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Building and construction sites are dangerous places. If health and safety rules are not carefully followed, this can result in accidents and serious injury to those who work there, or to visitors to the site. Where the injury was caused (or partly caused) by unsafe working conditions or somebody else’s negligence, the injured person may be entitled to compensation.

Our serious injury lawyers specialise in helping clients with life-changing disability from head injury, spinal cord injury (SCI), major trauma or other severe physical and psychological injury. We help them maximise their recovery by securing access to rehabilitation whilst providing for their future needs with compensation.

Our service to our clients includes:

  • free, confidential advice and expert handling of their claim from experienced, specialist solicitors;
  • no win no fee agreements (conditional fee agreements or CFAs);
  • early access to rehabilitation;
  • interim (advance) payments in most cases;
  • high value settlements;
  • ongoing support with managing, protecting and accessing compensation funds. 

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What are construction industry accidents?

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the construction sector covers around 7% of Britain’s workforce, including those who work on the construction of buildings, civil engineering (such as roads and railways), and specialist trades (such as demolition, joinery, plastering, electrical, plumbing, painting and glazing).

The fatal injury rate for construction industry workers is almost four times the fatal injury rate for all industries combined. Averaged figures for the last five years show that injuries within the construction sector cause the deaths of 36 workers and five members of the general public each year. Construction industry accidents are the most common cause of workplace deaths involving falls from heights or being hit by a moving vehicle. 

In recent years, construction-related accidents have also been a major cause of non-fatal injuries from falls from height, slips, trips and falls on same level, being struck by moving or falling object, and lifting injuries. The most common non-fatal injuries in the construction sector were musculoskeletal disorders.

Research has found that 46% of current asbestos-related mesothelioma cancers in men who were born in the 1940s are associated construction industry work, including carpenters (which account for 17%), plumbers and electricians.

Common causes of building site or construction industry injury

The most common construction site accidents which lead to serious injury compensation claims, include:

  • falls
    • from heights (from unsafe work platforms, scaffolding, ladders, or unguarded steep drops);
    • on or from the same level (into holes, excavations, shafts, uncovered drains);
    • slipping (on spillages, oil, water, slippery floors);
    • tripping (on trailing wires, raised flooring, debris);
  • being hit by falling or moving objects (loads from cranes, bricks, roof tiles, machinery);
  • exposure to asbestos, or other hazardous substances;
  • crushing injuries;
  • lifting accidents;
  • injury from dangerous, unguarded machinery;
  • injury from defective equipment;
  • exposure to electricity, electric shocks, explosions;
  • moving vehicle accidents (forklifts, dumper trucks, delivery vehicles);
  • unsafe buildings or premises;
  • accidents caused by untrained, unsupervised or negligent co-workers.

What health and safety (H&S) negligence leads to building and construction site injury claims?

Building and construction work is regulated by multiple health and safety (H&S) standards and guidelines. Employers and site owners must carry out regular risk assessments and provide safe working environments and systems of work to protect their workers and visitors to the site from foreseeable accidents and injury. Passers by should be protected from unguarded holes, falling objects or other hazards which could cause injury.

Measures must also be put in place to prevent foreseeable injury to children, who may think it fun to play on a building site but not understand the danger. Recommended measures to avoid injury to children on construction sites include:

  • securing the site when finishing work for the day;
  • guarding or covering excavations and pits;
  • isolating, immobilising and, where possible, locking away vehicles and plant;
  • storing building materials safely;
  • removing ladders from excavations and scaffolds;
  • locking away hazardous substances.

If a construction site worker, visitor or member of the public suffers a severe injury as a result of negligence or failure to comply with health and safety procedures, they may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Common health and safety failures which lead to construction site/building site accident claims include:

  • failing to carry out a proper risk assessment;
  • failing to inspect, maintain and repair buildings and business premises;
  • failing to inspect, maintain and repair or replace machinery, vehicles or equipment;
  • failing to provide protective clothing or safety equipment;
  • failing to provide adequate training, supervision and support, for the individual or their co-workers;
  • failing to comply with health and safety legislation, regulations or guidelines;
  • failing to provide safe systems of work;
  • failing to provide safety barriers, fences or guards around hazards, such as:
    • steep drops (rooftops, scaffolding);
    • dangerous machinery;
    • electricity;
    • risk of falling objects;
  • failing to secure safety netting to scaffolding and rooftops;
  • failing to warn/sign or remove spillages or slipping hazards (oil, water, slippery floors, stairs);
  • failing to remove, repair or warn about tripping hazards (trailing wires, raised paving or carpets);
  • failing to prevent exposure to asbestos or other hazardous substances.

Construction site accidents can be caused by a combination of factors or by more than one person’s negligence. Where catastrophic or severe injury has occurred, we can often secure rehabilitation, treatment and compensation for the injured person even if they were partly (but not wholly) to blame. We advise anyone who has been severely injured in an accident, or their family, to contact us as soon as possible after the accident to find out whether we can secure the help they need by making a claim.

Who should I claim against after being injured in a construction accident?

Our experienced serious injury lawyers carefully investigate each client’s accident, so that we can make sure that the claim is directed towards the correct defendant. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the claim may be made against:

  • an employer, who is responsible for their own or another employee’s negligence;
  • a contractor, who employs the workers;
  • the owner of the site, for whom the construction work is being done;
  • the supplier or manufacturer of faulty or defective products, machinery or equipment;
  • the driver, if the accident involved a negligently driven vehicle. 

