Attorney
Besides the injuries that typically come to mind when thinking of construction workers on unsafe work sites, like falling or being struck by objects, there are other, potentially more dangerous and fatal types of construction accidents that are lesser known but just as serious – burn injuries and explosions. While sometimes these accidents result in minor injuries that only require short-term medical treatment, some may result in catastrophic, life-altering disabilities that leave workers unable to continue working and unable to provide for their families.
After a serious burn or for those dealing with the consequences of a workplace explosion, the medical bills, emotional anguish and financial strain may prove to be too much. Many times, these injuries occur due to the negligence or carelessness of another party. That party owes it to you and your family to pay for the suffering their actions caused.
The personal injury attorneys at the Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P. law firm have gained millions of dollars in recoveries for workers in Washington, D.C. who were hurt on job sites due to safety violations and negligence. Best Lawyers® also rated our firm among the “Best Law Firms” of 2014 and 2016. We can provide an honest, free evaluation of your potential burn injury lawsuit as well as the aggressive representation that your claim needs. For the best chance of a successful outcome, speak with an accident lawyer at our firm today about your situation.
Causes of Common Construction Site Burn Injuries
Not all burns on construction sites start with fire. Many times, burns result from overly heated water, other liquids or faulty wiring that can cause electrocution.
Our firm has witnessed several sources of burns for construction workers, including:
- Hot water burns: These burns occur when construction site workers receive exposure to water at a high temperature. Such burns can result in redness, pain or damage to deep layers of skin.
- Steaming burns: These burns occur when construction site workers encounter vaporized water. In order for steam to form, water must reach a temperature greater than 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot steam can injure just about any body part from eyes and faces to skin.
- Third-degree burns: These burns occur when skin is charred and scarred resulting from the body coming in contact with incredibly hot substances, such as fire, caustic chemicals or exposed electrical currents. Third-degree burns cause immense pain and take time to heal.
What You Need to Know About Workplace Explosions
Like burns, explosions may occur due to the negligence or carelessness of another party. For example, a manufacturer may be responsible for defective construction equipment that causes injuries to a worker in an explosion. An employer may be liable for injuries to an employee from an explosion if the employer failed to properly maintain or service equipment.
Gas leaks and electrical wiring are common causes of worksite explosions. Defective products and equipment can result in an explosion. Chemicals and other flammable materials can lead to explosions as well.
What to Do After a Burn or Explosion
If you are injured by a workplace burn or explosion, you should immediately seek medical treatment. If you are unable to treat yourself, you should notify other workers or staff that you have been injured, and that you need urgent care.
Once your treatment is complete, you should begin the process of determining what happened at the construction site that caused the accident to occur, including:
- Taking photographs or videos of the scene
- Recording the names and phone numbers of any witnesses of the incident or of those who assisted with treating your injuries
- Writing down the information of the possibly defective equipment that you were using or nearby when the incident happened
- Contacting an experienced injury lawyer to help you determine if you can recover any money for what you have gone through
If you are unable to gather this information due to the severity of your injuries, or if you need assistance gathering this data on behalf of a loved one who has passed, this is even more of reason to consult with a burn injury attorney to learn what legal rights you and your family have moving forward.
Burn Injury Lawyers That Handle Construction Accident Injury Claims
With years of experience assisting construction workers and their families with such issues as filing for workers comp, injuries from scaffolding falls and other devastating acts of negligence, our injury attorneys have the resources and knowledge needed to gain the most compensation available for our clients’ damages.
We are in the business of securing justice and making positive changes to the law that help prevent others from suffering similar injustices in the future. This includes the work of our attorney William P. Lightfoot on behalf of victims injured by scalding hot water heaters that led to industry-wide safety changes.
Reach out to us today to discuss your burn or explosion injuries, or the injuries your loved one suffered while working on a construction site. We provide free legal advice so that you can make informed decisions about what needs to happen next. Our construction accident attorneys are happy to guide you through this process at no monetary risk to you. If we do not gain compensation for you and your family, you owe us no legal fees.