Safety harnesses can protect you from fall injuries when you work construction in California. However, sometimes using a safety harness can cause serious injuries as well. You may experience suspension trauma if you fell and were caught by your safety harness.
Suspension trauma can require expensive medical treatment. Fortunately, a construction accident lawyer in Los Angeles can help you secure compensation for your losses. Call to speak with the professionals at the Simmrin Law Group if you are injured in a harness accident while on the job.
Understanding Suspension Trauma in California
Suspension trauma can occur if you slip and fall while wearing a fall arrest harness. During the time in which you are left hanging, you may develop suspension trauma. You may also hear suspension trauma referred to as:
- Harness hang syndrome OR
- Orthostatic intolerance
According to Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S), suspension trauma occurs as the straps of your harness restrict the arteries in your legs. Restricted circulation makes it harder for your heart to work properly. This can lead to:
- Nausea
- Unconsciousness
- Drops in heart rate and blood pressure
- Circulatory shock
Depending upon how long you hang in the harness, lactic acid may also be allowed to build up in the blood of your legs. Once you are lowered down, this acid can move through your system, causing damage to internal organs. As you can see, suspension trauma should be taken very seriously.
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Safety Measures and Suspension Trauma in Construction
Technically, your place of business should have safety procedures in place to limit your risk of developing suspension trauma. All safety harnesses should be equipped with trauma straps. These straps allow you to brace your legs if you fall while wearing a safety harness, reducing the risk that you will develop suspension trauma.
However, some construction sites do not include trauma straps on safety harnesses. This can put you at risk for developing a serious medical condition if you fall while working. A Los Angeles workplace injury lawyer can assess the full financial impact of your injuries.
Additionally, OSHA recommends that all workers who fall while wearing a safety harness should be rescued within 30 minutes. Construction sites that allow workers to hang past this 30-minute window increase the risk of serious injuries caused by suspension trauma.
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Seeking Compensation for a Harness Accident in California
If you fell while wearing a harness and experienced suspension trauma, you could be entitled to compensation. Injuries on the job site generally require you to file a claim with workers’ compensation. Your workers’ comp claim can allow you to seek damages for:
- Emergency medical expenses
- Ongoing healthcare costs
- Lost wages at work and lost earning potential
You should seek immediate medical care if you are hurt on the job. Getting treatment for your injuries quickly protects your health. It also helps demonstrate that your injuries occurred on the job, increasing the odds that your workers’ compensation claim will be approved.
The Simmrin Law Group can offer you professional legal help as you file a workers’ compensation claim. Contact our workers’ compensation lawyers in Los Angeles now.
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Suing the Manufacturer of a Defective Safety Harness
You are not generally allowed to sue your employer after a harness accident in the construction industry. As we mentioned, you must instead seek compensation through a workers’ comp claim. However, you may be able to sue the company that made your safety harness if the harness was defective. A Los Angeles defective product liability lawyer can determine if you have a valid case.
For example, if your trauma straps did not function properly after you fell, the company that made the harness could be liable. Suing the company could allow you to get compensation for your economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages.
A lawsuit for a defective product could also allow you to get non-economic damages for any pain and suffering you experienced as a result of your harness accident. You are more likely to successfully resolve a lawsuit for a defective product if you have professional help on your side.
Reach out to the team at the Simmrin Law Group today for help with a lawsuit or a workers’ comp claim in California. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers are ready to put you first so you can focus on healing after a construction accident.
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Reach Out to an Injury Lawyer for a Harness Accident at a Construction Site
The Simmrin Law Group is here to help if you experienced suspension trauma after a fall at your job site. You can easily reach our injury lawyers for construction accidents caused by a harness today. We can review all aspects of your case with a FREE case evaluation.
Get the legal advice you deserve now by contacting Simmrin Law Group or completing our online contact form.
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