If you slipped or tripped or fell on the job and live or work in the Sacramento area, contact Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Attorney Alice A. Strömbom today for a free case evaluation. She is one of Sacramento’s leading work injury attorneys and works exclusively with injured workers and protects worker’s rights to compensation.

Falls and Sacramento Workers’ Compensation

As per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are overwhelmingly the leading cause of construction accidents, injuries and fatalities for construction workers in California and the United States. More construction workers are injured or die in falls than all other industries combined. Falls from heights are especially dangerous from ladders, scaffolding, beams, floor openings, roofs, windows, balconies and decks. In 2016, there were 364 deaths from falls at construction sites across the country. They accounted for 38.8 percent of all construction accident fatalities in 2016.

Regardless of the fact that OSHA regulations are in place that require employers to provide safety equipment when workers are at elevations of six feet and above, safety measures like harnesses, handrails, guardrails and safety nets are often ignored. Construction site falls can have permanent and debilitating consequences like:

• Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
• Impalement
• Internal organ damage
• Multiple fractures
• Amputations
• Back injuries

OSHA regulations also mandate specific fall protection training for employees by their employers. That training helps to assure that employees know how to use fall protection training and also recognize fall hazards. This is critically important for those construction workers who use English as a second language. The training might be given, but there’s a genuine question as to whether the worker understands it.

A note about career ending injuries: If you are unable to continue your previous job, you could be a Qualified Injured Worker and entitled to a Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher (Voucher) which is tuition to retrain for another occupation.  Additionally, a Qualified Injured Worker may be entitled to money from the State of California’s “Return to Work Fund”. This money can be used for any purpose but is usually used for living expenses while the injured worker is obtaining education or new job skills.

Contact a Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

In almost all cases, an injured worker will get the best possible outcome by hiring an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.

California laws and OSHA regulations are in place to protect you and your family. Our state and federal legislatures are aware of how frequent fall injuries are and how they can impact a family.

Attorney Alice A. Strömbom focuses exclusively on Workers’ Compensation Law. She is very familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to avoid providing the medical treatment and disability benefits injured workers deserve, and has a recognized track record in combating such issues.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation.