Types of Construction Injuries With Heavy Machinery
By Canaan Suitt, J.D. | Last updated on August 26, 2025If you are a construction worker, you or someone you know may have been injured by heavy machinery on the job site. Construction injuries can result in expensive medical bills, time away from work, and lost earning potential. You may have many questions about what to do: Who is responsible? Do I have any legal claims? Am I entitled to workers’ compensation?
An experienced construction accident lawyer can answer these questions. This article will help you start the process of finding a lawyer to meet your needs.
Injuries From Heavy Machinery
Heavy machinery plays an essential role in many construction projects. Many jobs would be impossible without the equipment to dig, build, or move materials.
Common types of construction equipment include dump trucks, bulldozers, loaders, excavators, forklifts, backhoes, and cranes. This heavy machinery can also be hazardous. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports hundreds of fatal injuries happen yearly due to equipment contact. Road construction sites are also hazardous due to cars, trucks, and other equipment.
How do heavy machinery accidents happen? Unfortunately, injuries can occur in many ways. If an equipment operator is negligent or lacks proper training, workers can be at risk of serious injury. Construction accidents can happen even when operators have proper training and use caution. For example, operators might have blind spots preventing them from seeing others or operate machinery on uneven or steep surfaces, causing rollovers that injure themselves or others. Other times, machinery malfunctions and causes injury due to no operator fault.
Whatever the case, heavy equipment accidents can result in severe injuries, including:
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
- Crushing injuries, including broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries or other back injuries
What To Do if Heavy Machinery Injures You
As a construction worker injured by heavy machinery, you may be out of work, losing pay, or facing medical bills. You may be wondering about your legal options for financial recovery through workers’ compensation or a civil lawsuit. The good news is that many personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys provide free consultations. These meetings are a great resource for both attorney and client, allowing the lawyer to hear about the case and the client to decide if the lawyer is a good fit.
Visit the Super Lawyers directory to find a construction accident attorney in your area.
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