As the weather begins to warm up, New Jersey residents will see more construction of buildings and roads around town. This can also spell danger for those who are walking close to where workers are renovating offices, putting up new buildings or improving roads. The last thing you would expect as you are walking to work or getting your shopping done is to be injured by a nearby construction project, but unfortunately, this can happen.
Pedestrians may be at risk from numerous common accident types that normally injure construction workers, according to FindLaw. Four accident types in particular are responsible for injuring or killing hundreds of workers on the job every year – falling, electrocution, being struck by objects or being caught in between machinery or objects. If you are walking down the sidewalk near a construction site, these accidents could injure you in the following ways:
- You might trip over debris from a construction project that is littering the walkway.
- A live power line might fall from the construction site and land in your path.
- A worker might drop a heavy object from above, where it could hit you as you are passing by.
- You might get struck or pinned by a construction vehicle or piece of heavy machinery that is operating near the sidewalk.
Construction companies should take measures to protect not only their workers, but those who are passing near worksites. You may be eligible for compensation if a company’s negligence led to your being injured. This information should not replace the advice of a lawyer.