Technological solutions can help reduce the risk of injury on New York construction sites
Some of the most dangerous hazards on a New York City construction site are construction vehicles. Bulldozers, front loaders, excavators, forklifts, dump trucks, and other vehicles can cause devastating injuries when they make contact with a worker’s unprotected body.
And in the sometimes chaotic environment of a construction site, vehicle crashes are particularly likely to occur. That’s why construction companies need to make vehicle safety a top priority on sites.
Technological solutions can play an important part in improving construction vehicle safety. An upcoming study will look at one such solution: telematics.
What are telematics?
Telematics, also known as vehicle telematics, is the use of vehicular technologies and telecommunications to share information and remotely control vehicles in motion. On a construction site, telematics can be used to locate and track heavy equipment, monitor engine usage, and improve efficiency and safety.
Construction companies may invest in telematics to enhance fuel efficiency, ensure they have the right equipment in place across multiple job sites, and maintain construction jobs on schedule and on budget. However, an even more significant potential application of telematics is to protect construction workers and the public by enhancing vehicle safety.
The upcoming study
As Safety + Health reported, researchers at the National Center for Construction Safety at the University of Kansas will investigate how telematics can impact fleet safety for small and medium-sized construction firms. Some of the study’s areas of focus include:
- How telematics can affect driver behavior and influence crash safety and frequency.
- Barriers to telematics integration in the construction industry.
- Potential strategies and resources that will enable organizations to adopt telematics.
The study is well-timed, as vehicles are one of the most significant threats to construction workers. According to OSHA, vehicles and equipment are involved in over half of construction worker fatalities nationwide.
Legal options for construction workers injured in vehicle accidents
As the new study aims to demonstrate, there are several measures that construction companies can take to mitigate the risk of vehicle accidents and on-site worker fatalities. Unfortunately, too many construction companies cut corners on safety, and it’s their workers who pay the price.
If you were injured in a construction vehicle accident while on the job in New York, you may have access to workers’ compensation benefits, but those benefits only go so far. However, you may have other options as well.
If your injury was caused by the negligence of a third party other than your direct employer, you can take legal action to pursue costs not covered by workers’ comp, such as pain and suffering or excess wage loss.
For example, you may have a case if the vehicle that hit you was operated by someone working for a different company, such as a subcontractor, or if another company’s negligence created unsafe conditions on the job site that led to the crash.
How a construction accident lawyer can help
The only way to know your rights is to get legal advice as soon as possible. Choosing the right lawyer can make all the difference.
In New York, attorney Pat James Crispi of Keogh Crispi, P.C. has extensive experience and a strong track record of results, including $4.5 million for a carpenter/laborer who was severely injured in an accident involving an excavator.
Give us a call or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced construction accident lawyer.
"Pat was very transparent and responsive to any of my questions or concerns throughout the whole process. He is very professional with his work & I would highly recommend." – Salvatore G., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