New Construction Companies Have More Workers’ Comp Claims, Study Finds
A construction accident lawyer reveals what you should know
Employees who work for newer construction companies file the most construction accident workers’ comp claims, according to a new study conducted by AmTrust Financial Services Inc., an insurance company that handles claims filed by injured construction workers.
In a recent article published by Business Insurance, the insurance company’s contractor risk report found that employees who work for construction contractors that have been in business for less than four years make up 75 percent of all workers’ compensation claims paid to injured construction workers.
What construction workers are the most at risk?
AmTrust Financial Services’ report was based on an in-depth analysis of 26,000 workers’ compensation claims filed within the past 10 years, according to Business Insurance. The report also identified which workers are most at risk and what types of injuries they sustained the most. Researchers concluded that the following workers are most at risk of sustaining an injury in a construction accident:
- Construction workers with less than one year of experience made up 33 percent of all workers’ compensation claims.
- Construction workers with one to two years of experience made up 16 percent of all claims.
- Plumbers file 28 percent of all workers’ compensation claims.
- Electricians file 19 percent of workers’ compensation claims.
- August was the month in which the most claims were filed (construction work is often seasonal and takes place during the warmer months)
These are just some of the workers who face the highest risk of sustaining an injury or illness that requires medical care, time off from work, and other treatment often associated with workers’ compensation claims. Even so, all construction workers face a high risk of sustaining a serious workplace injury. That’s why workplace safety is so important on job sites.
Construction accident statistics
Certain types of construction accidents often result in workers’ compensation claims. According to the AmTrust Financial Services’ report, the most common injury claims among construction workers involve:
- Slip, trip, or fall accidents – Specifically, lost workdays due to slip and fall injuries were 67 percent greater than the median for all injuries, at 21 days away from work.
- Lifting strains – The most common construction accident injury at 11 missed workdays.
- Burn injuries – The second-highest median days out from work at 19 missed workdays.
Many other injuries frequently result in days away from work to rest, recover and receive medical care. When this happens, it’s critical that injured construction workers get the support they need and deserve to fully recover. That’s why it’s important to fully understand your legal rights.
Talk to a construction accident attorney today
Construction accidents might seem like straightforward workers’ compensation claims. Unfortunately, these claims can quickly turn into complex legal cases. Don’t be surprised if your injury claim is rejected by your employer’s insurance for any number of reasons. That’s because insurance companies will look for any excuse to reduce or deny your claim, whether they say you have a pre-existing medical condition or that you got hurt outside of work.
At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, we know how to handle complex legal cases. We have years of experience handling injury claims for construction workers throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As your attorney, we can get straight to work on your case, including helping you pursue a third-party claim for damages, if applicable.
Discover what we can do you and contact us right away to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. We understand how the legal system works when it comes to construction accidents and can work with you to build the strongest possible legal case. Schedule an appointment today. We have three offices conveniently located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and we handle construction claims in both states.