A personal injury can turn your life upside down. In addition to the difficulties that come with your recovery, your injury is likely to have a major financial impact, including the cost of medical treatment and the loss of income while you are unable to work. If you are planning to file an insurance claim, you may expect to work with an insurance company to ensure that your injuries are covered. However, before doing so, it is important to consult with an attorney who can ensure that you are fully compensated for your damages.

How Can an Attorney Help With My Case?

When you are struggling in the aftermath of an injury, you may feel like you have to accept an offer made by an insurance company so that you can address your immediate financial concerns. However, an insurance company’s goal is to pay you as little as possible, and even if a settlement offer appears fair to you, it is likely that it will not fully cover your costs or meet your ongoing needs.

In reality, you should be wary of speaking to an insurance company at all before consulting with an attorney, because they may ask you to provide recorded statements, and any information you provide may lead them to reduce the amount of your claim or even deny your claim altogether. A lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that you receive the compensation you need.

Large numbers of people use taxicabs for transportation throughout the Chicago area every day. Unfortunately, most people are familiar with the experience of being afraid for their safety while riding in a vehicle operated by a cab driver who has little regard for traffic laws. The desire to complete fares as quickly as possible causes many taxi drivers to put passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians at risk. Fortunately, taxi companies’ status as common carriers provides those who have been injured in taxi accidents with the ability to recover compensation for their damages.

What Is a Common Carrier?

Companies, entities, or individuals that transport people or property within or through the state of Illinois are considered common carriers. According to decisions made in Illinois courts, common carriers have a duty to provide the “highest degree of care” to their passengers while transporting them or while passengers are entering or exiting a vehicle.

Because of this duty of care, taxi companies may be held liable for passenger injuries which occur because of the negligence of taxi drivers or other employees. In addition to injuries that may occur because of negligent driving, a company may be responsible for injuries caused by equipment failure, negligent maintenance, or failure to follow the proper safety procedures.

Parents often assume that the products intended for use by their children are safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and there are many situations in which companies put profits ahead of consumer safety and release defective or dangerous products to the market. This was demonstrated recently when news stories broke about a jogging stroller that had caused injuries to parents and children.

Injuries When Using the Britax BOB Jogging Stroller

The BOB jogging stroller produced by Britax is intended to keep children safe and secure when parents are using it to run on sidewalks, streets, or even dirt paths. This three-wheeled stroller, which typically costs between $400 and $600, appears to be rugged and sturdy. However, hundreds of reports were sent to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) between 2012 and 2018 stating that the front wheel of the stroller could suddenly become detached. When moving at high speeds, the strollers could then flip over, causing serious or life-threatening injuries to both children and parents. Some of the reported injuries included broken bones and teeth, torn ligaments, and severe lacerations.

In 2017, the CPSC requested that Britax voluntarily recall these strollers, but the company refused to do so. Even though the quick-release lever used to secure the wheels to the strollers was prone to cause these wheels to detach, the company claimed that the product was completely safe when used correctly because it had passed all safety tests. While the company ultimately took steps to address the issue in later models of the stroller and put out information intended to help owners use the strollers safely, there are still nearly 500,000 strollers which may be unsafe in American homes.

After two separate aviation accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes within the past six months, the plane’s manufacturer is under a great deal of scrutiny. A Lion Air plane crashed in Indonesia on October 29, 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed outside of Addis Ababa on March 10, 2019, with the two crashes resulting in the deaths of 346 people. Investigations have found that faulty sensors and software may be to blame for these disasters, which opens up the possibility that the families of these plane crash victims may be able to pursue product liability lawsuits against Chicago-based Boeing.

Faulty Flight Control Systems

Investigators into both crashes have noted that there are “striking similarities” between the two incidents. In both cases, it appears that a flight control system called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which was meant to prevent mid-air stalls, caused the pilots to lose control of the planes. The MCAS had automatically acted to force the planes’ noses down in response to incorrect readings from the planes’ angle-of-attack (AOA) sensors, and pilots had not been properly trained in how to disengage this system. Experts believe that the combination of faulty data, automated systems, and lack of pilot training proved to be deadly in these cases, and in order to avoid similar crashes, countries around the world have grounded all 737 MAX planes.

