NJ Personal Injury Lawyers

Work Injury in NJ: The Top 4 Causes of Construction Site Accident Fatalities

A serious work injury in NJ can change a life instantly—especially when it happens on a construction site. According to OSHA, the “Fatal Four” causes of death in construction are falls, electrocutions, struck-by objects, and caught-in/between accidents. These types of NJ construction site accidents are not only deadly, but often preventable with proper safety procedures.

Unfortunately, many employers cut corners on safety. When they do, workers pay the price.

picture of yellow truck simulating construction site accident

Falls: The Leading Cause of Work Injury in NJ

Falls remain the top cause of death in the construction industry—both in New Jersey and nationwide. A fall from as little as four stories can cause fatal internal bleeding due to blunt force trauma. Many NJ construction site accident cases involve exposed scaffolding, unsecured ladders, or open floor edges.

Employers are legally obligated to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), secure scaffolds, and safety rails. When they don’t, they can be held liable.


Electrocution: High Voltage, High Risk

Many work injuries in NJ involve electrocution from overhead power lines or poorly grounded equipment. Contact with a live wire can trigger a fall or cause severe third-degree burns.

A common scenario in NJ construction site accidents involves a worker being thrown by a power surge or locked onto a live wire due to involuntary muscle contraction.

Proper planning and grounding of tools, plus awareness of overhead lines, can prevent these life-threatening injuries.


CourtLaw NJ Personal Injury Lawyers Blog Poster work injury in NJ

Struck-By Incidents: When Tools Become Weapons

Being struck by falling tools or construction debris is a common but dangerous hazard. A hammer dropped from a high-rise can turn into a deadly projectile.

Hard hats are essential—but employers must enforce safety rules, explain why they matter, and supervise workers to ensure compliance.

TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) from NJ construction site accidents can cause lifelong disability or death, especially when brain damage goes untreated.


Caught-In/Between: Crushed Without Warning

This category includes trench collapses and crushing injuries from heavy equipment. Victims are often caught between machinery and solid structures—or buried when an unsupported trench gives way.

These work injuries in NJ can be avoided with proper vehicle operation, trench reinforcement, and job site visibility protocols.


Know Your Rights After a NJ Construction Site Accident

Injured construction workers are typically covered by New Jersey workers’ compensation, a no-fault system that pays for medical bills and lost wages. But employers and insurers don’t always make the process easy.

If you’re a non-worker injured in a construction zone—such as a pedestrian or bystander—you may also be able to file a civil claim if negligence was involved.

In both cases, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you:

  • Secure maximum benefits
  • Challenge denied claims
  • Prove liability with expert testimony
  • File a third-party lawsuit if appropriate

If you or someone you love has suffered a work injury in NJ due to a NJ construction site accident, you need experienced legal help now.

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to an accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing.

Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled injury attorneys at CourtLaw NJ Personal Injury Lawyers represent clients injured in accidents in Perth Amboy, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, and throughout New Jersey. Call 732-442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 as well as offices in Jersey City, New Brunswick, Roselle, and East Orange.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.