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What To Do If You Get Hurt At Work

Each year, millions of people are injured on their job. While many of these injuries are minor in nature, some are much more serious and, in some cases, even life-threatening. Even though Workers Compensation is usually in place for such circumstances, it’s not always sufficient to properly cover every incident.

By following a few simple rules, you can make sure that your injury is taken care of in the best possible manner. Here are a few things you should know in order to be prepared for a workplace injury.

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You’ve Been Injured. What Next?

Personal injury cases are based on the premise that someone was injured by the act of another person or entity. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you should seek out a top personal injury attorney who can fight for you and your rights. Since these cases are not necessarily clear cut, it is rarely advisable for you to go this alone.

When pursuing your personal injury case, the first thing on your list should be finding a good attorney. Even after you have narrowed down your choices, you still need to do a little research in order to make sure that he or she will be the right fit for you. This means looking for reviews from other clients, complaints, and even pending lawsuits that may have been filed. The Better Business Bureau is a great place to find this kind of information.

The Face to Face Meeting

You will next want to set a meeting with your attorney. Here, you will discuss the details of your case to determine if you do, in fact, have a viable claim. This is when your attorney will instruct you on what can be expected through each step of the process. This is also the time that your attorney will instruct you as to what will be expected of you. This will include any information you may have, the facts of your case, contacts who can help to verify your case, and any other information pertinent to your claim. The defendant’s attorney will also be contacting your attorney to swap information material to the case.

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Ensure Your Best Possible Recovery ~

It can certainly be a life-altering event, and the first thing you should know about spinal cord injury is that it does not always present symptoms immediately after sustaining damage. If you suffer a head, neck, or back injury, even if you feel that it’s minor, get the opinion of a qualified health care professional immediately. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you should know what steps to take to ensure that you’ll receive the best medical care and rehabilitation efforts.

All brain injuries and injuries to the spinal cord are potentially dangerous. They can cause excruciating pain, take away your freedom of movement, speech, or hearing, and can even result in death. If you suffer an injury to the spinal cord due to an accident, on the job or elsewhere, you’ll not only need excellent medical attention but also the counsel of a skilled personal injury attorney. More often than not, there will be an intimidating maze of legalities that must be dealt with before you can get on with treatment and recovery.

Things to Keep in Mind

After you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury, take the following steps to ensure that you won’t be left without help and without the means to ensure your best possible recovery.

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Know What to Do Next ~

In the United States, someone suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every 15 seconds. A TBI is the most frequent cause of disability or death among children and adolescents, according to the Brain Injury Association. Approximately five million head injuries occur every year, and most result from what appears to be only a bump or bruise to the head, but is actually quite a bit more serious.

What Are the Symptoms?

Any head trauma has the possibility of also causing injury to the brain. A head injury can be suspicious for brain damage if the following symptoms are present: unconsciousness, headache, convulsions, dazed expression, drowsiness, vomiting, memory loss or amnesia concerning the injury, as well as unequal pupil size. In addition, more obvious symptoms can include a bloody nose or bleeding from the ear without any noticeable fractures or cuts. Following a head injury, it is important to keep close tabs on any changes and be prepared for questions such as, “When did this change begin?” Try to recall specifics surrounding your fall or accident and when your first noticed impairment. For example, if you’re feeling anxious or disoriented, what do you think may have brought this on?

Brain Injury Checklist

Take a look below at these common changes, including personality, neurological, intellectual and psychological impairments following a head injury.

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According to Occupational Health & Safety, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) online magazine, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will be releasing its 2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) on August 25. It remains to be seen whether or not fatality numbers, especially in the construction industry, have maintained their decreasing trend since the economic recession.

In 2009, occupational fatalities had fallen drastically from those in 2008 as the result of the weakened economy. There were approximately 4,340 work fatalities in 2009, which was a 17 percent decrease from the 2008 final count of 5,214. The 2009 number was the smallest preliminary annual count in the CFOI’s history since its start in 1992. The sharpest decrease was in construction.

The construction industry still accounted for more worker fatalities than other occupational industries in 2009, but the economic recession brought a decrease in total hours worked, which subsequently resulted in a drop in fatal construction injuries. In 2009, total construction fatalities decreased 16 percent, after a startling decline of 19 percent in 2008. Private-sector construction fatalities had also decreased.

