Construction Site Accidents

• Wrongful Death Suit Over Worker’s Fatal Accident Settles for $18.85 Million
• $7.5 Million Jury-Awarded Verdict for Construction Site Fall in Middlesex County
• Construction Worker Killed by a Falling Pallet of Cinder Blocks Settles for $7 Million
• $5 Million for a man repairing a forklift at a construction site when he was hit by another forklift that was in operation.
• $3.4 Million for a man who fell thirty feet to his death when his lift got tangled with another lift.
• A jury-awarded verdict of $3.2 Million for a Port Reading man who suffered serious injuries when he fell off a scaffold at a construction site in Jersey City.
• Suit Over Fatal Construction Mishap Ends in Settlement of $3 Million

Please visit our verdicts & settlements page to view more results by the firm.

With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. OSHA is a part of the United States Department of Labor. OSHA requires employers to protect workers from falls. Falls can cause death and very serious injuries -and can be prevented. OSHA’s fall protection requirements are as follows: for general industry, fall protection must be used while working at heights of four or more feet. In maritime, specifically ship repair, fall protection is required at five feet or greater on vessels, and longshoring operations generally require fall protection at eight feet or greater. Fall protection can be accomplished through the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or similar systems. For construction operations, fall protection generally must be used at heights of six feet or greater. Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Fall protection can be accomplished through the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems. Certain worksite activities and/or locations may allow other methods (including, but not limited to positioning device systems, warning line systems, and controlled access zones) to be used. For further information on OSHA’s requirements for protecting workers from falls, please see OSHA’s Fall Prevention Web page.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is the United States federal agency that researches to provide suggestions to avoid worker injury and illness. NIOSH produces new scientific knowledge in an effort to reduce risks of injury and death in traditional industries, such as construction or mining. NIOSH scientists design, conduct, and support targeted research, both inside and outside the institute, and support the training of occupational health and safety professionals to build capacity and meet increasing needs for a new generation of skilled practitioners.

Falls are a persistent hazard found in all occupational settings. A fall can occur during the simple acts of walking or climbing a ladder or as a result of a complex series of events affecting an ironworker one hundred feet above the ground. The most common fall-related injuries or fatalities are in the construction industry. High-rise building cleaning and maintenance, transportation, material moving, and construction & extraction occupations are particularly at risk of fall injuries. Things that may cause fall incidents usually involve slippery or unstable walking surfaces, unsafe edges or floor holes, unsafe ladders, or incorrect fall protection. There are federal rules and regulations that require specific industry safety standards. Persistent unsafe practices and violations of safety regulations have led to steady fall injury rates each year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1.7 million United States’ workers are exposed to crystalline silica in a variety of industries and occupations. They include construction, sandblasting, and mining. The disease is called silicosis, which is an irreversible disease, but can be prevented. It is the illness that is most closely associated with occupational exposure to the material, which is known as silica dust. The exposure of the disease can lead to the development of silicosis, lung cancer, and pulmonary diseases. In August 2013, OSHA issued a new proposed rule to limit exposure to silica dust for construction workers. Click here to learn more about silica exposure.

If you currently or previously worked as an insulator, roofer, brick mason, concrete worker, carpenter, heating & air conditioning installer, plumber, pipe fitter, or electrician, you are at an increased risk for occupational diseases. Click here to read more regarding workplace safety & health topics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Electrical currents can expose workers to serious occupational hazards. All members of the workface are exposed to electrical energy during the performance of their daily job duties. Workers can often be unaware of the potential electrical hazards, making them vulnerable to the danger of electrocution. There are four main types of electrical injuries: electrocution, electric shock, burns, and falls as a result of contact with electrical energy.

Highway work zones can be very hazardous for motorists as well as construction workers. There are fatalities every year affected by work zones. Major roadways in New Jersey such as the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike often have construction areas throughout the year. Gill & Chamas is equipped with Turnpike lawyers and Parkway lawyers who have the experience of representing those who have been injured on those highways.

If you or a family member has suffered a serious construction accident injury in New Jersey, make sure you get the NJ legal representation you deserve. Call our office today at 732.324.7600, or click here to contact us immediately.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are approximately 125,000 cranes operating throughout construction zones in the United States. Crane accidents can be one of the most fatal workplace injuries. Gill & Chamas has a staff of seasoned NJ construction accident lawyers with the experience of handling complex construction site cases.

• Falls from cranes
• Overturned cranes
• Contact with power lines
• Loads dropping from cranes
• Failure of support straps
• Improper safety inspections
• Unsafe working conditions

While accidents are a part of life, construction companies are obligated to protect their workers. They must provide safe working conditions and proper training on all heavy machinery. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides standards and regulations that are intended to protect employees.