Many people are questioning how such a system could have been put in place and how it could have passed the certification process by the FAA. Typically, planes have redundant systems in place to ensure that if one component fails, others will be able to ensure that the aircraft can be operated safely. However, the Boeing 737 MAX appears to have been designed with a single point of failure, and the reliance on sensors that were providing faulty readings likely was a major factor in these disasters.

Recently, reports that Johnson & Johnson baby powder may contain asbestos have alarmed people throughout the United States. This product has been a staple of many families for decades, and the potential dangers that it may pose has led many to worry about their safety. In March of 2019, a woman in California won a major victory against the company when a jury awarded her $29 million because she contracted mesothelioma that she claimed was caused by her use of J&J’s products.

Johnson & Johnson is currently facing around 13,000 lawsuits involving injuries allegedly caused by their baby powder. In another recent case, 22 women in Missouri were awarded $4.69 billion from J&J because they contracted ovarian cancer. Those who have experienced injuries or illnesses that may have been caused by asbestos in baby powder should be sure to understand their options for pursuing compensation through a product liability lawsuit.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Baby powder is composed of talc, and depending on where this talc is mined, it may potentially contain asbestos fibers. When baby powder is applied, any asbestos in the product is likely to become airborne, and it may be inhaled. The inhalation of asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a form of cancer that attacks the chest cavity.

On March 10, 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed, leading to the deaths of 157 people. This was the second major airline disaster in recent months involving a Boeing 737 MAX plane, and in response, countries around the world have ordered these planes to be grounded. Those who have been affected by these incidents or who have been injured while traveling on a plane should understand their options for pursuing compensation through a product liability lawsuit.

Legal Issues Involved in Aviation Accidents

The cause of the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash has not yet been determined. However, the fact that it occurred so soon after another Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed in Indonesia in October 2018 indicates that these planes may have dangerous defects that threaten the safety of passengers. That crash is also still being investigated, but it may have been caused by a faulty sensor that affected pilots’ ability to control the plane.

In response to this potential danger, multiple countries, including China, Britain, Germany, France, and Australia have chosen to temporarily ground all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes. This is not the first time in recent history that Boeing planes have faced safety issues; in 2013, airlines grounded Boeing 787 Dreamliners because of an issue with lithium batteries.

Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience, regardless of whether the collision is minor or major. Even if a car crash does not result in serious injuries, it is likely to cause damage to your vehicle, and you may experience injuries that are not immediately evident which only begin to affect you in the days or weeks after the accident. In most cases, your injuries and the damage to your vehicle will be covered by the insurance policy of the driver who was at fault. But what happens when you are involved in a collision with a driver who has no insurance?

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

All drivers are required by law to have insurance coverage on their vehicles. At minimum, a vehicle must be covered by liability insurance, which will pay for damages a driver causes to other vehicles, drivers, or passengers in a car accident. However, some drivers do not maintain their required insurance coverage. Many people who are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver may believe that they have no way to recover compensation for their injuries or vehicular damages.

In some cases, an injured driver may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. However, a driver who does not have insurance will likely not be able to pay damages, and even if compensation is awarded, they may be able to declare bankruptcy in order to avoid paying damages.

Veterans make huge sacrifices to serve our country, and they deserve to be cared for in the years following their military service. Unfortunately, hospitals operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs often provide substandard care, and veterans may suffer serious injuries because of medical malpractice. In fact, investigations performed in recent years have found that hundreds of veterans have died and thousands more suffered injuries because of medical mistakes by the VA, and in many cases, the VA failed to properly address medical errors or discipline healthcare providers who harmed patients. If you are a veteran who has been injured by medical errors at a VA facility, you should be sure to understand your legal options for pursuing compensation. 

