Construction sites in the Pittsburgh area are clearly hazardous places to work. In addition to ever changing physical surroundings workers must often work around, and with, large pieces of construction equipment. While these pieces of heavy equipment are vital for the completion of a project in a timely manner, they can be dangerous. One of these types of equipment is an excavator.

Recently a worker in another state who was injured when he was struck by the hydraulic arm of the excavator sued a couple entities and an individual. According to the worker, he was hurt when the arm struck him in the back as he attempted to walk away. As a result of the incident the man reportedly suffered serious emotional and physical injuries.

The worker is seeking damages for:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Lost earnings
• Loss of earning capacity
• Loss of enjoyment of life

In addition to the personal injury lawsuit it is likely that the worker sought workers' compensation benefits for the construction site accident. Obtained via a workers' compensation claim, the process for securing these benefits is quite different than a civil lawsuit and is completely separate.

Workers' compensation benefits assist a worker who has been injured on the job with covering expenses that accumulate while one is healing. Though most employers in the state of Pennsylvania are required to carry a workers' compensation policy, obtaining the benefits is not always easy. As a result many find that it is beneficial to work with a workers' compensation lawyer.

Source: The Louisiana Record, "Man allegedly injured after being struck by excavator's hydraulic arm sues," Kyle Barnett, Jan. 9, 2013