Who Could Be Liable After a Construction Accident Injury?
A construction accident lawyer West Palm Beach, FL residents trust from the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt have been representing victims of construction accidents for many years. We understand the devastation that can ensue when something goes awry at a construction site, and that workers risk their health everyday for the sake of the job. However, just because the field of construction tends to be more risky than others, it doesn’t mean that an employee should have to suffer the burden after a workplace injury accident.
If you or someone you love has been impacted by a construction accident, then it’s time to obtain qualified legal representation from a construction accident lawyer West Palm Beach, FL workers trust during difficult times.
What Types of Injuries Are Common For Construction Accidents?
The luckiest of workers will be able to walk away from a construction accident with minor injuries that rest and a first aid kit can fix. But unfortunately, for most this isn’t the case. Injuries for construction-related accidents tend to be very severe, and often require emergency medical care. The worker may experience extreme pain and have a long road of recovery ahead of them. The types of injuries that tend to be most common after a construction accident include:
- Electrocution
- Burns
- Eye injury
- Neck, shoulder and back injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Illness from chemical exposure
- Brain/head injury
- Emotional trauma
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
What Does Recovery Look Like?
Depending on the type and severity of injuries, a worker may recover quickly or need several years to fully heal. And even then, they may not be able to get back to the health they were prior to the accident. An employee may have to learn how to live in a new way, especially if they now have a disability or other impairment that impacts their quality of life. If your injuries surpass what your standard first aid kit can provide, then it’s time to get legal help from a construction accident lawyer West Palm Beach, FL families can rely on to fight for their behalf. You may be entitled to significant compensation for medical bills, future expenses, equipment, medication, physical therapy, surgery, pain and suffering, and more.
Can I Sue My Employer?
Employers are responsible for providing a working environment that is reasonably safe for their workers. If they fail to fix hazards in the workplace, then they could be held liable. But, the situation can become complicated as if your employer has a workers’ compensation program, then you may not be able to sue them directly. The most effective way to know how to respond is to meet with a member of our team right away, who will surely have your best of interest at heart.
Who Could Be Liable After a Construction Accident Injury?
If you were injured in a construction site, contact the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt to meet with a skilled construction accident lawyer West Palm Beach, FL workers trust. Our legal team can assist you in pursuing a claim for one of the following legal actions, depending on the circumstance of your case:
- Workers’ compensation: State law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance to provide benefits for injured workers. These benefits include medical expenses and wages. If an injured employee is approved and receives workers’ compensation benefits, they are not allowed to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer, however, the injured employee may file a third-party injury claim depending on how and why the injury occurred.
- Personal injury claim or lawsuit: A worker injured on a construction site can file a personal injury claim against the third party deemed negligent for the injury or illness the worker has suffered.
- Product liability claim or lawsuit: If the injury was a result of a defective product, the injured worker can file a lawsuit against the liable party, including the manufacturer, the distributor, the wholesaler, or the retailer.
- Wrongful death claim or lawsuit: If the employee dies as a result of the injury they sustain on the construction site, their family or other representative can file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party or parties.
A construction accident lawyer knows that there are certain factors that are responsible for many construction site accidents. Federal regulations require employers to apply for permits, implement safety programs on the job site in order to lower the risks of construction site accidents, and conduct regular inspections on the site. When an employer fails to do any of these things, it puts workers in danger of being injured. The most common causes of these accident include:
- Collapsed structures
- Compressed gases
- Crane accidents
- Defective equipment
- Electrical accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Falling objects
- Falls from elevations
- Fires and explosions
- Harness accidents
- Hoist accidents
- Improper use or maintenance of equipment
- Insufficient training
- Mechanical hazards
- Misuse of tools
- Poor safety precautions and oversight
- Scaffolding accidents
- Slips and falls
- Welding accidents
A construction accident lawyer West Palm Beach, FL injured workers trust can evaluate your case, determine who the liable party is, and what the best legal options are. Your attorney will also determine what losses the injury has caused you and what damages you may be entitled to. Some of the more common damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income and benefits
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Loss of future income
Under the laws of the federal government (OSHA), there is certain information that workers have a right to, including:
- The right to ask OSHA to inspect the construction site without the consequences of discrimination or retaliation
- Request training and information about the hazards and dangers on the site, how to prevent injury from these hazards, and any federal standards that have oversight of the work site.
- Request test results that were conducted for any hazards at the construction site.
- Request records of any job-related injuries or illnesses.
In addition to filing an injury claim on your behalf, your construction site attorney can also file a complaint for you with OSHA. To find out more information, contact the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt to see how we can help with your situation.
Who Could Be Liable After a Construction Accident Injury?
When looking for a top construction accident lawyer, workers know that they can turn to the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt. Our team has built a strong reputation for working tirelessly to defend individuals who have been injured on the job. Even though construction sites may inherently present more obvious risks for workers than the average office environment, construction contract workers have the right to a safe and regulated work environment.
Who Is Responsible?
If an injury occurs, construction site employees have the right to claim financial compensation from their employer. However, as any experienced attorney should know, construction zones can be chaotic and there may be other entities at fault. Whether it is a private or public entity, you may have a potential third party lawsuit in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.
To even further complicate matters, some construction companies outsource to contractors, use day labor or leasing companies to obtain workers at a discount. When construction companies outsource jobs and rent equipment in order to avoid too much overhead, accidents may occur.
Various parties that could potentially be held liable for a construction accident injury might include:
- The construction site owner
- The general contracting company
- One or more sub-contracting companies
- Specialty “prime” contractors
- Architects and/or engineers on the project
- The company that rented out any piece of equipment that caused the injury
- The companies that designed, manufactured, or sold any equipment that caused the injury
If an injured employee is unsure which party should be held liable, it may be beneficial to contact a construction accident lawyer West Palm Beach, FL injured employees trust for legal counsel.
How Can a West Palm Beach Construction Accident Lawyer Help?
It can be difficult to deal with an injury claim alone, and the complexities inherent to a construction site can only further confuse a victim’s understanding of their own claim. We may be able to provide assistance in a variety of ways, including:
- Determining which party (or parties) should be held liable;
- Calculating a reasonable settlement;
- Organizing all necessary evidence in the case.
Contact a Construction Accident Lawyer You Can Rely On!
At the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt, our team of lawyers has provided valuable legal counsel to many local residents who have suffered from injuries at work. We understand that these cases can be particularly difficult, but we believe that accident victims and their families deserve to receive fair compensation after experiencing a traumatic injury at the workplace.
For more information about how we may be able to assist you, contact our local office. At the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt, a construction accident lawyer West Palm Beach, FL residents can trust is proud to offer support to you and your family during this difficult time.
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