A crane accident can change your life and have a devastating impact on your health and finances. You owe it to yourself to get the full benefits and compensation that you deserve for your injuries or the loss of your loved one. Gill & Chamas is known for legal representation in major construction injury cases. Visit our Settlements & Verdicts page to learn more about our reputation. If you are ready to discuss your case, please call Gill & Chamas at 732-324-7600 today.

In construction, the tools of the trade can be hazardous, which is why employees rely on manufacturers and employers to ensure that every safety protocol is covered to a “t”. When that responsibility is not taken seriously and injury occurs, you may be entitled to seek Worker’s Comp and additional monetary compensation to address medical costs, lost wages, and the ongoing effects of partial or total disability.

From power tool accidents to effects of improper respiratory protection, employers, site owners, and equipment manufacturers may be required to take responsibility when workplace injury occurs.

• Have the injury treated by medical professionals
• Identify possible OSHA or BOCA violations that may have occurred
• Seek a dedicated NJ Construction Accident Attorney during recovery

Gill & Chamas invests in every client case we take on, with no out-of-pocket investment required. We believe you deserve to exercise your rights when workplace injury occurs, and employ letter of the law to seek the monetary compensation you may be owed. From hiring engineers and construction experts to assess violations to providing sound court representation, our team of seasoned Construction Accident Attorneys makes results our mission from day one.

Call our office today at 732.324.7600, or click here to contact us immediately.

OSHA names construction site falls one of the fatal four workplace injuries, accounting for 35% of construction deaths the last year for which statistics were provided. In turn, improper fall protection is one of the most common workplace violations, whether the incident is related to on-site protocol violations or equipment manufacturer errors. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries after falling at a worksite in NJ, seek representation of a seasoned NJ construction accident lawyer.

From lost wages during recovery to the monetary impact of partial or permanent disability, workplace falls can have serious consequences. If you have fallen on the job, do the following immediately:

• Seek medical attention to address injuries sustained during the fall
• Document any suspected OSHA or BOCA violations for your legal team’s use
• Talk to an expert construction accident attorney ASAP to review your legal rights

Gill & Chamas is known for legal representation in construction injury cases, and we invest in our clients to get results. With more than a dozen Construction Accident Attorneys on staff and two dedicated offices in Woodbridge and Howell, we take workplace injuries seriously. Employers are required to protect their workers, and when you have been injured as a result of their failure to do so, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.

OSHA provides forklift safety in the workplace on their website. Safely operating a forklift requires awareness of the conditions at your workplace. You must be aware of physical conditions, co-workers, narrow aisles, and ramps or loading docks. Your employer is responsible for making sure the workplace is a safe environment. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a forklift accident in NJ, seek representation of a seasoned NJ forklift accident lawyer.

Hazard: Approximately 100 employees are fatally injured and approximately 95,000 employees are injured every year while operating powered industrial trucks. Forklift turnover accounts for a significant number of these fatalities.

Solutions:

• Train and certify all operators to ensure that they operate forklifts safely.
• Do not allow any employee under 18 years old to operate a forklift.
• Properly maintain haulage equipment, including tires.
• Do not modify or make attachments that affect the capacity and safe operation of the forklift without written approval from the forklift’s manufacturer.
• Examine forklift truck for defects before using.
• Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down and stacking loads.
• Drive safely–never exceed 5 mph and slow down in congested or slippery surface areas.
• Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay.
• Do not handle loads that are heavier than the capacity of the industrial truck.
• Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks from service.
• Operators shall always wear seatbelts.
• Avoid traveling with elevated loads.
• Assure that rollover protective structure is in place.
• Make certain that the reverse signal alarm is operational and audible above the surrounding noise level.

From lost wages during recovery to the monetary impact of partial or permanent disability, forklift accidents can have serious consequences. If you have been injured on the job due to a forklift, you should do the following immediately:

• Seek medical attention to address injuries sustained during the fall
• Document any suspected OSHA or BOCA violations for your legal team’s use
• Talk to an expert forklift accident attorney ASAP to review your legal rights

The tools of the trade in construction can be dangerous, and workers rely on employers to be fastidious about safety. Unfortunately, employer or manufacturer negligence can occur, especially when it comes to heavy machinery and truck accidents. In fact, machinery infractions are listed among the top 10 violations by OSHA for 2012. If you have sustained personal injury as a result of unsafe heavy equipment or a truck accident, a NJ Construction Accident Attorney can help make the case for a monetary award.

