Roughly 65 percent of construction employees frequently work on elevated platforms, hoists and ladders, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Scaffolding and Lift Accidents

OSHA estimates that approximately 4,000 scaffolding accidents occur each year, with about 50 of these resulting in fatalities.

A recent research study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that 72 percent of injuries from these accidents are attributable to three main causes: the support giving way, the worker slipping, or a falling object striking the worker.

Other factors that may cause or contribute to accidents include poor training, faulty or missing safety equipment and electrocution.

OSHA requires that workers, supervisors and employers who work on scaffolds and lifts comply with specific regulations. These rules address training as well as construction and inspection of platforms and ladders. Companies may be fined for failure to abide by OSHA regulations.

Beyond that, however, employees who suffer workplace injuries may sue these companies for negligence in civil court.

What to Do if You Are Injured

Workers’ comp injuries can cause significant damage, resulting in a loss of income, costly medical expenses and — potentially — long-term disability.

If you are injured in a scaffolding accident, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. If you are able, take note of the accident details as well as the names of any witnesses.

It is also helpful to take photos to document the incident and your injuries. Be sure to get copies of all incident and medical reports, as well as any witness statements. If you are not physically capable of performing these tasks, appoint a witness or someone at the scene to handle them for you.

Protect Your Rights with a Workers’ Comp Attorney

As soon as you are able, contact a local attorney who has experience in dealing with workplace accidents and workers’ compensation injuries.

Filing a claim for compensation can be a complicated process, particularly if your injuries are moderate to severe, if they require surgery or if they may cause a permanent disability.

An attorney can make sure that you receive the benefits to which you are entitled, whether you are able to return to your current job or if you are no longer able to work at any job.

In Boise, Idaho, the experienced attorneys of the Montgomery Dowdle Law Office understand how important it is to protect your rights in the event of a workplace accident. Your ability to work and earn a living is central to your ability to care for yourself and your family.

Contact us today for a free consultation if you have been involved in a jobsite accident and suffered injuries. We can assist you in filing a workers’ comp suit and obtaining the settlement you’re due.

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Causes of Slips, Trips and Falls

People often fall as a result of losing traction on floors that are slippery from water, spills or from being freshly waxed. Unstable or uneven walking surfaces, such as a floor with irregular tiles or carpeting, also cause workers to trip and fall. Falls due to a missing or damaged transition from one floor to another — from tile flooring to carpeting for example — also are common causes of injuries in the workplace. In some cases, electrical cords and cables running across the floor, or clutter in the work environment are responsible for serious accidents.

Preventing Slips and Falls in the Workplace

Federal regulations and industry standards are intended to ensure that workplaces are safe, and this includes floor and walkway maintenance procedures. Establishing a regular floor care routine is important, as a higher incidence of workplace injury occurs in facilities with dirty floors and poor maintenance practices. Proper lighting is essential throughout the workplace, so that workers can clearly see and avoid potential walkway hazards. Skid-resistant surfaces and handrails on ramps and sloped walking surfaces can also help prevent accidental injury. And, of course, keeping all walkways clear and clutter-free reduces the risk of workplace falls.

Determining Liability for Injuries in the Workplace

An employer may be held legally liable for a workplace injury from a slip and fall if the employer or another employee caused the floor surface to become unsafe, such as by spilling a substance or cluttering a walkway. Employers may also be held accountable if they knew about the dangerous walking surface and failed to take care of the situation. In some cases, employers may be found liable even if they didn’t know about the floor conditions, if it can be proven that they should have known. In these cases, the employer may be found liable for the workplace injury if any reasonable person taking care of the property would have discovered the unsafe floor surface and would have taken steps to fix the problem.

Workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits due to slips and falls can be quite complicated. If you have suffered a workplace injury in the Boise, Idaho, area, schedule a free consultation today with Montgomery Dowdle. The experienced attorneys of Montgomery Law can answer all your questions and help you obtain the compensation you deserve for a workplace injury.

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If You Have Been Injured on the Job

If you’ve been injured on the job, you must act quickly to ensure that you are protected. Notify your supervisor immediately about the accident, and describe honestly how it happened. Write out all of the incident’s specifics for yourself right away as well, as details may become blurry over time. Speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, and make note of their names and contact information, should you later need a witness in court. Notify your employer’s human resources department about the accident in writing as well. Send this notification immediately, if possible, but definitely within 30 days of the incident, and request that someone follow up with you to confirm receipt. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, even if you aren’t sure you have been injured. Once you seek medical care, the provider will file any required reports in support of your claim. Shortly thereafter, your employer’s insurance company will contact you and explain what benefits you are entitled to receive.

