Construction sites can be an accident waiting to happen. A serious construction site accident can occur when a person or company involved with the job site fails to follow the required standards or procedures. If you are a construction worker who was recently injured on the job, an experienced attorney could help you take the necessary legal action to secure the compensation you deserve.
You might be entitled to workers’ compensation coverage, but there could also be compensation available outside of that system if a person or company other than your employer was involved in the incident. An experienced team of lawyers could evaluate the circumstances of your case and help you pursue all benefits you may be eligible to claim.
Understanding the Leading Causes of Construction Accidents and Injuries
Construction sites can be extremely dangerous places. If conditions on the job site are unreasonably hazardous or any party on the premises is negligent, it can boost the likelihood of an imminent construction site accident that inflicts catastrophic or deadly personal injuries.
Leading causes of construction accidents include:
- Slips and falls
- Falling objects
- Electrical hazards
- Scaffolding accidents
- Crushing incidents involving machinery, equipment, or moving vehicles
Improper training procedures, lack of safety equipment, poor fall protection, lack of construction site inspections, and inadequate warnings or communication to workers are also commonly cited causes of construction-related injuries.
Injuries from these types of incidents can range from broken bones to brain and spinal cord trauma to musculoskeletal injuries. Some construction accident injuries may heal with time, while others could leave you facing lifelong physical limitations.
Establishing Liability for a Construction Site Accident and Compensation
Any determination of liability will depend on your specific case. However, you are not usually permitted to sue your employer. This is because you can claim workers’ compensation coverage if you are injured on the job.
Through workers’ compensation, you can claim temporary or permanent disability benefits for your lost wages and get reimbursed for covered medical expenses. Any temporary or permanent disability benefits would be based on your average weekly wage. Workers’ compensation coverage operates on a no-fault system, so you don’t have to prove that anyone was negligent to get benefits.
It can be extremely helpful to have an attorney investigate liability for your construction site accident from the earliest stages of the case. There could be multiple parties whose actions can form a direct line to the accident that caused your injuries. These could include:
- Engineers
- Architects
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
- The construction company
- Site managers or foremen
- The company that owns the construction site
If a piece of equipment or machinery malfunctioned, even the company that manufactured that tool could bear legal liability for your construction accident.
A personal injury claim would be separate from your workers’ compensation claim. Typically, you have to prove that someone other than your employer was negligent to file a personal injury claim after a construction accident.
The types of compensation available to you in a personal injury claim will depend on the facts and circumstances of your case. For example, the recoverable losses in a personal injury claim can include the full value of your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, diminished life enjoyment, and more.
A Construction Accident Attorney Could Answer Your Legal Questions
Whether you need help filing a workers’ compensation claim, launching a workers’ compensation appeal, or launching a personal injury case for damages, we can manage all matters related to your construction accident. We know how difficult and complex these legal processes can be. The last thing you need to worry about when you are grappling with a serious injury is trying to fight for benefits when the system is set up for you to fail.
Our construction accident attorneys can review your case in a free, one-on-one legal consultation to provide tailored legal advice for your situation. Call now to speak with a member of our experienced legal team.