Medical Errors at VA Hospitals

Investigations have uncovered a wide variety of medical negligence resulting in injuries to veterans, including:

• Surgical errors - In addition to failure to complete surgical procedures correctly, VA surgeons have been found to leave objects inside patients’ bodies during surgery, which can cause serious health risks.
• Medication errors - Veterans may be harmed by the prescription of improper medications, improper doses, or failure to consider side effects or interactions between multiple medications.
• Delayed care - VA hospitals are often plagued by lengthy wait times and delays in providing treatment. Failure to treat conditions such as cancer in a timely manner can be fatal for veterans.
• Failure to recognize suicide risks - Many veterans experience conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and VA medical staff should be aware of the risks of suicide for these patients. Unfortunately, failure to perform risk assessments, delays in responding to mental health concerns, or failure to prescribe the proper medication has resulted in the deaths of multiple veterans.

Contact a Cook County Medical Malpractice Attorney

At Winters Salzetta O’Brien & Richardson, LLC, we work with veterans to address injuries caused by VA medical negligence, and we have obtained multiple verdicts and settlements for clients in these types of cases, including a $900,000 verdict in a case where a veteran committed suicide after being refused treatment at a VA hospital. In another notable case, we assisted a Vietnam veteran who was injured by errors made during oral surgery, and we secured a $12 million settlement to address his ongoing medical care and disability.

In 2018, residents of the Chicago area were shocked to learn that a company had been releasing toxic chemicals into the community for decades, endangering the health of those who live and work in Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, and other nearby cities. Sterigenics International operates a facility in Willowbrook that uses ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment and other materials, and this facility was found to be emitting dangerous levels of this toxic chemical. Recently, some more information came to light that demonstrated the extent of Sterigenics’ negligence, and those who have been harmed by toxic chemical emissions should be sure to contact a personal injury lawyer to learn about their legal options.

Cover-Up of Toxic Chemical Emissions

Since the release of a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in August 2018 detailing the risks of ethylene oxide emissions in the Willowbrook area, Sterigenics has claimed that it had been following EPA regulations ever since its plant was opened in 1984. However, a recent report by CBS News contained some shocking revelations by former Sterigenics employees about the company’s practices.

According to the workers, Sterigenics committed a wide variety of violations when working with toxic chemicals. Rather than properly disposing of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol, these chemicals would often be dumped directly into local sewer systems. In addition, toxic fumes were often not properly sent through chemical scrubbers, and doors were left open, allowing gases to vent outside. To make matters worse, alarm systems were manipulated to avoid work stoppage, or alarms were ignored altogether.

While people have traditionally used taxis for transportation around cities such as Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, many people now choose to use ridesharing apps such as Uber, Lyft, or Via. These services offer convenience and savings, but since they have only begun operating within the last few years, they are still lightly regulated, especially when compared to the strict laws and regulations surrounding taxis and other forms of public transportation. This means that those who are injured in an accident with a rideshare driver may have trouble determining what is covered by insurance and how to receive compensation.

Insurance Coverage for Rideshare Accidents

Determining liability for any accident can be difficult, but matters become even more complicated in collisions involving rideshare drivers. Accidents may be caused because of a Uber or Lyft driver’s inexperience, because they were distracted when using the rideshare app, or because they were driving recklessly. Accidents may also be caused by other drivers or because of poor vehicle maintenance, and people injured may include passengers in the ridesharing vehicle or other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians. Untangling these factors to establish fault and determine who is covered by insurance is likely to be a complex undertaking.

In response to these issues, rideshare companies have provided insurance policies that cover those injured in accidents. Both Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in coverage per accident for anyone who has been injured, including rideshare passengers, those in other vehicles, and pedestrians. However, this coverage typically only applies if a Uber or Lyft driver is on their way to pick up a passenger or while they have a passenger in their car. Coverage limits are lower when a driver is waiting for a ride request, and they do not apply when a driver is driving their vehicle for personal use.

People in the United States who receive medical treatment expect their doctors to provide high-quality care that properly addresses their concerns, including any complications that arise from treatment. Unfortunately, medical errors often occur, and these can lead to serious injuries. Orthopedic procedures are one area of medicine in which medical professionals must take extra care, and when doctors fail to address vascular complications following these procedures, patients may suffer a great deal of harm.

