Despite the fact that working in the construction industry is a notoriously dangerous enterprise, few construction companies take time to educate workers about their rights in the event of work-related injury or illness; thankfully, an experienced construction site accident lawyer – Lake Worth residents trust can help to meet that need. Our firm’s experienced legal team has assisted many, many injured construction workers with their legal claims over the years. We understand the federal, state, and local laws that impact such claims – both in a workers’ compensation context and a personal injury context.Whether you’re eligible to pursue a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, a personal injury settlement, or both of these compensation opportunities will depend on the circumstances of your accident and the ways in which your employment is classified. Don’t worry – you don’t have to have “all the answers” to these questions to explore your legal options. On the contrary, scheduling a risk-free, no-obligation consultation without firm’s Lake Worth construction site accident lawyer team will allow you to ask questions about your options and will provide you with clarity so that you can make informed decisions about how you’d like to move forward.
Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims for Construction Accidents
Generally speaking, full-time and part-time workers classified as “employees” are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in the event of a work-related accident, no matter whose fault that accident was. There are a few exceptions made for workers of very small companies and workers who are drunk, intentionally setting themselves up to get hurt, and those who start altercations while on the job. However, most employees are entitled to benefits regardless of accident-related fault.
By contrast, independent contractors, workers in some specialty industries, and others who aren’t covered by the workers’ compensation system generally need to seek accident-related compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. However, some contractors who should be rightfully classified as employees are also eligible for workers’ compensation – although you’ll need to speak with an attorney before filing a claim if you’re in this situation.
Finally, some employees eligible for workers’ comp benefits can also file personal injury suits against defective equipment manufacturers, motorists, and other third parties, depending upon the circumstances of their accident scenarios. We can help you determine your eligibility for each of these legal options and we can help you pursue the path(s) that best fit your circumstances.
If an accident or working conditions on a construction site have caused you to fall ill, it’s time to speak with a construction site accident attorney Lake Worth residents trust. There is a great deal of discussion in the media about how dangerous construction work sites can be when it comes to physical injury, such as head trauma, lacerations, broken bones, etc. However, there is too little discussion about the dangers of construction sites as their conditions relate to work-acquired illness. With the possible exceptions of the work that occurred at Ground Zero and the burn pits that affected servicemembers serving overseas, there has been virtually no discussion in the broader media of what working on construction sites and other high-risk worksites can mean for illness rates in workers.
The hard-working team at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt does not shy away from work-related illness cases. Although these cases can be more difficult to pursue than straightforward “accident results in obvious physical injury” cases, our team doesn’t hesitate to protect the rights of workers who have fallen ill on the job. It is our honor and privilege to stand up for the rights of workers who have fallen ill on the job and to help them secure rightful compensation.
When Toxic Exposure on Construction Sites Leads to Illness
It’s important to connect with a Lake Worth construction site accident attorney at our firm, regardless of whether you have fallen ill as a result of a job site accident or as a result of cumulative exposure to toxic or otherwise harmful substances while on the job. Each of these claims can be “trickier” to resolve successfully than injurious accident claims tend to be. However, our firm has significant experience handling all kinds of work-related personal injury claims and workers’ compensation claims, so we’ll be able to handle your legal needs as efficiently and effectively as possible.
If you’re eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, we’ll take a different approach to your case than we will if you’re “only” eligible to file a personal injury claim against those responsible for the harm you have suffered. This is simply because workers’ compensation claims require that we navigate a different process than personal injury claims do. With that said, it’s possible that your situation falls under one of the rare exceptions that will allow you to pursue both a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim. Once we know more about the specifics of your situation, we’ll be able to advise you of your options accordingly.
Five Things to Know about Construction Accident Claims
- Seek medical attention immediately. Do not refuse medical care. If medical personnel recommend that you go to the hospital, follow their advice. Keep all your bills and receipts, as you will likely need them to receive reimbursement.
- Collect information that can help your case. To preserve evidence that can help your case, it may be critical that you capture details about the accident scene. A construction site accident lawyer Lake Worth employees rely on may want to review this information to strengthen your case.
- Take photos and video of the accident location on the construction site as soon as possible. Construction sites can look very different in as little as a few hours; so if you’re not able to photograph the area, ask a friend or coworker to do so on your behalf.
- Get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Take notes about what they saw.
- Write down everything you remember from events immediately preceding the accident to shortly after it happened; but stick to the facts.
- Inform your employer about the accident.
- Submit a workers’ compensation claim.
- Claims can be complex. It’s important to hire an experienced construction site accident lawyer in Lake Worth who understands the complexities of workers’ compensation claims. A few major factors that can increase the difficulty of a case include:
- Insurance carriers and employers may wrongfully deny your claim or refuse to cover all of your injury-related costs; complicating your ability to obtain the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
- Insurance companies can be stubborn about their bottom line. They may create paperwork and evidentiary obstacles to protect their profit that only a trained professional knows how to combat.
- Third parties can be liable if they contributed to causing your accident.A construction site accident lawyer Lake Worth residents trust may investigate the circumstances of your accident and determine that a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or any other third was at fault or partly at fault. You may have a separate claim outside of the workers’ compensation system.
- A trial may be necessary. If the workers’ compensation settlement offer is too low, your lawyer may take your case to court. Your attorney at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt is able to prepare for the potential of trial from the very beginning. In this way, they can build a strong case with the best chance of recovering – your due compensation. Not every construction site accident lawyer Lake Worth victims hire is as dedicated to fighting for your rights.
If you’ve been injured in an accident and need the help of a professional and diligent attorney, contact the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt today. In choosing our team, you’ll get an experienced construction site accident lawyer Lake Worth is proud to have fighting for their workers.
Legal Assistance Is Available
If you’ve fallen ill due to your working conditions, you are likely feeling overwhelmed and anxious right now. Please know that you don’t have to navigate the legal and financial aspects of your situation alone. Schedule a consultation with our firm today. Our Lake Worth construction site accident attorney team is here to help.
A construction site accident lawyer Lake Worth workers believe in may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve been involved in an accident on the job. Our staff at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt have assisted workers’ compensation victims for more than 100 – years; helping many injured construction workers get their due financial support. We may be able to help you too!