Mississippi Construction Accident Lawyers Discuss Compensation for Fall Accidents

Falls from scaffoldings, ladders, and other elevations constitute the leading cause of injury in the construction industry and account for over 100,000 injuries per year.  Fall accidents also are the number one cause of construction-related fatalities with one in ten fatal construction accidents involving a fall.  The injuries sustained from a fall can have long-lasting financial consequences for both the worker and his or her family.  The chances of permanent disability are high, and catastrophic injuries are common.  The types of severe injury associated with falls from scaffoldings on construction sites usually result in enormous medical expenses and long periods of painful rehabilitation.

If you have a fall on a construction site and suffer serious injuries or a loved one dies in a fall, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  Our experienced Mississippi construction accident attorneys at Barrett Law conduct careful investigations into the circumstances of our clients’ injuries so that we can pursue the fullest recovery.

Falls from scaffoldings and ladders can result from a variety of causes including:

  • The scaffolding collapses because it is improperly set up or poorly maintained.
  • The ladder or scaffolding is defectively designed or manufactured.
  • The worker is not trained on proper safety practices and use of the equipment.
  • The worker is not furnished with proper safety equipment.
  • Careless workers on the ground strike the equipment or damage the equipment in some way, which leads to its weakening.

“Fall through” accidents constitute another type of serious fall incident that is common on Mississippi construction sites.  These construction accidents involve workers on rooftops or upper floors falling through an open floor.  These accidents usually result from improper safety measures or failure of a co-worker to properly mark an unfinished open floor. By adhering to government safety guidelines and regulations, nearly all of these types of construction falls could be prevented, or the severity of injuries might be substantially decreased.  These guidelines include education of workers, the use of protective equipment, and installation of rail and netting to prevent falls.

OSHA safety measures must be complied with to protect construction workers from serious falls.  If an employee is injured during a fall while working on a construction project, the injured construction worker might be entitled to medical treatment, partial wage replacement, and disability benefits.  A claim against an employer would be in the form of a worker’s compensation claim.

Because worker’s compensation benefits are typically more limited than damages awarded in a personal injury lawsuit, our experienced Mississippi construction accident attorneys will carefully investigate negligent conduct by third-parties.  We typically pursue both worker’s compensation claims against an employer and a personal injury lawsuit against negligent third-parties.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a fall on a construction site, our attorneys help injured construction workers pursue both personal injury damages and worker’s compensation benefits.  At Barrett Law, we are here to help.  Contact our seasoned Mississippi Construct Accident Lawyers today at 800-707-9577 to schedule your free consultation, so we can answer any questions you may have regarding filing your claim.

 

 

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Cranes Pose Serious Risk of Causing Fatal Mississippi Construction Accidents

Cranes are a fundamental piece of heavy machinery used in the construction industry. While mobile cranes constitute an essential form of heavy equipment on many building projects, they also are a leading cause of serious injury and wrongful death in construction accidents. It has been estimated that a third of all fatal construction accidents involve cranes. Though this is a significant percentage of construction industry fatalities, the number of injuries and fatalities associated with crane accidents is probably much higher because most industry statistics tend to lump cranes in with other heavy machinery. Many people underestimate the significance of the danger posed by a crane. However, there are nearly a 100,000 cranes in use and a multitude of hazards related to each, so serious crane accidents are relatively common in Mississippi and throughout the country.

Our experienced Mississippi construction accident law firm has been representing those injured by heavy machinery, including accidents involving cranes, for over three-quarters of a century. If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been killed in a fatal crane accident in the Gulf Coast, our experienced Mississippi crane accident attorneys conduct an independent investigation of our clients’ accidents on construction projects throughout Mississippi. If you are the victim of a construction accident or you have lost a loved one in a crane accident, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries or other forms of loss.

