Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Discuss Machine Accidents

Construction sites are full of hazards, with lots of heavy machinery and materials shifting around constantly. A caught in/between accident occurs when a worker becomes caught between pieces of equipment or struck or crushed by falling equipment, materials, or structures. There are a number of situations in which this can occur, including machinery failure, cave-ins, trench collapses, equipment rollovers, and machinery trapping workers against a fixed object. These circumstances often catch workers off guard, and by the time they realize what is happening, it may be too late.

Caught In/Between Accidents and Machinery

Although caught in or between accidents compose a relatively small portion of construction fatalities, injuries resulting from these accidents are among the most devastating. Workers are at risk of being crushed or pinned, or having limbs sucked into machinery. These types of workplace accidents often result in amputations, as body parts can be crushed or mangled to the extent that they cannot be saved. Other types of injuries include damage to internal organs, such as lungs, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, or permanent nerve damage.

Injuries that are not fatal can still have lifelong effects, such as permanent loss of limb function, which can prevent construction employees from returning to work. Injured construction workers may not be able to return to work and may require costly medical care for the rest of their lives. Workers’ Compensation benefits may cover some but not all of these costs.

Employers have a responsibility to notify employees of all potential hazards and safety protocols on the job, as well as provide any necessary protective equipment. In machine accidents, however, there may be other parties that are responsible for injuries. If a machinery malfunction was in some way responsible for the accident, the designer or manufacturer of the equipment may be held responsible for any injuries that occur.

Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Advocate for Victims of Construction Accidents

 If you or a loved one has been injured in a caught in or between accident on a construction site, the Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Galfand Berger can help. Our knowledgeable, experienced lawyers will ensure you receive all of the Workers’ Compensation benefits you are entitled to, and can help you review your options if negligence was a factor in your accident. With offices conveniently located in Philadelphia, Lancaster, Bethlehem, and Reading, we represent injured workers throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Call us today at 1-800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online to review your case.