Construction sites in Green Bay, Wisconsin, present unique hazards that can lead to serious injuries and complex personal injury claims. From residential developments along the Fox River to commercial projects in the downtown business district, construction workers and civilians face risks from falling objects, scaffolding collapses, equipment malfunctions, and electrical hazards. These incidents often involve multiple parties, including general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners, making liability determination particularly challenging. Common construction accidents include falls from heights, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-between accidents, which can result in catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crush injuries, and severe burns. When such accidents occur, victims may have multiple avenues for compensation beyond traditional workers' compensation, including third-party liability claims against negligent contractors, equipment manufacturers, or property owners.

Wisconsin's construction accident laws operate within a complex framework of state and federal regulations, including OSHA standards and Wisconsin's Safe Place Statute. The state follows a modified comparative negligence system, allowing injured parties to recover damages as long as they are not more than 51% at fault for the accident. Construction accident victims typically have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Wisconsin's statute of limitations. Insurance considerations often involve workers' compensation coverage, general liability policies, and umbrella coverage held by various contractors and subcontractors. Compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability benefits, and in some cases, punitive damages where gross negligence can be proven. An experienced Green Bay construction accident lawyer will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Here are common types of construction accidents that frequently result in serious injuries or fatalities:

1. Falls from Heights: Including falls from scaffolding, roofs, ladders, or elevated platforms. These accidents often occur due to inadequate fall protection, unstable surfaces, or improper safety equipment maintenance. OSHA consistently ranks falls as the leading cause of construction fatalities.
2. Struck-by Incidents: These accidents involve workers being hit by falling objects, swinging equipment, or construction vehicles. Common scenarios include tools dropping from above, materials being improperly hoisted, or heavy equipment with insufficient backup warnings.
3. Trench Collapses: When excavation sites aren't properly shored or protected, walls can cave in, trapping and crushing workers. These accidents are particularly deadly due to the weight of soil and the speed at which collapses occur.
4. Electrical Accidents: Including direct contact with live wires, arc flash incidents, and electrocution from defective equipment. These often occur during demolition work, when handling power tools, or working near overhead power lines.
5. Crushing Accidents: Workers becoming trapped between heavy machinery and walls, or crushed between moving and stationary objects. These accidents frequently involve heavy equipment like cranes, bulldozers, or forklifts.
6. Scaffold Collapses: When scaffolding is improperly erected, overloaded, or poorly maintained, entire structures can fail. These accidents often affect multiple workers and can also endanger pedestrians below.
7. Equipment Malfunctions: Including crane failures, power tool accidents, and heavy machinery breakdowns. These can result from poor maintenance, operator error, or manufacturing defects.

Each of these accident types typically involves multiple safety regulation violations and can result in complex liability scenarios involving multiple parties, from general contractors to equipment manufacturers to property owners. Prevention requires strict adherence to safety protocols, proper training, regular equipment maintenance, and effective site management.

Click the links below to get information from attorneys who help with all kinds of workplace accidents including:

• Green Bay Crane Accidents
• Green Bay Electrocution Injury accidents
• Green Bay Power Line Accidents
• Green Bay machinery accidents
• Green Bay Toxic Exposures

Related Resources:

• Brown County Circuit Court
• Green Bay Municipal Court
• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (Workers' Compensation Division)
• OSHA Region V Office (Chicago)
• Wisconsin Safety Council
• Green Bay Workers' Rights Center
• Wisconsin State Legislature (Construction Safety Regulations)
• Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Brown County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
• Wisconsin Construction Safety Council

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