There are many factors that can cause a crane accidents, but some of the most serious involve:

  • Any failure of lifting tackle or unanticipated rigging failure that causes a falling load
  • Employees working within the radius of a swinging cab or counterweight
  • Inadvertent rotation of the turntable
  • Crane tipping accidents related to an improperly secured load or excessively heavy load
  • Accidents related to access and egress of the crane
  • Operator error resulting from confusion regarding controls
  • Electrocution of crane operators or nearby workers when cranes contact power lines
  • Injuries to people on the ground from a moving or falling load
  • Improper assembly or disassembly resulting from inadequate communication or worker mistakes
  • Accidents involving manlifts
  • Malfunction of the crane or its component parts
  • Boom buckling

A crane is a complex piece of machinery, so these factors are only a small sampling of potential causes of Mississippi crane accidents. Specific OSHA requirements and other state and federal safety regulations are designed to mitigate the risk associated with crane use. But these regulations often fail to prevent serious crane mishaps and other construction accidents. In certain cases, OSHA regulations are ignored, which places crane operators and other construction workers at risk of serious injury or wrongful death.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a serious crane accident or you have lost someone you love in a mobile crane accident, you should seek immediate legal advice from an experience Gulf Coast construction accident attorney. We can explore the viability of a worker’s compensation claim against your employer and a personal injury lawsuit against negligent third parties. At Barrett Law, our Mississippi Construction Accident Attorney is here to help. Contact our firm today at 800-707-9577 to schedule your free consultation, so we can answer any questions you may have regarding your right to financial compensation.

 

 

 

 

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Confined Space Accidents Pose Special Dangers on Mississippi Construction Sites

Construction projects are chaotic work sites with many different types of equipment, business entities, and dangerous hazards.  There are dozens of unsafe conditions that can result in serious injury or even wrongful death on a construction site.  One of the most dangerous types of construction accident hazards involve confined spaces.  A confined space accident on a construction site can result in permanent life-altering injuries caused by electrocution, exposure to toxic substances, explosions, and other potentially dangerous hazards.

A confined space on a construction worksite is one that has a limited path of access in and out of the area.  Although OSHA has regulations regarding working in confined spaces, some employers are lax in enforcing these regulations or provide inadequate confined space training.  Because an individual’s presence in a confined space often involves exposure to hazardous substances, such as an oxygen deficient environment or toxic chemicals, construction workers must be extremely cautious when working in this type of setting.

Confined space construction accidents involve the risk of serious injury because of exposure to lack of oxygen, toxic gas, vapors, liquids, fire, extreme thermal conditions, free flowing solids, or other similar substances within an area with limited access for a construction worker to exit the confined space.  Some common examples of confined space hazards on construction projects include the following:

  • Manholes
  • Underground vaults
  • Pits
  • Pipe assemblies
  • Underground storage tanks
  • Tunnels

Safety requirements for working in confined spaces on construction sites include making a determination as to whether the work can safely be performed from outside the small area.  If work must be performed from inside the confined space, then appropriate safety equipment and precautions must be implemented.  Confined spaces should be appropriately marked, and any workers that enter these spaces should receive OSHA compliant training.

A person injured in a confined space accident on a Mississippi construction site might suffer injuries because of a failure to utilize appropriate safety measures, including the following:

  • Use of personal protective equipment (i.e., hard hats, ventilators, etc.)
  • Evaluation of flammability of the atmosphere
  • Ventilation testing
  • Product instability
  • Proper analysis of risk for release of hazardous energy

There are many serious types of accidents that can occur in a confined space on a construction project, including drowning, suffocation, asphyxiation, fire, chemical burns, radiation exposure, and explosions.  These types of serious incidents can result in severe and permanently disabling injuries.  Litigation of confined space construction accidents is challenging because there are many different entities on a construction project that may share responsibility for the accident.  Our experienced Mississippi construction accident lawyers always carefully evaluate the potential liability of third parties so that our clients can seek more extensive damages than those permitted under the worker’s compensation system.

