accidents is the rarest cause of death on construction sites. Unfortunately, this doesn’t actually mean they’re rare. They account for 2.5% of all construction-related deaths in America. This is pretty significant once you realize that thousands of people die yearly in work accidents. In fact, Delaware’s rate of worker deaths is about 17% higher than it should be based on population.

Common Injuries from Caught-In/Between Construction Accidents

Caught-in/between accidents can be devastating. For instance, getting caught under rubble or trapped inside a piece of heavy machinery that doesn’t stop will cause major injuries. Consider some of the most tragic outcomes that have occurred due to these accidents:

• Drownings: Excavation accidents have trapped workers underground with water.
• Broken bones: Being caught inside any type of machinery can destroy bones.
• Torn ligaments: Becoming suddenly caught in a tool in use can yank muscles and extremities.
• Lost limbs: Some people lose the limbs that are caught between items.
• Burns: Fires and even chemical exposure while trapped can cause serious burns.
• Crush injuries: Suffering a crush injury typically leads to devastating medical conditions.
• Traumatic brain injury: Heavy equipment can cause massive head trauma.

These potential injuries are just the tip of the iceberg. If you or a loved one has been injured in such an incident, contact a Delaware caught-in accident attorney today. Doing so may dictate whether you receive fair compensation to help you recover from your losses.

Do I Need a Delaware Construction Accident Injury Attorney?

When someone is injured on a construction site, they’ll sometimes convince themselves that they don’t need an attorney. Their reasoning for this decision sounds fairly plausible on the surface. For instance, individuals injured on the job may think they don’t need legal representation to seek workers’ compensation in Delaware. This is a correct assumption — assuming their claim isn’t denied — but it comes with a major caveat.

Without a professional reviewing the specifics of your accident, you could miss out on significant compensation. That’s because it’s possible to file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to receiving workers’ comp in some cases. Such a situation can arise if a third party was involved in an accident in some way. For instance, imagine a situation where a road worker is struck by a vehicle. A negligent driver causing the car accident could be held liable.

Similar situations also arise during building work since these sites often have multiple vendors and contractors on them at any given time. All these potentially liable parties can also come into play when a non-worker is injured on or near a construction site. Of course, those individuals will not be entitled to workers’ compensation. However, a caught-in accident lawyer in Delaware can help them file a lawsuit.

Contact a Caught-In Accident Lawyer in Delaware Today

If you or a loved one were seriously injured on a construction site, it’s highly probable that the accident fell under OSHA’s “Fatal Four” umbrella. And while caught-in/between accidents may be the least common of these incidents, it doesn’t make them any less detrimental when they occur. Victims can face the same serious consequences as more deadly incidents — including fatal injuries — along with major economic losses. This is why you should reach out to a Dover personal injury attorney.

At Schwartz and Schwartz, Attorneys at Law, our skilled legal professionals have spent years providing workers’ comp and personal injury services to accident victims. This means we’ve seen many people who would’ve missed out on substantial compensation by failing to seek legal advice. Don’t make this mistake. Contact us today by calling (302) 678-8700 to schedule a free case review with a caught-in accident lawyer in Delaware today. We may be able to help.