Common Vascular Issues in Orthopedic Procedures

Orthopedic procedures involve surgeries or treatments to the musculoskeletal system, including the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Some common procedures include treatment of joints with an arthroscope (arthroscopy), joint replacement (arthroplasty), correction of deformed bones (osteotomy), repair of bone fractures, treatment of herniated disks in the spine, and repair of torn tendons or ligaments.

Due to the complexity of orthopedic procedures, various complications can arise, especially in cases involving joint replacement, such as complete knee or hip arthroplasty. Issues involving the vascular system, or blood vessels, are one of the most serious complications, and they can include:

A personal injury can have a wide variety of long-term effects on a person’s health and well-being, and one of the most serious issues victims may experience is chronic pain. Severe injuries involving brain trauma, damage to the spine, nerve damage, amputation, or other debilitating conditions can lead to long-lasting problems as victims struggle to deal with a high level of pain that greatly affects their lives, their comfort, and their ability to work and earn an income. However, many have found that medical marijuana provides a solution that allows them to manage this pain as they work to return to normalcy.

Benefits of Using Medicinal Marijuana

Many people are hesitant to consider marijuana as a medical solution because of its perception as a recreational drug. The federal government in the United States classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which signifies that it has a high potential for abuse and little medical value. However, research in recent years has found that marijuana has a wide variety of medical benefits, and this has led to it being legalized for medicinal use in more than half of the states in the U.S., including Illinois. An increasing number of states have legalized marijuana for recreational use as well.

There are a large number of active chemical components in marijuana, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which provides the “high” that people seek when using marijuana recreationally, and cannabidiol (CBD), which provides medical benefits, including relieving pain and serving as a muscle relaxant. Many strains of medical marijuana provide CBD while containing little or no THC, allowing patients to treat their conditions without experiencing mind-altering effects.

Motorcyclists face serious risks whenever they use the road, since they are much more likely to be seriously injured in a motorcycle accident than the drivers or passengers of other vehicles. These risks increase substantially during the winter, since cold-weather conditions not only make motorcycles and other vehicles more difficult to control, but visibility is also often limited, increasing the chances that drivers will fail to see motorcycles and be unable to avoid a collision. 

Winter Motorcycle Safety Tips

While it is often impossible to avoid a collision caused by a negligent driver, motorcyclists can take some precautions that will increase their safety on the road:

• Use the proper equipment - No matter the time of year, wearing a helmet can help avoid serious brain injuries in a crash. During the winter, a helmet with full-face protection ensures that you will have full visibility, even when snow is falling and strong winds are blowing. Wearing warm clothing, including heavy-duty boots, pants, jacket, and gloves, can provide additional protection against cold temperatures.
• Winterize your motorcycle - Make sure your bike is in good working order. Use fresh antifreeze and check the engine hoses, brakes, and tire pressure.
• Drive slowly - Snow and ice on the road make it more difficult to stop or turn. In addition, cold temperatures reduce the traction on your tires. Slowing down and giving yourself extra room to maneuver can help you avoid accidents.
• Increase distance from other vehicles - Cold weather conditions affect other drivers as well, and cars and trucks have difficulty slowing down or turning on snowy or icy roads, which may cause them to be unable to avoid colliding with a motorcycle. Avoid following other vehicles too closely, and try to maintain a safe distance in all directions, providing yourself with room to maneuver if necessary.
• Watch for dangerous road conditions - Winter weather can cause damage to the roads, so it is important to be aware of potential dangers. Watch out for cracks and potholes, as well as black ice, and take steps to negotiate these hazards safely.

Contact a DuPage County Personal Injury Attorney

The attorneys of Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC understand the dangers motorcyclists face and the harm they can suffer at the hands of negligent drivers. We work with victims and their families to help them recover the full and fair compensation they deserve. In one case, we secured a $757,867 verdict for the family of a man in Kane County who was killed in a crash after two drivers stopped their vehicles in the middle of the road to talk with each other. If you want to know more about how we can help, contact our office today at 312-236-6324 to schedule a free consultation with a Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer.