If you or your loved one is injured on the site of a building project, you are invited to contact the experienced construction accident lawyers at Barrett Law to learn how we can help.  Our Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyers at Barrett Law have been representing accident victims throughout Mississippi for over 75 years.  We offer personalized legal representation and zealous advocacy.  We provide a free initial case evaluation so call us today at (800) 707-9577.  No Recovery No Fee!

 

 

 

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The Danger of Suffering Serious Injury in a Fall on a Mississippi Construction Site

There are a substantial number of serious injuries and even fatalities on construction sites every year that make construction a dangerous occupation.  There are almost 150,000 construction accidents resulting in injuries with many of the injuries being the results of falls in slip and fall and trip and fall accidents.  There are an enormous number of fall hazards on construction sites including equipment, uneven terrain, trenches, debris and many other tripping hazards.  The experienced trip and fall construction accident attorneys at the Mississippi law firm of Barrett Law understand that construction projects are confusing places with lots of moving parts and a wide variety of entities that can make the investigation of a construction project accident complicated.  We have successfully represented clients throughout Mississippi injured in falls on construction sites.

Litigation of a slip, trip and fall accident on a construction site is much different than a similar fall accident in a store or business.  Construction projects are a whirlwind of activity with a variety of sub-contractors, trades and heavy machinery as well as tools, cables and wires on the ground.  Because of the enormous number of slip, trip and fall risks on construction sites, construction workers and visitors are often injured in slip, trip and fall accidents.  A construction accident involving a slip and fall caused by the failure to properly use warnings or barriers to prevent injury or make the hazard safe may be the basis for a personal injury lawsuit.  However, construction project slip and fall accidents generally may only be the basis of a personal lawsuit if it is brought against an at-fault party other than your employer.  The Mississippi workers’ compensation system is the exclusive remedy against an employer for injuries on a construction site.

Falls on construction sites are a much more common cause of injury than many people realize.  They constitute the most common cause of fatal construction accidents.  Falls on construction sites also account for a third of all construction site related fatalities.  There are a broad range of hazards that may cause slip, trip and falls including the following:

  • Falls from scaffoldings
  • Slipping and falling of ladders
  • Broken pavement on sidewalks
  • Falls from stairs or ramps
  • Trenches or holes that are not marked
  • Spilled liquids like tar, water or grease that puddle

Passageways on construction sites provide an illustration of the variety of hazards that may cause slip, trip and fall accidents.  Dirt and debris may build or other obstructions may cause a construction worker or visitor to trip.  Sharp objects may also protrude into the passageway causing one to fall.

Our experienced Mississippi construction accident slip, trip and fall accident lawyers utilize construction industry experts and conduct a thorough investigation of construction accidents.  We also engage in meticulous discovery to obtain evidence of OSHA violations or other safety regulations.  We often identify multiple potential third party defendants for a personal injury lawsuit to supplement a workers’ compensation claim against an employer.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Exposure to Hazardous Substances and Toxic Chemicals Common Danger on Mississippi Construction Sites

