Our Results Make a Difference
Explore How We Have Helped Our Clients
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13 Million Work Injury
Buckingham & Vega represented an oilfield worker who was killed when their company failed to properly train its employees on how to safely move waste bins. Our client was killed when he became trapped between two bins.
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$5 Million Catastrophic Amputation
We represented a worker who was injured due to the negligence of his company. A forklift operator failed to keep a proper lookout as the company failed to properly train the operator in how to safely operate the forklift.
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$3.25 Million Construction Accident
We obtained a $3.25 million result on behalf of an individual who was injured after a construction site scaffold failure.
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$3 Million+ Construction Accident
Our team obtained a $3 million+ construction accident settlement on behalf of a client who was injured at work.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
A construction accident refers to an unexpected event that occurs on or around a construction site, leading to injury, illness, or death. Due to the inherently hazardous nature of construction work, these accidents often involve heavy machinery, working at heights, hazardous materials, and complex building processes. Construction accidents can result in severe injuries, financial losses, and legal consequences.
Common types of construction accidents:
- Falls from Heights: Workers often perform tasks on scaffolding, ladders, roofs, or elevated platforms. Falls from these heights are among the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in construction.
- Struck-by Accidents: These occur when a worker is hit by falling objects, equipment, vehicles, or materials being hoisted. Construction sites often involve the movement of heavy machinery and materials, making struck-by accidents common.
- Electrocution: Construction workers frequently deal with electrical wiring, power tools, and equipment, putting them at risk for electrocution. Contact with live wires, improper use of electrical equipment, or damaged power tools can cause severe injuries.
- Caught-in or Between: This type of accident occurs when a worker is caught, crushed, or pinned between machinery, equipment, or other objects. This includes trench collapses, getting caught in machinery, or being pinned by construction vehicles.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: Uneven surfaces, scattered debris, spilled liquids, and poor site maintenance can cause workers to slip, trip, and fall, resulting in injury.
- Machinery Accidents: Construction often involves the use of heavy machinery like cranes, bulldozers, and forklifts. Improper operation or malfunctions of these machines can lead to serious accidents.
- Fires and Explosions: Construction sites sometimes store flammable materials or involve processes that create heat, sparks, or friction, leading to potential fires or explosions.
- Scaffolding Accidents: Scaffolding is a common feature of construction sites, but if not properly constructed or secured, it can collapse, causing serious injuries to workers below or those on the scaffold.
- Overexertion: Lifting heavy objects or working in extreme conditions (e.g., heat, cold) can cause injuries related to overexertion, including muscle strains and heat stroke.
- Exposure to Harmful Substances: Construction workers may be exposed to harmful chemicals like asbestos, lead, or toxic fumes, leading to long-term health complications or immediate injury.
Common Construction-Related Injuries
From struck-by accidents due to falling debris to crane accidents to poorly installed scaffolding, there are many construction injuries that can result from negligence. Common injuries include:
- Burn injuries
- Electrocution
- Broken bones and fractures
- Vision impairments/blindness
- Neck, back, and shoulder injuries
Who Is Liable in a New Mexico Construction Accident?
In personal injury law, “negligence” is the failure to act with the same level of care and prudence that a reasonable person would have exercised under similar circumstances. In construction accidents, various parties can be held liable for construction-related injuries if their negligence caused the injury. Depending on the type and cause of the construction accident, there are many individuals that may be liable for construction-related injuries.
Common parties that can be liable in a construction accident include:
General Contractors
General contractors are typically responsible for overseeing the entire construction project. In addition to ensuring all work is carried out safely and in compliance with relevant safety regulations, general contractors are also responsible for:
- Overseeing the hiring of competent and qualified subcontractors.
- Ensuring that all workers receive proper training to perform their tasks safely.
- Conducting regular safety inspections to identify and address potential hazards on the construction site.
If a general contractor fails to take reasonable steps to prevent or address hazardous conditions that result in an injury, they may be held liable in a construction accident.
Subcontractors
Subcontractors bear a similar burden of responsibility as general contractors for ensuring the safety of their work areas and adherence to necessary safety regulations. Their role often involves specialized tasks within the larger construction project. Subcontractors can be held liable in construction accidents for various reasons, such as:
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