In almost all cases, the claim will be handled ( and compensation paid) by the defendant’s insurers. Employers are required by law to have employers’ liability insurance in place so that employees can be properly compensated if they are injured as result of their employer’s negligence. Depending on how and where the accident happened, the claim may be covered by the defendant’s public liability or motor insurance.

What kind of injuries can lead to a construction accident injury claim?

At Boyes Turner, we specialise in claims for clients who have suffered life-changing catastrophic or severe injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence. Our clients have usually suffered one or more of the following:

  • head injury, brain injury, neurological injury;
  • spinal cord injury (SCI) – paralysis, tetraplegia, paraplegia;
  • amputation or loss of limbs;
  • major trauma or multiple injuries;
  • fractures (broken bones) – fractured skull, maxillofacial injury, fractured spine;
  • asbestos-related disease – mesothelioma, pleural thickening, asbestos-related lung cancer;
  • musculoskeletal injury;
  • degloving injuries (needing skin grafting);
  • nerve injury;
  • electrocution, burns or scalds;
  • chronic pain conditions, such as CRPS;
  • blindness, deafness or sensory impairment;
  • scarring and disfigurement;
  • impaling injuries or severe lacerations;
  • psychological injury, such as PTSD;
  • internal injuries, damage to major organs, heart, liver, kidneys;
  • fatal injury, death.

What compensation can I claim for injuries from a construction site accident?

Each client’s compensation reflects the severity of their injury, its impact on their ability to live independently, work, and pursue leisure activities and the circumstances of their life. Depending on these factors, the claim may include compensation for:

  • pain, suffering and disability;
  • rehabilitation funded by the defendant under the Rehabilitation Code;
  • costs of ongoing or future rehabilitation, such as regular therapies or vocational rehabilitation;
  • costs of case management;
  • costs of care, domestic help or support;
  • therapies, such as:
    • physiotherapy;
    • occupational therapy (OT);
    • speech and language therapy (SALT);
  • pain management treatment;
  • psychological treatment or counselling;
  • assistive technology (IT);
  • prostheses (artificial limbs after amputation);
  • loss of earnings and pension;
  • specialist equipment or aids;
  • extra costs of mobility and transport, wheelchairs and adapted vehicles;
  • extra costs of suitable accommodation or essential home adaptations;
  • medical or surgical treatment;
  • immunotherapy treatment costs (for mesothelioma);
  • Court of Protection deputyship costs (where the injured person lacks mental capacity);
  • compensation for fatal injury, funeral costs, payments for bereavement and loss of dependency for the deceased’s dependents.

Who can we help make a personal injury claim?

If I make a claim for compensation, will I need to go to court?

How long do personal injury compensation claims take?

What compensation can I claim for serious injury?

What is an interim payment?

How do I get started with making a claim?

How are personal injury claims funded?

What injuries can lead to a personal injury compensation claim?

What is a personal injury claim?

What are the time limits for making a personal injury claim?

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Awards & Accreditations

Our teams have been nationally recognised over the past decade for their dedication and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients

             Brake | The Road Safety Charity

What our clients say

Our clients constantly recognize us as the most experienced, professional, efficient and supportive

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"Thanks for everything"

“Thanks for everything. It’s been very nice to be able to put it all behind us and try to move forward.  I cannot thank you and Boyes Turner for all you have done for me. It goes without saying I would always recommend Boyes Turner. I couldn’t have done it without your support.”

Boyes Turner Client

"You got us the best outcome and I can’t thank you enough"

 Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of myself and my family. You were recommended to us by a close friend back in 2017 and I will certainly recommend you again. You’ve been amazing and very reassuring considering how complicated I made things at times. It’s been one of the hardest times of my life but I was glad I had you on the end of the phone. It’s a surreal feeling now it’s all over but very relieved you got us the best outcome and I can’t thank you enough.

Boyes Turner Client

"Extremely grateful for her professionalism and attention to detail. "

Through my dealings with Claire as my representative in a personal injury claim, I have been extremely grateful for her professionalism and attention to detail. 

I believe going above and beyond to help accommodate my needs and explain everything in a way that I could understand. Working around timing for video calls and zoom meetings with myself and my mum, often on weekends and evenings. We always knew she was just a phone call away to answer any questions we had and if she didn’t have the answer then it would be found out for us. Once the claim was settled, she has still offered her support and provided contacts to do with my injury fund and further surgery I need. 

Boyes Turner client

"Great support throughout a very emotional and difficult period"

Claire was very much the lynchpin in achieving settlement of a complex case. From the outset Claire ensured steps were taken to manage both rehabilitation and legal/case requirements in the correct sequence; this included the early appointment of a case manager.

In addition Claire has been a great support throughout a very emotional and difficult period in our lives.

Boyes Turner client

"I cannot recommend them highly enough"

After being involved in a Road Accident I enlisted the services of Boyes Turner to help settle our compensation claim for damages and ongoing injuries that I incurred as a result. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Their ongoing support throughout an extremely stressful ordeal was second to none. I suffered multiple injuries and they organised all my ongoing medical needs both physically and mentally, to help aid my recovery and rehabilitation. They managed my case with the utmost professionalism, concluding it satisfactorily so that I can move forward with my life and recovery. Thank you to Claire and her team for their amazing ongoing support and work with handling my case, in a time of great stress and uncertainty. Thank you so much for all you have done for me and my family.

 

Boyes Turner client