Charlotte Construction Injury Lawyers Handling Falls Claims

Fighting for the rights of injured workers throughout North Carolina

Falls are the leading cause of death and one of the top causes of injuries on construction sites in North Carolina and across the United States. These accidents can leave a construction worker severely injured, unable to work, and drowning in a pile of bills – not to mention the pain and suffering the victim is put through.

When you and your family are struggling to cope with a serious injury after a fall at a construction site, your focus should be on healing, not fighting with insurance companies. The skillful Charlotte construction accident attorneys of Warren & Kallianos will take that burden off you. Whether it’s done at a negotiation table or in a courtroom, our legal team will fight aggressively for maximum compensation for you. Some of the successful construction accident cases we have handled over the years include:

• $4,000,000 for a client who suffered catastrophic burns in an arc flash explosion while working on an electrical panel.
• $1,550,000 for a client who suffered severe electrical injuries and burns on a construction site when a light pole he was helping to erect came into contact with a high-voltage power line.
• $1,500,000 for a client whose car hydroplaned while traveling through a work zone due to a contractor’s failure to provide proper storm water drainage.
• $1,120,000 jury verdict for a client who suffered crush injuries when a crane that was being dismantled fell on top of him, resulting in severe fractures and permanent injuries.

Causes of Construction Site Falls in North Carolina

Falls on construction sites tend to happen in one of two ways:

1. Falls from a height, such as a ladder, platform, roof, or scaffolding. When workers fall from a height, the fall may be caused by:
   • A lack of proper safety equipment, including harnesses or safety railings
   • A hidden defect in a ladder or scaffolding.
   • A mistake made in setting up a ladder or scaffolding.
   • Slipping or tripping on substances or objects left on a roof, scaffold, or platform.
2. Falls on a level surface because of slipping or tripping on uneven terrain, a substance, or an object. Falls on level surfaces are less likely to cause death but can still cause serious injuries. A slip or trip that leads to a fall can easily result from:
   • Water, oil, sawdust, or other substances that are spilled in walkways and are not cleaned up promptly.
   • Debris from construction work, tools left lying around the jobsite, and other objects.
   • Uneven surfaces that are not properly marked.

The Importance of Fall Protection on Construction Sites

Fall protection is important for construction workers because falls are such a common cause of serious workplace injuries and deaths especially in the construction industry. Employers owe a duty of care to their employees to provide a safe workplace, and to take important steps to prevent employees from falling from heights and falling through holes in the floor to levels below. Any time a general industry worker is working at a height higher than four feet, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations require that workers be given fall protection. For shipyards the height is five feet, in the construction industry six feet and in longshoring operations the working height requirement for fall protection is eight feet. If a worker is going to be working above dangerous equipment or machinery, OSHA requires fall protection equipment regardless of the height.

Employers who fail to comply with OSHA regulations and a worker suffers a serious injury or dies, they face significant fines.

Injuries Caused by Falls at Construction Sites

Although any type of construction site fall can cause serious injuries, falls from a height are more likely to be deadly. The Center for Protection of Workers’ Rights (CPWR) estimates that most fatal injuries are suffered in falls from roofs, followed by falls from ladders and scaffolding.

Most non-fatal injuries are caused by falls at the same height, such as those caused by slipping or tripping.

Common injuries caused by falls at construction sites include:

• Brain and spinal cord injuries. Even a mild concussion or damage to the spinal cord can cause lingering problems with memory, concentration, motor function, and pain.
• Broken bones. Fractured bones may require surgery to repair. They frequently require a lengthy recovery period, along with physical therapy and rehabilitation to restore strength to the muscles surrounding the bone.
• Muscle, nerve, and soft tissue injuries. Torn muscles, damaged nerves, sprained ligaments – all of these injuries can result from a fall, and all of them require time and proper medical attention in order to fully heal.

What Should I Do If I Was Injured in a Fall at a Construction Site?

If you’ve been injured in a fall while working at or passing through a construction site, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention.

Notify your supervisor or the foreman at the site if you can, or ask someone to do this for you if you cannot.

• Follow your doctors’ instructions closely when you seek medical help. If your doctor sends you for additional tests or to see a specialist, be sure to keep these appointments. Fill any prescriptions for medications or medical devices promptly. By taking the initiative with your medical care, you will establish a clear record describing the extent of your injuries, and you will put yourself on the path to the fullest possible recovery.
• Notify your supervisor or the contractor in charge of the site in writing that you were injured at the site. A note including the date, time, and a brief description of the accident is enough to provide written notification. Your attorney can help you handle any workers’ compensation paperwork you may be asked to fill out as well.
• Seek out an attorney who has experience representing those who were injured in falls at construction sites. Your lawyer can investigate your accident, speak to witnesses, negotiate with insurance companies, and prepare the strongest possible case for your needs – taking these tasks off your hands so that you can focus on getting well.

Did You Lose a Close Family Member in a Construction Site Fall?

Falls top OSHA’s list of the “Fatal Four” causes of death in construction accidents. Don’t hesitate to contact a qualified Charlotte workplace accident attorney for help if you are coping with the loss of a close relative in a construction site fall. You and your family have certain rights. These may include a right to workers’ compensation death benefits and a right to seek compensation from a negligent party in court through a wrongful death action.

How Warren & Kallianos Will Fight for You and Your Family

When you put your trust in our firm, you will work directly with attorneys Chris Kallianos and Jeff Warren. Communication with our clients is one of our top priorities, and we will start with a free consultation to go over all the details of your case.

As part of our strategy to pursue full and fair compensation for your construction fall injury, our attorneys can:

• Determine which employer has the workers’ compensation insurance that should cover you. Your supervisor may have claimed there is no coverage, but most North Carolina employers are required to have workers’ comp insurance. It could be that you were working for a subcontractor and can file through the general contractor’s insurance. No matter the circumstances, our attorneys will track down the party that is responsible.
• Identify whether you can pursue more compensation through a third-party claim. For example, if your construction site fall accident was due to the negligence of someone from another company, you may be able to pursue a third-party claim in addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
• Investigate your accident to determine whether dangerous equipment contributed to your injury. If the equipment involved in your accident was defective, you could seek compensation from the equipment manufacturer or other responsible party. 

We understand how tough it can be to heal after a serious fall on a construction site – or to put your family back together after an accident claims a loved one’s life. That’s why we will stand beside you throughout the process, protecting your rights and fighting for the full and fair settlement you deserve.

At Warren & Kallianos, PLLC, we have spent decades helping injured people who are worried about the future, angry about what happened, and concerned about what to do next. We consider ourselves to be “fighting the good fight,” forcing insurance companies and other liable parties to take responsibility for their actions. In many cases, we have won that fight, securing millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for people who were injured in falls and other construction accidents.

Schedule a Free Case Review Today to Discuss Your Construction Site Fall Injury

When you are forced into a tough spot financially after a construction site fall accident, you deserve a lawyer who will go to battle for you and aggressively pursue compensation for your losses. Please call 704-377-7777 or contact us today. Your initial consultation with our office is completely free and confidential. Warren & Kallianos takes cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we only collect legal fees when you recover compensation for your injury.

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