Construction sites are some of the busiest places around. There’s always something happening; there could be workers climbing scaffolding, operating heavy machinery, cutting through materials, and lifting loads. It’s a tough job that takes skill, strength, and focus.
Unfortunately, this high-pressure atmosphere can lead to accidents that result in serious injuries. Among these injuries, some can leave lasting physical and emotional scars on the victims.
If you or a loved one has suffered a construction accident injury, it’s essential to seek help from experienced work injury attorneys at Hach & Rose, LLP. They can guide you through the complex process of seeking compensation.
Here are four major injuries that can have lasting effects on a construction worker’s life.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
If a worker gets hit on the head by a falling brick, a metal tool, or even a piece of heavy equipment, the damage can be severe. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) isn’t just a simple bump on the head, it can change the way a person thinks, feels, and functions.
For some, the effects are immediate: dizziness, memory loss, or loss of consciousness. But the real danger is in the long-term effects. A serious TBI can lead to permanent cognitive issues, like difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and even personality changes.
Some people struggle with chronic headaches or fatigue that never really go away. Others lose basic skills they once had, making it difficult to return to work or live independently.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Your spinal cord is like the highway that connects your brain to the rest of your body. When that highway gets damaged, the signals stop working properly, and that can mean paralysis, sometimes partial, sometimes complete.
Spinal cord injuries from accidents can lead to permanent mobility issues, including the loss of movement in certain parts of the body. Some victims lose sensation in their legs, making walking impossible. Others may suffer from nerve pain, muscle weakness, or even loss of bladder and bowel control.
Amputations
Construction sites are full of hazards that can lead to amputation injuries, such as power saws, forklifts, conveyor belts, and other heavy equipment. Even a moment of distraction can lead to an accident that costs a worker the ability to walk, grip, or perform everyday tasks.
Learning to live without a limb is an enormous challenge. Many amputees go through months of physical therapy, and some use prosthetic limbs to regain mobility. But even with the best medical advancements, nothing can fully replace a lost hand or leg.
Burn Injuries
Fires, explosions, and electrical accidents are just some of the potential burn hazards present in construction sites. Unlike a simple scrape or bruise, burns don’t just heal and fade away. Severe burns can lead to permanent scarring, nerve damage, and, in some cases, lifelong pain.
Chemical burns from exposure to hazardous substances, electrical burns from faulty wiring, and thermal burns from fires or hot surfaces are all risks that construction workers face daily.
In severe cases, victims require skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and years of medical treatment just to manage the damage.
