Construction Landscaping Accidents

Muscle strains are common construction workplace injuries. Strains, also known as pulled muscles, are torn muscles or tissues connecting muscle to bone. They are common in the lower back and thighs. They rarely require medical treatment but can be treated with ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, they may make you miss work. You can also make them worse if you continue to work before healing.

Sprains

Sprains are more severe than strains. Sprains involve the ligaments, not the muscles. You can treat minor sprains with RICE

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Some sprains are more serious. They can require lengthier periods of rest. You may even need surgery to fix them.

Broken Bones

Broken bones can be simple or complex injuries. The location, severity, and type of fracture all influence treatment options. They also influence how long you will be unable to work.

Getting prompt medical attention is critical if you have a broken bone. In addition to getting immediate treatment and pain relief, you can get images of the break. Those images provide the information your doctors need to plan your recovery.

Falls

Falls are common in construction landscaping. Workers are often in trees, on ladders, or at other heights. They might also be holding sharp tools. So, injuries from falls can range from mild to severe.

If you fall and hit your head, it is essential to seek medical attention. You may have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) even if you feel fine. TBIs are not always immediately apparent. Instead, symptoms can develop in the days and weeks following an accident. Immediate treatment can help reduce the impact of some TBIs.

Overexertion

When you do physical labor, it is easy to overdo it. Overexertion means pushing yourself too hard. It leads to inflammation, discomfort, and pain. The primary cure for it is rest. However, many laborers work through it. Doing so can lead to sprains and strains. While you will rarely need medical treatment for overexertion, you may get more severe injuries if your employer does not give you time to recover.

Over time, overexertion can get more serious. It can lead to repetitive stress injuries. It can also lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Symptoms include

• Swelling
• Chronic pain
• Stiffness
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Loss of mobility

Cuts

Working with sharp equipment means you risk cuts and lacerations. These cuts can be minor, serious, or even life-threatening. It is crucial to get treatment after cuts. You may need stitches, antibiotics, and a tetanus shot. Deeper cuts can require surgery, blood infusions, and other treatments.

Amputations

Working with heavy equipment can increase your risk of accidental amputations. You may cut off fingers, toes, and even limbs. There is also a risk of crushing injuries, which may require amputations to treat.

Exposure

Exposure to extreme weather can lead to exposure injuries. You can get exposure injuries from heat or cold.

Heat exposure can lead to

• Heat stroke
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat cramps
• Heat rashes

Heat exposure may also contribute to other injuries. It can cause dizziness, sweaty palms, and stinging eyes, increasing the risk of accidents. Heat can also increase the risk of burn injuries.

Cold exposure can lead to freezing and non-freezing injuries. They include

• Chilblain (pernio)
• Trench foot
• Hypothermia
• Frostbite

Like the heat, the cold can also increase your risk of other injuries.

Poisoning

Landscapers work with various toxic chemicals. Pesticides, weed killers, fungicides, and more can all impact human health. Worse, you may not realize the effect for decades.

One of the best examples is the product RoundUp.Evidence suggests that exposure to Monsanto’s RoundUp weed killers increases your risk of certain cancer. Of course, RoundUp is not the only potentially dangerous chemical.

How to Deal With a Construction Landscaping Injury

Report your workplace injury as soon as possible. Report even minor injuries in case they develop into something more serious. Make a record of the report, including the name of the person who took the report and the date you made it.

If you think a defective product caused your injury, try documenting it. Take pictures if possible. Ask your employer or coworkers to keep it safe. If the product is faulty, your employer may want to preserve it. However, if it is dangerous because of improper maintenance, they may want to get rid of it. So, you want to make your best effort to document it if possible.

If people saw your accident, get their names and phone numbers. You may need them as witnesses.

Seek medical treatment. Your employer may send you to a specific clinic or physician for treatment. You may need to see that doctor to take advantage of workers’ compensation insurance. However, you can also see your own doctor for treatment.

Can a Landscaper Recover for Workplace Injuries?

The answer to this question should be a straightforward yes. Even if employees do not have workers’ compensation or other insurance, you should be able to file suit against them. Also, you may have claims against manufacturers of tools and goods.

However, many landscape construction workers are hesitant to seek compensation. You may be an undocumented worker. That does not prevent you from recovering.

Contact the Salazar Law Firm to learn more about recovering for landscaper injuries. During our free no-obligation consultation, we will discuss your injury and outline a plan for legal recovery. We can give you our opinion of your employment relationship and develop a legal strategy based on that information.  Contact our construction accident lawyer at 281-857-6770 for a free initial case evaluation if you have suffered a serious personal injury or your family member has been killed because of a construction hazard.