Chemical exposure accidents are common on construction related projects and can result in substantial debilitating injuries or even fatal construction accidents.  There are a multitude of dangerous chemicals that may cause harmful chemical exposure on a construction site.  Exposure to these dangerous chemicals may be caused by explosions, leaks or other sudden traumatic accidents.  Although there are safety regulations, including OSHA regulations that govern proper handling and safety standards involving hazardous chemicals on a construction site, sometimes these rules are disregarded and permanently debilitating injuries or occupational illnesses occur. At the Barrett Law, we have a long history of successfully representing those injured by negligent conduct, violations of safety standards and other unsafe practices that result in construction accidents including those caused by chemical exposure.  Our experienced Mississippi chemical exposure attorneys have handled many chemical exposure injuries including those caused by caustic chemicals under pressure, chemicals heated to extremely high temperatures and exposure to other hazardous substances like asbestos. An explosion that results in a leak of hazardous chemicals on a construction site may result in permanent catastrophic injury.  The force of the impact from the explosion may cause substantial injury or even wrongful death, and the exposure to hazardous chemicals often results in severe chemical burns or even asphyxiation.  Medical care for this type of serious injury can be extremely costly, and severe burn injuries can result in permanent disability.  The financial damage incurred may far exceed the available compensation through the worker’s compensation system. Our Mississippi catastrophic burn injury attorneys know the importance of carefully investigating the roles and relationships of the many entities on a construction site.  We work to identify all potential third party defendants so that we can find a viable defendant for a personal injury lawsuit, which offers far more extensive damages than a worker’s compensation claim.  Even if we bring a personal injury lawsuit against another entity like a sub-contractor using hazardous chemicals, this does not preclude also pursuing a worker’s compensation case against one’s employer.  This approach provides the best of both worlds because a worker’s compensation claim does not require any showing of fault to recover for lost wages and medical bills whereas a personal injury lawsuit may provide far broader damages including non-monetary damages like pain and suffering. Construction projects frequently provide inadequate ventilation and improper safety precautions to prevent exposure to airborne hazardous substances like asbestos.  Mesothelioma is a fatal condition that is exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos.  The construction trade is one of the leading work related environments for developing this fatal occupational illness.  If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, it is essential that you seek legal advice because the symptoms of mesothelioma often do not appear until years after exposure to asbestos.  Our construction lawyers will conduct a careful investigation including interviewing other workers, reviewing company documents, analyzing the worksite and more to prove that you were exposed to asbestos. A construction accident involving an explosion or other chemical exposure may inflict life-changing injuries and adversely impact every aspect of one’s life.  We have seen many construction workers settle for what the worker’s compensation system provides only to find out later that it was woefully inadequate to meet their financial needs.  We develop innovative strategies that permit us to pursue personal injury lawsuits on behalf of construction accident victims to obtain the substantial recovery our clients need to obtain the best medical care, maintain the highest quality of life and provide for their family.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Explosions an Ominous Mississippi Construction Accident Fatality Risk

Constructions sites are extremely hazardous and pose serious dangers to construction workers, visitors to construction sites and even those who pass construction sites.  While there are a multitude of dangers that lurk on a typical construction site, explosions pose a particularly serious risk of causing catastrophic injuries or fatalities.  Despite extensive state and federal regulation of construction sites, there are many explosive and flammable substances on a construction site that may result in potentially deadly explosions.  While many who visit construction sites or work in the construction trades may believe that fires and explosions on construction sites are fairly uncommon, it is estimated that eleven fires occur on U.S. construction sites on a daily basis.

Litigation of construction accidents is complicated by the rapidly changing environment on a construction site, the confusing and often murky relationships between businesses working on a construction project and the multitude of responsible parties that may be involved in a serious construction accident like an explosion.  Our Mississippi construction accident attorneys have been representing those injured by construction accident fires and explosions in Mississippi for over 75 years.

If you are a visitor on a construction site or someone passing by who suffers serious injury in a construction site explosion, you may have a right to seek substantial compensation for your injuries caused by those who negligently contributed to the construction site accident.  If you are an employee of the company responsible for the construction site explosion, then you may face a more complicated situation.  Worker’s compensation is typically the exclusive remedy against an employer for injuries to a construction worker against one’s employer.  However, we are often able to identify third parties on the construction project who may share responsibility for causing an explosion.  If we are able to establish that the negligence of a third party contributed to the construction project explosion that caused your injuries you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the third party.

There are an enormous number of potential causes of explosions and fires on construction sites throughout Mississippi, including the following:

  • Propane tanks
  • Exposed electrical wires
  • Gas mains
  • Solvents and other combustible materials
  • Malfunctioning equipment

The enormous physical and psychological impact of an explosion on its victims and their families can hardly be overstated.  Many times an explosion results in the tragic death of those within the vicinity of the blast.  Even those who survive an explosion often endure devastating injuries.  When a victim survives an explosion, they often face a prolonged recovery period of months or even years that may include surgery and other invasive medical procedures.  Many times explosion victims will suffer painful injuries that require a physically grueling course of rehabilitation, which causes enormous stress and anxiety.  It is also common for explosion victims to be permanently disabled so that they lose necessary family income.  Our experienced Mississippi construction accident explosion injury attorneys understand that you may face daunting physical, emotional and fiscal challenges.  We are prepared to remove the stress and anxiety associated with insurance issues and litigation hassles so that you can focus on your recovery.

