Were You Injured at a Construction Site?

Construction is a dangerous industry to work in with hundreds of job-related injuries occurring each year.

Workers perform a variety of laborious tasks, including loading and unloading building materials, and assisting with operating heavy equipment. Falling debris and other dangers also pose many threats to workers and non-workers.

While there are regulations in place to protect workers from common construction injuries, people still get hurt. And depending on the circumstances, victims can file a personal injury lawsuit against the individual or company responsible to seek compensation for damages.

If you suffered an injury at a construction site, here are three signs it’s time to file a lawsuit.

What is considered a construction site injury?

From slips to falls, injuries are bound to occur when working in construction. While it’s easy to distinguish what happened in a construction incident, it’s important to understand how it happened.

Construction injuries may occur due to one of the following root causes:

Unsafe working conditions.
Unsafe operation of equipment.
Lack of fall protection for elevated structures.
Faulty ladders or scaffolds.
Improper training.
Failure to use appropriate protective gear.
Defective equipment.
Motor vehicle incidents.
Negligence by property owners or sub-contractors (i.e. architects, engineers, suppliers, and vendors.)

What are examples of construction site injuries?

The severity of the injury is dependent on the situation. Some examples of common construction injuries include:

Bodily reaction or overexertion.
Contact with objects (i.e. being struck by a piece of equipment).
Electrocution.
Explosions.
Exposure to harmful substances (i.e. asbestos).
Ladder and scaffolding incidents (i.e. falls).
Trench collapse.

A construction site injury can be extremely serious, and may cause temporary or permanent disability. You deserve an experienced firm of attorneys on your side dedicated to fighting for your right to fair compensation.

Was your construction site injury a result of negligence?

The decision to file a personal injury lawsuit is serious, so report the incident to your employer right away. Keep in mind that if someone or something other than yourself or your employer caused the injury, it’s your right to file a lawsuit.

If you made a mistake that led to personal injury, workers’ compensation should cover medical costs. This is a form of insurance required by law to provide benefits to workers in the event of an injury.

If a piece of equipment caused the injury, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer for defective or faulty machinery. Such lawsuits allow you to seek monetary damages that aren’t covered under workers’ compensation.

On the other hand, if someone other than your employer, like a sub-contractor, injured you while on the job due to negligent actions, you may be able to sue for negligence against that worker and their employer.

An example of negligence in this case would be if an architect or engineer fails to properly design the building or plan the project in the first place, resulting in injury.

When is the right time to file a lawsuit?

If you suffered an injury and expect to recover fully in a few weeks, worker’s compensation may provide all the help you need to get back on your feet.

However, there are times when you should explore other legal options. Some signs to file a lawsuit include:

Visiting the doctor frequently.
Feeling uneasy about recovery.
Missing work to care for your injury.

Your doctor can provide you with a proper diagnosis, along with treatment options.

Make sure to discuss what recovery will look like with your doctor, the severity of the injury sustained, and any long-term complications or disabilities that may arise as a result.

If the negligent acts of others result in serious personal injury, causing temporary or permanent disability, you’re entitled to reimbursement for lost income. Additionally, you’re entitled to receive compensation for lost future earning potential.

Having documentation from your doctor is essential to file a construction injury lawsuit.

How can an attorney help?

Understanding your legal rights is critical to recovering maximum compensation following an injury.

While workers’ compensation may pay for some medical bills, it cannot adequately compensate an injured worker for permanent losses, arising from a serious construction incident.

An attorney will help you document and report the injury, and preserve evidence. They’ll take photos of the injury, and the locations where the incident occurred. If possible, they may even obtain object(s) related to the injury.

With an experienced attorney who specializes in construction-related injuries, you gain peace of mind knowing that you’re in the right hands as you press for the financial compensation you deserve.