Bicycles provide a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors while traveling from place to place, and they can help you save money on energy and transportation costs. However, these benefits also come with some serious risks, especially in cities such as Chicago, where large amounts of traffic and narrow streets can put bicyclists in danger of being injured in a collision. When riding, you should be aware of the potential injuries that can occur in a bicycle accident and the steps to take if you are injured. It is important to contact an attorney after an injury to determine your options for pursuing compensation from the negligent parties.

Common Bike Accident Injuries

• Head injuries - A helmet can provide essential protection in the case of a crash, but even when wearing a helmet, you may experience a concussion or traumatic brain injury. If you lose consciousness, experience severe headaches or confusion, or have vision problems, you should seek immediate medical attention.
• Neck and spine injuries - A collision can result in whiplash or back injuries, and more serious spine damage can cause long-lasting harm. If you experience numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes, you should go to the emergency room for treatment.
• Broken bones - Fractures can occur in an impact with a car or other vehicle, or when striking the ground after being knocked off your bike in a dooring accident. Common bones broken in bike accidents include the collarbones, facial bones, and bones in the legs, arms, and wrists.
• Rib injuries - Broken ribs are another common fracture that can occur in a collision, and it is important to receive treatment to ensure that these injuries do not result in a punctured lung. If you experience any difficulty breathing following an accident, you should receive medical attention as soon as possible.
• Internal injuries - Internal organs can be damaged in the impact with a bicycle’s handlebars or with other vehicles. Tenderness in the abdominal area or a firm or distended abdomen is a sign of that you could have internal bleeding.
• Lacerations and road rash - An impact with the road can cause serious cuts, bruises, and abrasions. Be sure to properly treat these wounds to ensure that they do not become infected.

Contact Our Chicago Bicycle Injury Attorneys

At Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC, we are experienced in helping bicyclists recover compensation for the injuries they have suffered. In one notable case, we obtained a $1 million settlement for a man who was injured when his bicycle seat broke, exposing a sharp edge that cut into his groin and caused internal injuries that required two surgeries.

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, our Cook County personal injury lawyers can help determine your options for pursuing compensation from the party or parties who were responsible for your damages. Contact us today at 312-236-6324 to arrange a free consultation.

There have been few news stories in recent decades that have been as shocking and troubling as the revelation that people across the United States have been the victims of sexual abuse by priests and clergy in the Catholic church. While any instance of abuse by someone who was in a position of trust is horrifying, these cases have been especially sickening due to the efforts of the Catholic church to cover up the crimes and protect the abusers rather than the victims. Those who have been harmed by this type of abuse and the negligent actions of the church should take steps to determine their options for pursuing compensation from those who were responsible.

New Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse from Illinois Attorney General

In December 2018, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan released a report detailing the preliminary findings of an investigation into sex abuse by Catholic priests in the state. While church officials from the Archdiocese of Chicago and the other five dioceses in Illinois have stated that they have put measures in place to address the issue, the report makes it clear that instances of abuse have been widely underreported.

The report notes that while the church has identified 185 members of the clergy who have received credible allegations of child sex abuse in Illinois, there are an additional 500 clergy members who have been accused of sexual misconduct over multiple decades. While not all of these allegations have been found to be credible, Madigan stated that the church often failed to take steps to investigate accusations and determine whether they were valid.

In the United States, we expect the products we use to be safe, but unfortunately, large corporations often put profits ahead of public safety, and unsafe or dangerous products are put on the market as a result. When people are injured by the negligence of product manufacturers, they deserve to be compensated for their damages. In some cases, injuries may even be caused by trusted brands that many people have relied on for decades. This was illustrated recently by reports that Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder has been found to contain asbestos.

J&J Knew That Baby Powder Danger Existed for Decades

Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder has been a popular product for over 100 years. However, when the talc used in this product is mined from various sources around the world, it can become contaminated by tremolite, a naturally-occurring form of asbestos. While J&J has claimed that its Baby Powder is safe to use and does not contain dangerous amounts of asbestos, recently-uncovered reports have shown that the company was aware that their products were contaminated and took steps to conceal this information from the public.

