Construction sites throughout Vallejo and the rest of California involve heavy equipment, scaffolding, electrical systems, and multiple contractors often 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.

How a Vallejo Construction Accident Attorney Can Help

A Vallejo construction accident lawyer from our team at King Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers can investigate how an accident happened, determine whether another party may be legally responsible, and identify potential sources of compensation. At King Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our construction accident attorneys represent people who have been injured because of negligence throughout Vallejo and surrounding communities.

Common Types of Construction Accidents

Construction accidents can happen during many types of projects and under a variety of circumstances. The cause and circumstances of an accident can affect who may be responsible and what type of construction accident claim may be available. Some of the most common construction accidents include:

  • Falls From Heights – Workers can fall from unstable scaffolding, ladders, roofs, platforms, unfinished floors, or other elevated structures on a construction site.
  • Scaffolding Accidents – Scaffolding accidents can happen because of:
    • Improper construction
    • Unstable supports
    • Missing guardrails
    • Overloaded platforms
    • Defective components
    • Inadequate fall protection
  • Falling Objects – Items located on a construction site can fall and cause serious injuries, including:
    • Tools
    • Lumber
    • Equipment
    • Debris
    • Building materials
  • Heavy Equipment Accidents – Heavy machinery can cause crushing injuries and other serious accidents, particularly when the following are involved:
    • Forklifts
    • Cranes
    • Bulldozers
    • Excavators
    • Loaders
    • Other machinery
  • Electrical Accidents – Electrical accidents on construction sites can result from:
    • Exposed wiring
    • Overhead power lines
    • Defective equipment
    • Improper electrical work
  • Trench & Excavation Accidents – Unsafe trench and excavation conditions can lead to catastrophic injuries because of:
    • Collapses
    • Falling materials
    • Hazardous atmospheres
    • Unsafe access
  • Power Tool Accidents – Power tools and their condition on a construction site can cause injuries such as amputations, eye injuries, and other trauma. Common causes include:
    • Defective tools
    • Missing guards
    • Poor maintenance
    • Inadequate training
  • Vehicle Accidents – Construction workers can be struck by trucks, work vehicles, or other equipment traveling through active job sites.
  • Structural Collapses – Walls, roofs, temporary structures, or building components that are improperly supported can collapse and injure workers.
  • Fires & Explosions – Gas leaks, combustible materials, electrical problems, welding operations, and improper storage of flammable substances can result in devastating burn injuries.

The cause of a construction accident may not always be immediately clear. A construction site accident lawyer from our Vallejo team 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 in California

California Civil Code § 1714 states that people, companies, and contractors are responsible for injuries caused by their failure to use ordinary care or skill in managing their property or person. In a construction accident case, determining negligence generally involves 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 take many forms, including:

  • Contractors – Contractors may fail to correct known hazards at a work site or allow employees to continue working under unsafe conditions.
  • Subcontractors – Subcontractors may create dangerous conditions at a work site that place employees of other companies at risk.
  • Equipment Companies – Equipment companies may provide defective, damaged, or unsafe machinery or equipment that can cause serious injuries to operators and people nearby.
  • Property Owners – Property owners who 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 based on their actions and involvement in the accident.

Because construction projects often involve several companies, determining liability may require an investigation into various aspects of the project, 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 more than 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.

When required safety meetings and inspections are not conducted, workers may be 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 examine different aspects of the construction site and worker training, 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 result in catastrophic injuries, including:

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

Scaffolding can create particular fall risks when it is improperly constructed, 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 their construction 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 the height involved with scaffolding or ladders, required safeguards may include:

  • 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 to use unsafe scaffolding
  • Using damaged parts to construct scaffolding
  • Failing to install required railings
  • Permitting employees to work near unprotected edges

Other Examples of Construction Site Negligence in CA

Construction safety on California work sites depends on planning, supervision, communication, and appropriate equipment. A California construction site accident may happen when one or more of these safeguards break down. Potential examples of construction site negligence 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 about safe work practices, job hazards, and safety precautions before working on a construction site. They also provide that only qualified or experienced employees should operate equipment or machinery.

Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Construction Accident Claims

A worker who is injured on a construction site may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits while also being able to pursue compensation through 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 frequently involve multiple companies, a negligent subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, equipment operator, vendor, or another third party may share responsibility for construction accident injuries sustained by a worker in California. A Vallejo 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 cause many different injuries that may require emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term medical care. A serious construction site accident in California may also prevent someone from returning 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 Construction Site Accident Lawyer Near You

A construction site accident lawyer from our team at King Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers represents injured accident victims throughout Vallejo. A construction accident can leave an injured person facing medical treatment, time away from work, reduced earning capacity, and uncertainty about who may be responsible for compensation. Our team can investigate the circumstances of a construction accident, identify potentially liable parties, determine applicable insurance coverage, and document losses to pursue compensation supported by the facts of the case.

When negligence by a contractor, subcontractor, property owner, equipment company, or another third party contributes to a construction accident, an accident claim may provide another avenue for pursuing compensation. If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer in Vallejo, CA, contact our office for a free consultation to discuss your accident and available legal options.