Given the seriousness of construction accidents, you should always be aware of your legal rights if you get injured on the job site.
Construction work is a dangerous job, as it may require the worker to handle heavy machinery, complex equipment, or climb to great heights. Typically, a construction accident occurs due to unsafe circumstances, and the injured worker may lose the ability to ever return to work. In catastrophic accidents, a construction worker could face a lifetime of surgeries, treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation. The most common construction injuries include broken or fractured bones, burns, electrocution, brain injury, spinal cord injury, loss of limb, and internal or musculoskeletal injuries.
Construction Accident Statistics
Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in the United States. According to data statistics from Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 5,333 workers died on the job in 2019 (3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) - on average, more than 100 a week or about 15 deaths every day. Moreover, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 10 percent of workers are injured in a construction accident each year, with construction workers having the highest incidence of fatalities on job sites.
How Can a Construction Accident Attorney Help You?
Suppose you are injured in a construction accident, and you have to sue to recover damages after an accident. Then it is critical to seek the legal help of construction accident attorneys as soon as possible, as they will review the circumstances of your accident and build a strong case to recover your damages.
Although worker's compensation laws prevent you from filing a lawsuit against your employer, you may still be able to file a claim if a third-party is at fault for your accident. By doing so, you may be entitled to receive compensation above and beyond your worker's compensation benefits. These include medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning potential, pain and suffering, or end-of-life costs in a wrongful death claim.
Another factor you should consider when hiring a construction accident attorney is that they will significantly increase your chances of maximizing compensation for your injuries. A lawyer will also help you determine whether there was an element of negligence from your company or work environment that caused your injuries. In all personal injury claims, negligence must be proven for a case to be successful.
So, your construction accident attorney should determine if:
The supervisor, company, coworker, or any other third party had a responsibility to maintain a safe work environment
There was a failure to perform this responsibility, and they were negligent
Your injuries were caused due to their negligence
Construction sites involve a large number of contractors, subcontractors, project managers, engineers, drivers, and many more. In most situations, the injured parties settle for far less than they deserve, because they do not know their rights and how the process of liability works in construction accidents. A construction accident lawyer will investigate every aspect of your injury and identify any party whose negligence might have played a role in your accident.
Bear in mind that you should hire a construction accident lawyer early in the process to avoid costly mistakes. You should also consider that the statute of limitations is typically two years in a personal injury claim, so the sooner you contact an attorney, the better. An experienced construction accident lawyer will help you receive the compensation that you deserve.
