Accidents that occur on construction sites can result in crippling injuries or even death. Various laws apply to these types of accidents, and the circumstances play an important role in who can be held liable for them. A construction site employee may, for instance, make a claim for workers' compensation. Other people injured on a job site can pursue personal injury suits. Ohio law treats construction site accidents as it would any tort, which is to say that victims have the right to compensation and the responsibility to prove liability.

Construction Accidents Take Many Forms

Most construction site accidents take the form of falls, electrocution, and machinery mishaps. The use of ladders and scaffolding makes a fall one of the most common kinds of construction site accidents. Debris left on the site also accounts for injury, as do improperly secured equipment and tools. An employee injured by these workplace hazards can file for workers' compensation. A bystander who is injured can hold the general contractor liable under personal injury laws.

An injured worker who is not employed by the contractor can also file suit under general personal injury law. An accident attorney can help victims determine their rights under Ohio law, and work to get the injured party compensation for medical bills and other expenses related to the accident. Construction accident suits have features that differ from other areas of tort law, such as auto accidents and slip and fall law.

With the help of a skilled accident attorney, anyone injured on a construction site can get damages for losses that are incurred. An attorney can be invaluable for the average person, who is unfamiliar with Ohio law regarding work site accidents, and therefore may not be aware of his or her rights. Personal injury law as it pertains to workplace safety helps make job sites less hazardous for everyone.