As one of the most dangerous and complex occupational industries, construction traditionally sees the highest number of worker fatalities. Construction workers are required to do their jobs in a number of hazardous situations including:

• underground in trenches;
• high above ground on scaffolds;
• using complicated machinery;
• using dangerous tools;
• close to strong electric currents; and
• exposure to noxious chemicals or other substances.

Without taking the appropriate and required safety precautions and without having the proper training, construction workers are at high risk of serious injury or death.

If you have suffered a construction accident injury in Southern California as the result of negligence or carelessness on the part of a property owner, contractor, sub-contractor or another employee, you may be entitled to compensation for the losses and damages associated with your injuries. Contact the experienced San Fernando Valley construction accident lawyers of The Mandell Law Firm today at (818) 886-6600 to learn more about your legal rights and options.

A construction worker was killed while digging a trench north of Sherman Oaks, according to The Beverly Hills Courier. He was found by a co-worker buried up to his neck after the trench collapsed.

The victim was in a trench that was eight feet deep and two feet wide. At the time of the San Fernando Valley construction accident, he was excavating a trench by himself with hand tools in an attempt to find a sewer line from the street. Unfortunately, no one saw the accident occur, and the worker was not discovered until 2:51 p.m. About 100 firefighters were sent to the scene, but the man was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m.

This tragic construction accident is one example of how deadly a job in the construction field can be. The construction industry ranks first for number of job-related deaths, and ranks fifth among all industries for number of job-related injuries.

Construction accidents in the San Fernando Valley can often be caused by poorly maintained equipment, poor training, and a constant pressure from property owners or contractors to get a job done more quickly, which can cause some to overlook safety precautions, and can result in serious or fatal injuries.

When an accident occurs on a construction site, the contractors, architects, or property owners could potentially be held liable for the accident and related injuries. If you have been injured while working at a construction accident in the San Fernando Valley, and believe the accident was due to another’s negligence, contact the San Fernando Valley construction accident attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm. Our lawyers have many years of experience in dealing with the complicated issues that can arise in a construction accident lawsuit. Contact us today at 818-886-6600 to learn more.

Cranes have been receiving a lot of attention the last few years because of several well-publicized construction accidents involving them. The most common problems associated with cranes are electrocution from power lines, operator errors, faulty crane equipment, failure of the crane’s supports, and miscommunication.

The California Department of Industrial Relations publishes guidelines for crane operators. There are some steps crane operators must take to keep both construction workers and the general public safe. First, anyone operating a crane must have a valid permit to do so. In addition, cranes that exceed a certain capacity must be certified annually.

A lot of crane regulations involve communication, since many California crane accidents occur because of poor communication. Cranes must be equipped with warning devices that the crane operator can control. In addition, only qualified individuals are allowed to give signals and must be present when the point of operation is not in the direct view of the crane operator. If there is a possibility for an accident between two or more cranes, the employer must make sure there is communication that will notify both the crane operators and the signal people that other cranes are in the area.

When cranes are working in a construction area, the possibility exists that one of the construction workers, the crane operator, or a member of the public could be seriously injured or killed. If you or someone you know have been injured in a California crane accident, contact the skilled Simi Valley construction accident attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm today at 818-866-6600.

Construction projects allow California cities to grow and expand, building houses, office buildings and roads for people to live, work and travel. These projects require laborers who are willing to work hard for long hours to get the job done. Nevertheless, many Californians do not realize how vast the danger involved in working at building sites is. Construction workers are often put at higher and higher risks of injury every year by fast-paced projects, unsafe working environments, negligent foremen or inadequately maintained equipment.

Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 155,420 construction-related accidents occurred in 2003. Most of the workers injured were between the ages of 25 and 34. The majority of injuries caused the affected construction employee to miss more than 31 days of work.

Some of the major site hazards that cause serious injury or death include scaffolding accidents, motor-vehicle crashes, machinery accidents, forklift injuries, falling from high locations or getting hit by falling items. In 2003, construction parts and materials caused 33,840 accidents while falls caused 34,330 and contact with equipment, 54,230. Unfortunately, one out of every ten construction workers will suffer an injury this year.

Architects, manufacturers, contractors and property owners may be held liable for any injuries or wrongful death that occur onsite. If you or someone you love has suffered a work-related or construction accident injury in the San Fernando Valley, you may have a claim against the negligent person responsible for workers’ safety. The Mandell Law Firm has been serving personal injury victims throughout the San Fernando Valley for many years, offering clients experience and commitment to their cases. Contact the experienced Northridge construction site accident attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm today at (818) 886-6600 for a free consultation of your construction site accident case.