A serious Mississippi construction accident like an explosion or fire can impose difficult hardships not just on the accident victim but on a victim’s family.  While a worker’s compensation claim may permit an employee to recover compensation for lost wages, medical expenses and limited disability, it may not provide the more extensive recovery that may be necessary when injury victim’s suffer serious injuries in an explosion.  We carefully investigate our client’s construction accidents to determine the best strategy for obtaining the fullest and fairest recovery.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Heavy Machinery Accidents a Common Cause of Severe Injuries on Mississippi Construction Sites

The construction industry is the most dangerous of occupations with tens of thousands of people injured on construction sites annually, and another thousand killed in tragic mishaps while laboring on a construction project.  Construction site accidents in Mississippi often result in permanent debilitating injuries that may result in impairment of one’s mental functioning, mobility and livelihood.  When you suffer serious injury in a construction accident, you may be under enormous stress and financial challenges.  Although there are many types of hazards present on a Mississippi construction site, defective and dangerous machinery accidents are one of the most significant hazards on construction projects.

While most people that work with heavy machinery and equipment on construction sites know that careful operation and use of such equipment can reduce the risk of injuries related to heavy machinery, they also know that many accidents are caused by the negligence of others and defective or poorly maintained machinery.  Construction accidents involving defective machinery or inexperienced operators can be complex because they often involve multiple responsible parties.  If you are injured in a construction site machinery accident, you may be limited to worker’s compensation remedies against your employer.  Because the amount of recovery that is available in the worker’s compensation system is far more limited than a personal injury judgment, our experienced defective and dangerous machinery attorneys carefully investigate our clients’ construction accidents to identify third parties that may also be liable for your injury so that you may also be able to pursue damages in a personal injury lawsuit.

Our Mississippi defective and dangerous machinery accidents attorneys have successfully represented clients who have suffered injuries caused by machinery, equipment and tools on construction sites including the following:

  • Dump Trucks
  • Excavators
  • Power tools
  • Backhoes
  • Cranes
  • Backhoes
  • Aerial Lifts
  • Compactors

Because of the danger associated with heavy equipment on construction projects, it is essential that those using such equipment receive proper training and supervision.  When those operating heavy machinery receive insufficient training, the danger of a severe construction accident involving such equipment is unacceptably high and may result in catastrophic injuries or fatal construction accidents.  Injuries may also be caused by construction equipment that is defective or not properly maintained and serviced.  If you are injured by defective machinery, we may be able to pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the defective equipment.  Any entities responsible for maintaining such heavy machinery on construction sites may also be liable for accidents that involve dangerous construction machinery that malfunctions.

Our experienced Mississippi construction machinery accident lawyers have over a century of experience carefully investigating accidents on construction sites before they change and critical evidence disappears or machinery is repaired.  We examine the circumstances of our clients’ dangerous or defective machinery accident to determine the factors and potential parties that may be liable for construction machinery injuries.  Our dedicated defective machinery attorneys also can advise you regarding your right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against a third party in addition to a worker’s compensation claim against your employer.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Mississippi Trench Collapse and Excavator Accidents

There is little dispute that the construction industry is the most dangerous occupation for serious accidents that result in debilitating injuries and fatalities.  While there are many dangers and hazards that pose a risk of serious injury or fatality on Mississippi construction sites.  Trenching and excavator accidents are among the most dangerous types of construction project hazards.  Trenching accidents can result in a horrific scenario where those in the trench are trapped and suffocated in cave-ins, trench collapses or sidewalk collapses.  Although OSHA promulgates specific regulations and safeguards that are designed to protect construction workers from trench collapse accidents, these regulations and safeguards are often ignored, frequently with tragic results.

