Machinery Accident Attorney in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Accidents involving heavy machinery can cause severe injuries and might require the involvement of a personal injury lawyer to gain proper compensation for those injuries. Heavy machinery is essential to many occupations in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, especially in construction. According to the Bureau of Labor, over 400,000 people in the United States are employed as construction equipment operators. Construction equipment operators are responsible for driving, maneuvering and controlling the heavy machinery that is used on various construction sites, which can include trucks, backhoes, bulldozers, and cranes. Accidents involving heavy machinery pose serious risks to workers and can cause cuts and scrapes, broken bones, amputations, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, disfigurement, and death.
Accidents involving heavy machinery are often just that – accidents. However, they can also be caused by the negligent actions of the individuals operating the machinery. Negligent actions of involving heavy machinery include lack of proper training, fatigue, drug use or alcohol use that lead to a mistake resulting in a machinery related injury to both the worker operating the machinery and nearby workers and pedestrians. Negligence can also include “machinery and machine guarding” violations as stipulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, mechanical defects, electrical failings and other equipment malfunctions.
Fault for accidents involving heavy machinery can vary. For example, manufactures can be at fault for defective equipment and property owners and contractors can be at fault if proper safety precautions are not taken. If you’ve been in an accident involving heavy machinery you should seek legal counsel right away to investigate your claim. Depending who is at fault, you might be able to seek more than workers’ compensation to cover the cost of your medical and rehabilitation bills.
Construction is not the only occupation that utilizes heavy machinery; farming, drilling, and mining are a few other occupations that pose the risk of accidents involving heavy machinery. If you’ve been involved in a heavy machinery accident in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia, contact the lawyers at Injury Law Education Center, P.C. right away and let us help you receive the compensation you deserve to help you recover.