Staten Island and Brooklyn Caught-In Between Accident Attorney

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous occupations. Construction workers can become injured by being caught-in or between objects, electrocuted, struck by objects, or by falling from high elevations. If you or your loved one have been injured in a construction accident after being caught in or between objects, you may be entitled to compensation. Construction accidents involving becoming caught in or between two objects can cause the most devastating injuries.

Discuss Your Case With a Staten Island Construction Accident Attorney

Attorney Frank J. Dito, Jr. has an excellent track record of winning verdicts and settlements for New York victims of construction accidents. If you suffered a severe injury from being caught in between two objects in a construction accident, attorney Frank J. Dito, Jr. is here to help. He has helped many Staten Island and Brooklyn-area clients recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by their construction injuries. Contact the Law Offices of Frank J. Dito, Jr. today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Types of Caught-in or Between Construction Accidents

Caught-in or between construction accidents can happen anytime a worker’s body gets crushed, compressed, jammed, or stuck between two objects. Caught-in or between accidents can also happen when a construction worker’s limb or any other part of his or her body is pulled into machinery with moving and rolling parts. It can become impossible for the victim to escape without suffering serious injury or even death.

Trench Collapses Can Lead to Injuries or Death

Cave-ins occur when workers become trapped in an underground work area. Heavy equipment, sandy soil, water, or vibrations from trucks can create an unstable trench or cave collapse. When a trench or cave collapse occurs, workers can become trapped between the sides of the cave or underneath heavy soil, making it difficult to breathe. Exposure to hazardous materials, toxic vapors, and flammable gas combined with a lack of oxygen can seriously injure or kill construction workers trapped between the surface and the trench.

Unsafe or Unguarded Machinery Can Lead to Caught-in-Between Accidents 

Anytime workers are using heavy machinery or working around machinery, the foreman is responsible for making sure the environment is safe. When a worker’s body part, clothing, or hair gets caught between moving mechanical parts, the worker can suffer catastrophic injuries. Even when the power to the machine is stopped quickly, the worker may become caught in or between the equipment parts. This can make the construction worker’s initial injury more serious while others around the worker try to help him or her. Jagged broken bones, a lack of blood flow, and reduced oxygen levels can create even more injuries to a trapped construction worker.

 Most, if not all, caught-in or between accidents caused by heavy machinery could have been prevented. The best prevention for caught-in or between accidents is to practice safety protocols. Owners and managers should completely shut off all engines before servicing or inspecting. They should also block heavy equipment wheels to reduce the risk that an employee will become pulled into heavy machinery or get stuck in between a moving vehicle or another heavy object.

Being Caught In Between a Vehicle and an Object

Construction vehicles, swinging cranes, dump trucks, and forklifts all require careful operation. Unfortunately, workers may get caught between these vehicles and another object, causing an accident to happen. Workplace safety can prevent accidents in which a worker becomes caught between a vehicle and an object, such as a loading dock. People driving the vehicles should use caution and check their mirrors and blind spots before moving the vehicle. Additionally, workers should be trained to recognize the risks of working with or around heavy machinery and how best to prevent these types of accidents from occurring.

Injuries Caused By Caught-in or Between Construction Accidents

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), caught-in or between construction accidents are one of the “fatal four” causes of death. These types of accidents occur when a worker has been crushed or compressed between pieces of equipment and machinery or becomes trapped under a vehicle or in a collapsed trench. These types of accents are responsible for over seven percent of construction worker deaths in the United States every year. Construction workers who survived caught in-between accidents frequently suffer devastating injuries that require intense, ongoing medical treatment, such as:

  • Loss of limb or digits
  • Internal bleeding
  • Fractures or bone deformity
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Spinal cord injuries resulting in full or partial paralysis
  • Damage to, or loss of organs
  • Crush injuries to muscles, soft tissues, or nerves

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim After a Caught-in-Between Accident

In many cases, these types of injuries result in an inability to work and permanent disability. Even those who fully recover may still require long-term nursing care. The vast majority of New York employers must carry workers’ compensation to cover the medical treatment and lost wages of employees who become injured on the job. However, workers’ compensation benefits have limitations. Workers’ compensation benefits will cover your medical costs and pay you up to 70 percent of your lost wages no matter who caused your injuries. 

In exchange for obtaining workers’ compensation benefits, you voluntarily give up your right to sue your employer, except in cases of notable safety violations. Workers’ compensation can be a beneficial option, but it won’t compensate you for pain and suffering. Before you apply to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, we recommend discussing your case with attorney Frank J. Dito. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit against your employer or the manufacturer or distributor of the defective piece of heavy equipment that caused your injuries. 

Contact A Staten Island and Brooklyn Caught-in-Between Attorney Today

Attorney Frank J. Dito has helped many Staten Island- and Brooklyn-area clients recover compensation after devastating construction accidents. If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a caught-in-between construction accident, contact the Law Offices of Frank J. Dito today to schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about our legal services.