Most Common Construction Injuries – Common Construction Hazards That Drive Workers’ Comp Claims

Article Last Updated 03/19/2026

Article Reviewed by a licensed insurance professional: Sam Meenasian (CA dept of insurance license #0F75955).

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Construction and other high-risk industries come with real exposure. Working on top of the roof, using power tools and heavy machinery, involves a higher risk. Even companies with strong safety in place could still face a claim, and one serious incident could ripple into overtime costs, schedule delays, and staffing gaps.

You can’t eliminate every hazard, but you could have a plan in place for the financial impact. Workers’ compensation insurance is one of the most important protections construction businesses use to manage the cost of work-related injuries.

Someone catches their foot on a loose shingle and falls off a roof. A worker in the mill gets their hand caught in a saw. Someone drops a piece of equipment from a few stories up and hurts another worker directly below them.

These accidents can add up when it comes to business costs, never mind issues with staffing while workers are out of commission and stress about meeting timelines with a reduced workforce. Business owners cannot afford to hope for the best when it comes to injuries and accidents. The reality is that these kinds of things happen, and you need to be prepared for them.

Most Common Construction Injuries

1.     Falls

Falls are one of the most common and costly hazards on construction sites, and they’re the leading cause of construction fatalities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls, slips, and trips accounted for 39.2 percent of all construction fatalities in 2023. Many of these falls were from ladders, scaffolds, and rooftops, which means that the injuries were severe and, therefore, costly.

Whether you run a small roofing business or you are a roofing installation giant, falls are a risk to your business, and you need to protect yourself against the cost of these kinds of accidents.

2.     Tool and Equipment Accidents

Accidents that are associated with work equipment are almost as common as falls. These accidents can happen even when teams of your staff are using the right best practices and the correct safety processes. When tools are not handled correctly, they can become incredibly dangerous in the construction industry.

Distractions, stress, and timelines can lead to improper management and use of machinery, and as a result, injuries. Even a momentary lapse of judgment can lead to a significant accident on one of your job sites.

3.     Overexertion

Everyone can forget their own limitations. It’s easy to think that you can just keep working harder and harder and harder…that is, until you suffer a severe accident. Construction jobs are high-pressure and have strict deadlines, and it can be easy for workers to feel pressured to overdo it. These kinds of accidents are so common in construction, in part, because the jobs in this field are so physical.

Most construction jobs require bending, lifting, pushing, and pulling motions all day long. Imagine that you aren’t using the best practices for these motions that you do all day long because you are in a hurry or just aren’t paying attention. It would be no surprise at all to find out that you have hurt yourself due to overexertion.

These kinds of repetitive movements can lead to serious injuries, and workers will have to be retrained for other jobs because they can no longer return to their former tasks.

How Worker’s Comp Coverage Works

So, here is what the process of a normal workers’ comp claim looks like:

Step 1: Report the Accident or Injury Immediately

You should never wait to report an on-the-job accident or injury. The sooner you tell your insurance company, the better.

Step 2: Get the Worker to a Doctor

Injured workers should go to the doctor right away to be checked out. Getting a diagnosis of the injury is critical to the claims process and to the continuing care that the employee will need.

Step 3: File a Claim

Once you know the scope of the injury that the worker has suffered, you can file a claim. The workers’ comp paperwork can vary from one state to another, but you need to fill it out completely.

Step 4: Wait for Approval

After the claim is submitted, the carrier’s investigation and decision timeline depends on state law and claim complexity. For example, in California, you should hear whether the claim is accepted or denied within 90 days from the date the claim form is provided to your employer. Your claim adjuster can confirm the specific deadlines that apply in your state.

Step 5: Benefits Are Distributed

Your injured worker will start receiving benefits in the form of lost wages, money for payment of medical claims, and more. They will usually be given these payouts on a set schedule throughout the claims process. These payouts might be adjusted over the course of the recovery process.

Why USA Business Insurance Has You Covered

When you have a construction business, you will need to be sure that you have the right insurance coverage to protect your staff and your company. USA Business Insurance can help you protect your company the smart way. We help construction businesses compare workers’ comp options from available carriers and choose coverage that fits their business operation and budget. Premiums and eligibility depend on payroll, classifications, and loss history. Coverage is subject to policy terms and state rules.

We work with all kinds of contractors and business owners all across the US. We know that workers’ compensation coverage is a must, and we offer tailored policies that will care for your company and make sure that you don’t ever have to close your doors due to the costs associated with a work-related accident or injury.

Accidents are never fun, and no one wants any of their workers to get hurt on the job. The reality is, however, that accidents do happen.

Reach out to USA Business Insurance today to get a quote and start protecting your business and your workers the smart way.

• Fall Protection Tips for Construction Worksites: How To Protect Your Team from Injuries
• My Injured Worker Is Suing Me: What to Do
• 10 Situations Workers’ Compensation Might Not Cover–What Every Employer Should Know
• What You Need to Know About Workers’ Comp Insurance
• 10 Real Business Insurance Claims — and What We Learned from Each