Hazardous equipment like cranes and dump trucks is designed with numerous safety features and protocols to keep employees safe. If these systems have failed, and injury has resulted on a NJ job site:

• Seek medical attention for the injuries sustained
• Document suspected OSHA or BOCA violations that may be involved
• Seek a Construction Accident Lawyer in NJ as soon as possible

Truck accidents and heavy equipment injuries can be severe, potentially entitling you to monetary compensation to cover medical costs, lost wages, and disability. The team of Construction Accident Attorneys at Gill & Chamas makes results a priority. We invest in our clients and even retain engineers and analysts to assess safety conditions on the job site. Contact us for an experienced partner who can articulate your rights to the court.

Call our office today at 732.324.7600, or click here to contact us immediately.

Throughout the day, construction workers face numerous hazards, loading and unloading accidents among them. It is the responsibility of site owners, employers and manufacturers to enact safety provisions to prevent injury, but unfortunately this is not always the case. Cut corners and improperly maintained equipment can introduce risk – and when injury occurs you are within your rights to retain the services of an experienced New Jersey Construction Accident Lawyer and seek monetary compensation to account for medical bills, lost income, and disability.

From the dock to the ramp, injuries can be sustained throughout the loading and unloading process. If you have suffered an injury at a worksite:

• Seek medical attention to diagnose and treat the injury
• Take note of any potential OSHA or BOCA violations that could be involved
• Find an experienced Construction Accident Attorney as soon as possible

Construction accident injuries can involve prolonged recovery times, and you are entitled to seek monetary compensation if employer negligence was the cause. At Gill & Chamas, we hire experienced engineers and analysts to investigate and document possible worksite safety infractions, investing in each case to ensure the right outcome for our clients. Standing by your side in court and arguing your case with hard facts, including visual models, we take pride in uncovering the truth.

Call our office today at 732.324.7600, or click here to contact us immediately.

Scaffold accidents are a common construction-industry injury, and both manufacturer error and safety violations often play a role. In fact, according to OSHA, scaffold violationsrounded out the top three company safety infractions in 2012. From danger when scaffolding is erected improperly to risks introduced during transport, common employer infractions mean that injured construction workers may have a strong case when it comes to seeking monetary compensation for injuries sustained on the job.

It is essential to protect your rights after a workplace injury, even as you begin to recover. If you have sustained a scaffold injury on the job, take the following steps immediately:

• Seek any necessary medical attention needed as a result of the injury
• Document any details that may point to an OSHA or BOCA violation
• Retain the services of an experienced NJ Construction Accident Attorney

• Scaffold must be sound, rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load without settling or displacement. It must be erected on solid footing.
• Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes, loose bricks or concrete blocks must not be used to support scaffolds or planks.
• Scaffold must not be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of a competent person.
• Scaffold must be equipped with guardrails, midrails and toeboards.
• Scaffold accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs or ladders that are damaged or weakened from any cause must be immediately repaired or replaced.
• Scaffold platforms must be tightly planked with scaffold plank grade material or equivalent.
• A “competent person” must inspect the scaffolding and, at designated intervals, reinspect it.
• Rigging on suspension scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity to ensure that all connections are tight and that no damage to the rigging has occurred since its last use.
• Synthetic and natural rope used in suspension scaffolding must be protected from heat-producing sources.
• Employees must be instructed about the hazards of using diagonal braces as fall protection.
• Scaffold can be accessed by using ladders and stairwells.
• Scaffolds must be at least 10 feet from electric power lines at all times.

From lost wages to pain, construction accidents can have serious aftereffects, and injured construction workers may be entitled to monetary support beyond Worker’s Compensation – especially in cases of partial or permanent disability. Gill and Chamas has a deep roster of New Jersey Construction Accident Lawyers and we invest in your case – from understanding the letter of the law to employing scaffolding engineers to document employer infractions, with no out-of-pocket investment required.

Call our office today at 732.324.7600, or click here to contact us immediately.

According to OSHA, more than 17% of fatal workplace accidents were in the construction sector as of 2011, the last year for which statistics are provided. Too often, this is the result of employer or manufacturer safety violations and negligence. Families of those who have suffered a wrongful death are wise to retain an experienced NJ Construction Accident Attorney who can determine whether the family is entitled to monetary compensation beyond that provided via Worker’s Compensation Benefits.

If you have lost a loved one to workplace injury, you deserve to know whether failure in the systems designed to protect them is the cause. From covering related medical expenses to compensating for lost income, your legal team can help you uncover the settlement your family deserves.

• Past settlements range up to $18 million
• Partner engineers and construction experts to identify and document safety failures
• Keen insight into state and national workplace safety codes
• Investment in client cases to get the right results

When you need a construction accident lawyer for wrongful death in NJ, make experience a requirement. These cases are complicated, requiring clear documentation, skilled insight, powerful visual models when needed, and the experience to make a strong case. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one due to a suspected wrongful death, it is prudent to seek the assistance of a veteran NJ Construction Accident Lawyer.

Call our office today at 732.324.7600, or click here to contact us immediately.