Inexperienced or careless excavator operators, defectively designed or manufactured excavator equipment or lack of compliance with OSHA and other safety regulations may cause serious and even fatal trenching and excavator accidents.  A construction worker who is at the bottom of a trench can be extremely vulnerable when excavated soil accumulates too close to the edge of the trench compromising the strength of the trench wall.

When vibration from an excavator or backhoe is added to the equation, it can cause the sidewalls to collapse, and the soil that has accumulated next to the trench may cave in and cause body crush injuries or suffocation to anyone at the bottom of the trench.  When an excavator is operated too close to the edge of the trench, it can also cause the trench to collapse and/or the excavator to rollover.  When the excavator rolls over, it can crush the operator who is inside the excavator or those nearby working on the ground.  Another common type of excavator injury involves improperly secured buckets that fall from the excavator crushing those on the ground.

Although there are a wide range of trench collapse and excavator accidents that occur on construction sites, the most common types includes the following:

Unauthorized and Inexperienced Operators: if the operator of the excavator leaves the machinery unattended with the keys in the ignition, which is a common practice, an inexperienced person on the construction site may attempt to operate the excavator and cause a serious accident.

Excavator Collisions: An inattentive, inexperienced or careless excavator operator may collide with other heavy machinery being operated on the construction site, or pedestrians on the ground.  Distracted excavator drivers may remain unaware of potential driving hazards on the construction site or fail to notice construction workers in the path of the heavy machinery.  Operation of an excavator on a construction site requires an experienced driver because of the uneven and rough terrain that can make it easier for an excavator to be involved in a rollover accident.

Crush Injuries Caused by Improperly Secured Buckets: If the bucket of the excavator is not properly attached and secured it can fall and crush those on the ground.  Sometimes excavator operators who are rushing, inattentive or inexperienced fail to verify that the bucket is properly attached to the jib or that the quick hitch pins are properly secured in place.  Excavator crush accidents caused by falling buckets are particularly common with quick couplers, which the operator controls hydraulically from within the vehicle to facilitate quickly change the jib attachments.  This is an especially serious risk with older excavators that do not have manual safety pins.

Trench Collapse Accidents: The excavator operator may use the machinery too close to the edge of an improperly shored trench causing the trench to collapse and the excavator to rollover.  The operator of the excavator or anyone on the ground in the vicinity of the excavator may suffer catastrophic injuries.  An excavator should never be used close to a trench when someone is inside but a careless operator may fail to check and verify that it is safe.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data there were over 270 people killed in excavator and trench collapse accidents during a recent six year period.  We invite you to contact us if you have been involved in a trench collapse accident or excavator accident in Mississippi.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Mississippi Construction Site Injuries: Confined Space Accidents

Construction accidents resulting in serious injury and fatalities are common.  While the number of construction fatalities has fallen in each of the last four years, much of this decrease may be linked to the recession and the substantially diminished volume of construction projects.  There were 780 construction site fatalities in 2010 according to United States Department of Labor statistics.  Additionally, workers in the construction industry experienced a four percent accident rate.

However, these numbers are extremely conservative because many injuries that occur with undocumented workers on small construction project go unreported.  It has been estimated that as many as 42,000 days off work per year are caused by construction accidents that are unreported.  The bottom line is that construction accidents are common and confined space accidents are one of the most serious types of construction accidents.

While construction projects are extensively regulated by OSHA and other federal and state agencies, construction accidents related to negligent maintenance and unsafe conditions on construction projects are common.  Our knowledgeable and experienced legal team works closely with construction industry experts to carefully investigate confined space accidents and identify the best possible approach to maximizing compensation for our clients.

