Construction sites throughout Santa Ana and the rest of California are filled with heavy equipment, scaffolding, electrical systems, and multiple contractors performing different jobs at the same time. When contractors, property owners, equipment operators, or other parties fail to follow reasonable safety practices, workers and others on the site can suffer serious injuries.

Santa Ana Construction Accident Lawyer

A Santa Ana construction accident lawyer from our team at Santa Ana Accident Injury Attorneys can investigate how an accident occurred, determine whether another party may be legally responsible, and identify all potential sources of compensation. At Santa Ana Accident Injury Attorneys, a construction accident attorney from our team represents people who have been injured because of negligence throughout Santa Ana and surrounding communities.

Common Types of Construction Accidents

Construction accidents can occur during many different types of projects. The circumstances surrounding the accident can affect who may be responsible and what type of construction accident claim is available. Some of the most common construction accidents include:

  • Falls From Heights – Workers can fall from unsteady scaffolding, ladders, roofs, platforms, unfinished floors, or elevated structures on a construction site.
  • Scaffolding Accidents – Scaffolding accidents can occur when there is:
    • Improper construction
    • Unstable supports
    • Missing guardrails
    • Overloaded platforms
    • Defective components
    • Inadequate fall protection
  • Falling Objects – Various items on a construction site can fall and cause serious injuries, including:
    • Tools
    • Lumber
    • Equipment
    • Debris
    • Building materials
  • Heavy Equipment Accidents – Heavy equipment can cause crushing injuries or other severe accidents, especially when the following are involved:
    • Forklifts
    • Cranes
    • Bulldozers
    • Excavators
    • Loaders
    • Other machinery
  • Electrical Accidents – Electrical accidents on construction sites can be caused by:
    • Exposed wiring
    • Overhead power lines
    • Defective equipment
    • Improper electrical work
  • Trench & Excavation Accidents – There are several causes of unsafe trench and excavation accidents that can result in catastrophic injuries, including:
    • Collapses
    • Falling materials
    • Hazardous atmospheres
    • Unsafe access
  • Power Tool Accidents – Various types of power tools and their condition on a construction site can cause injuries such as amputations, eye injuries, and other trauma. The most common power tool accidents are caused by:
    • Defective tools
    • Missing guards
    • Poor maintenance
    • Inadequate training
  • Vehicle Accidents – Construction workers can be struck by trucks, work vehicles, or other equipment moving through active job sites.
  • Structural Collapses – Improperly supported walls, roofs, temporary structures, or building components can collapse on workers.
  • Fires & Explosions – Gas leaks, combustible materials, electrical problems, welding operations, and improper storage of flammable substances can cause devastating burn injuries.

The cause of a construction accident may not be immediately apparent, but a construction site accident lawyer from our team in Santa Ana can examine the conditions that existed before the incident rather than relying solely on an employer’s or insurance company’s explanation.

Negligence on Construction Sites

California Civil Code § 1714 states that people, companies, and contractors are responsible for injuries that are caused by their failure to use ordinary care or skill in managing their property or person. In a construction accident case, determining negligence generally requires examining who owed a duty of care, what that party did or failed to do, and whether that conduct contributed to the injury.

Construction negligence can look like many different things, including:

  • Contractors – Contractors may fail to correct known hazards on the work site or allow employees to continue working in unsafe conditions.
  • Subcontractors – Subcontractors may create dangerous conditions on a work site that put employees of other companies at risk.
  • Equipment Companies – Equipment Companies may provide defective, damaged, or unsafe machinery or equipment that could cause serious injuries to operators and those around the machinery.
  • Property Owners – Property owners that hire construction crews may be responsible for dangerous property conditions depending on their role and level of control over the worksite.
  • Other Parties – Other companies or individuals may share responsibility depending on their actions and involvement in the accident.

Because construction projects frequently involve multiple companies, determining liability can require an investigation of various things, including:

  • Contracts
  • Job assignments
  • Site supervision
  • Equipment ownership
  • Safety responsibilities
  • The events leading to the injury

Failure to Hold Required Safety Meetings

Safety training and regular safety meetings are not simply a formality on a California construction site. Under California Code of Regulations, Title 8, § 1509, construction employers must establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program. The requirement also states that supervisory employees must conduct toolbox, tailgate, or equivalent safety meetings with their crews at least every 10 working days. California construction safety rules also require workers to receive frequent accident-prevention instructions, including instructions concerning fall-protection equipment when applicable.