A Reuters investigation has found that as early as the late 1960s, Johnson & Johnson was aware that the talc used in its products contained asbestos. As the dangers of this substance became known, J&J claimed that it had addressed this issue and taken steps to remove asbestos from its Baby Powder. However, internal company documents have revealed that over the subsequent decades, the company was aware that the product continued to contain unsafe levels of the substance, and it took steps to misrepresent data when reporting results of product testing to the FDA.

In recent months, residents of the Chicago suburbs have learned of a serious risk to the health of those who live and work in Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, and surrounding communities. A plant operated by Sterigenics International was found to be releasing dangerous amounts of ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic chemical, into the air, putting those who live and work in the area at risk of harm. Those who have been exposed to toxic substances should contact a personal injury attorney to determine their options for pursuing compensation for their injuries.

Testing Shows Continued Risk of Toxic Chemical Exposure

After the original report which raised the alarm of ethylene oxide exposure was released in August 2018, Sterigenics stated that in July 2018, they had put new measures in place in their plant to reduce ethylene oxide emissions. While this did not address the harm caused to people in the community during the decades the facility has been in operation, it was meant to ensure that the plant would not present a public safety risk going forward. However, recent tests have indicated that risks of toxic chemical exposure continue to exist near the facility.

In November 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted testing of the air near the Sterigenics plant, and these tests found that in certain locations, levels of ethylene oxide continue to exist in the atmosphere. Alarmingly, one test found that an average level of ethylene oxide detected during a 24-hour period was more than three times higher than the amount of the chemical which the original report stated was a cancer risk.

The exciting high-speed police chases depicted in movies and TV shows may seem like a necessary risk that police officers must take in order to capture dangerous criminals. However, in reality, police chases often cause a great deal of harm to the public, and in many cases, they lead to dangerous car accidents in which innocent bystanders are seriously injured or even killed. If you or a member of your family have been injured in a collision caused by the negligence of a police officer, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.

Police Chase Accident Statistics

A study conducted in 2015 by USA Today analyzed data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and found that between 1979 and 2013, at least 5,066 bystanders or passengers were killed in police chases. During this period, 6,301 suspects and 139 police officers were also killed during pursuits. However, the actual number of fatalities is likely higher, since the NHTSA’s data is based on police reports, which sometimes do not disclose whether a motor vehicle collision occurred during a police chase.

The total number of accidents and injuries that occur in police chases is more difficult to determine, since the NHTSA only reports fatal accidents, but based on data provided by six  states that make up 24% of the population in the United States, as many as 7,400 people are likely injured each year in police chases.

In the United States, we have some of the best doctors and healthcare facilities in the world, and we expect to receive quality medical care when we need it. We place a great deal of trust in medical professionals, but unfortunately, these people are only human, and mistakes are often made that can lead to serious injuries, drastically affecting a person’s quality of life and a family’s finances.

While medical malpractice can take a variety of forms, surgical errors are one type of medical negligence that can be especially devastating. These errors are much more common than one would expect; in fact, studies have found that more than 4,000 preventable mistakes occur every year during surgical procedures across the U.S. 60% of these errors cause temporary injuries, 33% cause permanent harm, and nearly 7% of cases lead to the death of a patient.

Common Types of Surgical Errors

Surgical malpractice can take a variety of forms, but some of the most common errors committed during surgery include:

Everyone expects and deserves to be safe while they are at work. Unfortunately, some occupations are more dangerous than others, and many workers accept some level of risk as part of their day to day job. Those who work in the construction industry are particularly in danger of being injured while on the job, with fall injuries being especially common and dangerous. Workers should be aware of the risks of construction site accidents and the steps they should take after being injured to ensure they receive the proper financial compensation.

Construction Site Fall Injury Prevention

Falls at construction sites often result in serious and fatal injuries for workers, and many of these accidents are preventable. According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), falls accounted for 370 of 991 total construction accident deaths in 2016. These include falls from a roof, to a lower level, from a vehicle or construction equipment, or from ladders or scaffolding. 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations are meant to ensure that construction workers are safe from fall injuries. Employers and subcontractors are required to assess hazards in the workplace, take steps to prevent fall hazards, provide workers with fall protection equipment (such as guardrails, safety nets, and safety harnesses), and ensure that workers are properly trained in using this equipment.