Those on construction sites that must enter confined spaces may face a wide range of dangers from physical agents and atmospheric factors.  Confined space accidents are typically caused by either inherent or induced hazards.  An inherent factor involves mechanical, electrical, chemical, thermal or similar factors present on a construction site and their interactions.  Inherent hazards are particularly insidious because they generally cannot be completely eliminated from a construction site but must be prevented with appropriate hazard control measures.  Common examples of inherent hazards include:

  • High voltage causing electrocution
  • High pressure lines that rupture and release toxic or explosive liquids or gases
  • Radiation exposure caused by machinery
  • Burns or other serious injuries caused by extreme temperatures

An induced confined space construction accident involves accidents that are caused by unsafe practices on a construction project.  These confined space accidents may be the result of the failure to implement appropriate safety equipment.  Common examples include lack of structural support, negligently created flammable environments or lack of oxygen at the bottom of a shaft.  These are hazards that proper decision-making and safe construction site safety practices can prevent.

Our Mississippi confined space construction accident lawyers have represented many clients injured in both inherent and induced confined space accidents.  We work closely with construction industry experts to develop the most understandable and persuasive claim for compensation to present to a judge or jury.  Our highly qualified team of Mississippi confined space accident lawyers and industry experts may provide representation for a wide range of confined space hazards including:

  • Explosive gases and fumes
  • Condenser pits
  • Purging agents
  • Transformers
  • Vaults
  • Pipeline assemblies
  • Liquid sumps
  • Electrical shock accidents
  • Low oxygen environments
  • Storage tanks
  • Falling materials

Anyone who works in the construction trades knows that this is far from an exhaustive list of the types of confined space accident hazards on a typical construction site.  These types of construction site injuries often result in catastrophic life-altering injuries and wrongful death.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Mississippi Construction Zones Filled with Car Accident Hazards

While drivers can typically tell that they are entering a construction zone by the orange warning signs and heavy equipment, most people presume that the slower speed limits, higher fines and warning signs are primarily designed to protect those performing work at Mississippi construction sites.  Although preventing injury or wrongful death to those performing road work in construction zones is one function of such safety measures, these safeguards are also designed to prevent motor vehicle collisions and pedestrian accidents.  Because of the many types of risks present in construction zones and the high number of distractions, these hazard filled areas account for almost 1,000 fatalities and 40,000 injuries each year.  At the Mississippi law firm of Barrett Law, we understand the unique hazards posed by unsafe drivers as well as poorly designed detours and diligently advocate for construction zone accident victims.

Because there is so much going on in construction zones, including driver detours, the presence of heavy machinery, workers in the roadway, barriers or other items obstructing traffic and more, construction zones can be extremely distracting.  The constant activity and enormous number of distractions can easily confuse a driver.  Oddly, there are no national safety standards that govern work zones, and state regulations and laws vary dramatically between states.  This lack of uniformity between states means that many times best practices are not implemented.

Since there are many parties who may exercise a lack of care causing a construction zone accident, there are many parties that may be a viable defendant depending on your Mississippi construction zone accident case.  Some parties that may share liability in a Mississippi construction zone crash may include general contractors, sub-contractors, architects, other motorists, public entities, and sign companies.  Our Mississippi construction zone accident attorneys at Barrett Law have the expertise to carefully investigate construction accidents on Mississippi streets and highways to identify all potentially viable defendants.

Based on the specific type of construction zone, there may be a variety of hazards that contribute to collisions, including the following:

  • Debris or refuse in the roadway
  • Heavy machinery obstructing traffic
  • Signs that are not updated
  • Signage that is confusing, poorly placed or missing entirely
  • Drivers that are distracted or confused
  • Poorly marked or designed detours

If you are involved in a car accident in a Mississippi construction zone, it is important to seek immediate legal advice because construction sites can change quickly and critical evidence can disappear.  Many times the negligence of public entities will contribute to a construction zone accident.  There are special procedures and timing requirements that apply in such cases so time is of the essence in seeking legal advice.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

 

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