Idaho Workers’ Compensation Laws

Title 72 of the Idaho Statutes outlines the laws dealing with workers’ compensation. The statute states that the employer is liable and responsible for securing the payment of benefits to any injured employee. The employee must be compensated for any expenses related to the incident, including wage replacement, medical bills, prescribed therapeutic treatment, vocational rehabilitation and any other benefits that may be warranted. In almost every case, you are entitled to some or all of these benefits under the protection of the law. Unfortunately, even though it is dictated by law, some employers attempt to delay or deny proper compensation. In that case, legal action may be warranted against the employer and its insurance company.

The Best Way to Know You are Receiving Full Compensation

Speaking with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney is the most reliable and effective way to determine the benefits and compensation you are entitled to, and to ensure that you receive that compensation in a timely manner. In Boise and the surrounding communities, the professional attorneys of the Montgomery Dowdle Law Group have extensive experience fighting on their clients’ behalfs. Contact them today to discuss your case and learn the most effective way to obtain the workers’ compensation benefits to which you are entitled.

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Why the System is Slipping

The number of people receiving disabled worker benefits increased a whopping 75 percent between 2000 and 2012. Experts believe this increase is directly related to the way workplace injuries have changed. In the past, a large portion of workers’ comp injuries were cardiovascular in nature. Today, however, they are primarily related to musculoskeletal issues. Although the predominant nature of injures has changed, the system’s approach to treatment has not. When a worker is injured, the nature and effectiveness of short-term treatment is directly tied to successful recovery. Because the system isn’t focused on the true nature of most injuries, many injured people receive inadequate treatment that leads to permanent disability.

Important Considerations for Workplace Injuries

Most people have little experience with or knowledge of the workers’ comp system. Consequently, once they have been injured, they follow the direction the system gives them. For nonemergency care, the employer generally has the right to decide who you can see for treatment. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier is responsible for paying your medical expenses and, in case you are unable to work, temporary or permanent disability.

Although this sounds comprehensive, the system often fails to work the way it was designed. Claim guidelines generally take a very conservative approach, requiring your treatment provider to try less costly alternatives first. In many cases, however, this delay in providing the proper treatment can lead to permanent disability.

If You Believe You Aren’t Receiving Proper Care, Don’t Delay

The Idaho Industrial Commission has an appeals process that can be used, in the event you disagree with your treatment or the decisions of the insurance carrier. Unfortunately, the process is long and potentially drawn out, which could further delay proper treatment and care. In addition, you will need to build your case by gathering evidence and documentation to support your claims. This may be difficult or impossible, especially if your injury has limited your mobility. Most experts suggest engaging the services of an experienced workers’ comp claim lawyer who is familiar with the process in your state.

The Montgomery Dowdle team has decades of experience helping people who have been injured on the job. Today’s workers’ compensation system does not always have your best interests in mind. An experienced attorney can help you understand the benefits to which you are entitled and fight for your health and recovery in your workers comp case.

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Far too many people are seriously injured or lose their lives from construction accidents.  Even though construction companies are supposed to use the utmost care around dangerous sites, thousands of construction workers experience injuries on construction sites every year.  Reported Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows that construction workers experience more than 100,000 injuries every year. If you, or someone you know, have been hurt on a building site, get in touch with a knowledgeable Idaho construction accident lawyer to help safeguard your legal rights.

A construction accident can happen due to a number of unsafe conditions. Construction companies are supposed to take precautions with their staff, such as using fall safeguards. Nonetheless, OSHA reports that about 100 construction worker deaths are brought on every year because of fall injuries and thousands more are injured because of falls. Construction companies are supposed to use devices such as guardrail protection and devices for individual fall arrest. Managed access areas can also be used to help avoid falls. Workers should also be carefully educated in how to avoid falls and how to utilize fall safety systems. Other construction accidents are caused by construction equipment that is faulty, such as scaffolds, ladders, safety harnesses and defective equipment.

Because construction accidents can often be complicated and usually entail multiple types of claims, it is very important to get the help of a qualified Idaho construction accident lawyer. Your attorney can describe the connection between a Workers’ Compensation claim, disability claim and tort action. The outcome of a Workers’ Compensation claim or a disability claim may affect your ability to recover damages under a tort action. Even though you may be able to compensation for lost wages or a lump sum payment from Workers’ Compensation, you may also be able to make an additional tort claim against a person or company party that was involved in your accident that was not your employer, such as a contractor or a product manufacturer.

A good construction law attorney can also help you with proving your case. He or she will carry out a detailed investigation to prove that the accountable party acted in a negligent way and caused your injury. He or she may also retain the services of an expert witness that can expalin how the construction company violated OSHA guidelines or how a faulty construction design or product contributed to the accident. Your attorney will then assess your claim to make sure that you obtain the maximum settlement. You are entitled to receive damages such as:

• Lost income
• Medical expenses
• Loss of the enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of services
• Pain and suffering

If you have been injured on the job or at a construction site, contact an experienced Idaho construction accident lawyer for help. The Lawyers at Montgomery Dowdle Law will review your case for Free. Call Now 208-378-8882

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