Failing to conduct required safety meetings and inspections on a construction site can leave workers unaware of:

  • Changing job-site conditions
  • Equipment hazards
  • Fall risks
  • Electrical dangers
  • Procedures for safely completing assigned work

When an accident occurs, an investigation may review various aspects of the construction site and training for workers, including:

  • Safety meeting records
  • Training documentation
  • Written safety programs
  • Prior complaints
  • Whether known hazards were discussed and corrected

Scaffolding and Fall Protection Negligence

Falls are among the most dangerous construction accidents in California because even a relatively short fall can cause catastrophic injuries such as:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal injuries
  • Fractures
  • Internal injuries
  • Death

Scaffolding creates specific fall concerns when it is improperly built, inadequately maintained, overloaded, missing guardrails, or used without appropriate fall protection such as a harness. Cal/OSHA guidelines state that scaffolds must satisfy applicable design and construction requirements and that building and dismantling must be supervised by a qualified person.

California also has specific fall-protection requirements for construction activities. Depending on the type of work and height involved for the scaffolding or ladder, there may be required safeguards, such as:

  • Guardrails
  • Safety nets
  • Scaffolding
  • Personal fall-arrest systems
  • Other approved protections

Negligence involving elevated work on ladders or scaffolding may include:

  • Failing to provide appropriate harnesses or anchor points
  • Allowing workers onto unsafe scaffolding
  • Using damaged parts to build the scaffolding
  • Failing to install required railings
  • Permitting employees to work near unprotected edges

Other Examples of Construction Site Negligence

Construction safety on California work sites depends on planning, supervision, communication, and proper equipment. A California construction site accident may occur when one or several of those safeguards break down. Potential examples of negligence on a construction site can include:

  • Hiring or assigning workers who lack appropriate training.
  • Allowing unqualified employees to operate machinery.
  • Failing to inspect a work area before beginning a task.
  • Ignoring complaints about dangerous conditions.
  • Failing to repair or remove defective equipment.
  • Improperly securing materials stored above workers.
  • Failing to provide appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Allowing dangerous debris or materials to accumulate.
  • Failing to establish safe traffic routes for vehicles and workers.
  • Inadequately supervising hazardous operations.
  • Failing to protect floor openings, edges, or excavations.
  • Using equipment for purposes beyond its intended design or capacity.

Cal/OSHA guidelines also state that new workers must receive instructions concerning safe work practices, job hazards, and safety precautions before they can work on a construction site. It also provides that only qualified or experienced employees should operate equipment or machinery.

Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Construction Accident Claims

A worker injured on a construction site may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits while also being able to pursue compensation from a third-party personal injury claim. Under California Labor Code § 3852, receiving workers’ compensation does not prevent an injured employee from pursuing damages for medical bills and non-economic damages against a responsible party other than the employer.

Because construction sites often involve multiple companies, a negligent subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, equipment operator, vendor, or another third party may share responsibility for California construction accident injuries sustained by a worker. A Santa Ana construction accident attorney from our team can investigate the circumstances, identify potentially liable third parties, and determine whether additional compensation may be available.

Injuries Caused by Construction Accidents

Construction accidents can result in many different kinds of injuries that often require emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term medical care. A severe construction site accident in California may prevent someone from being able to return to the same occupation or working at all.

Common construction site injuries in California can include:

  • Broken bones
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Burns
  • Electrical injuries
  • Crush injuries
  • Amputations
  • Internal organ damage
  • Eye injuries
  • Nerve damage
  • Scarring
  • Permanent physical limitations

Contact a Santa Ana Construction Accident Attorney

A construction accident in Santa Ana can leave an injured person dealing with medical treatment, time away from work, reduced earning capacity, and uncertainty about who to pursue compensation from. When negligence by a contractor, subcontractor, property owner, equipment company, or another third party contributed to the construction accident, an accident claim may provide another avenue for obtaining compensation.

Construction Site Accident Lawyer Near You

A Santa Ana construction accident attorney from our team at Santa Ana Accident Injury Attorneys represents injured accident victims throughout Santa Ana and can investigate construction accidents, identify potentially liable parties, and determine applicable insurance coverage. They can also document losses and pursue compensation that is supported by the facts of the case. We are your reliable partner when you search “construction accident lawyer near me.” Don’t hesitate to contact our office for a free consultation with a Santa Ana construction accident lawyer to discuss your accident and available legal options.