Construction workers are exposed to a variety of hazardous situations and circumstances on a daily basis- giving construction workers a greater risk of injury on the job than any other employee in any other industry in the United States! Because of this, New York State developed a separate set of laws for construction sites and related injuries.
What Are Some Types Of Construction Site Injuries?
There is a seemingly endless list of things that can go wrong on a construction site because by nature, they are a dangerous place to be. Here are a few common injuries:
o Falls
o Scaffolding accidents
o Injuries because of defective machines/equipment
o Electrocution
o Fires and explosions
o Severe cuts
o Welding accidents
This is just a small sampling of the many things that can go wrong on a job site.
So What Happens If I Do Get Injured?
The first thing you need to do is document what happened and the conditions that caused it. In this sense, a construction site injury is much like any other. The better you keep track of the events and how they occurred, the better chance you have of being compensated for your injury. A few things you should take note of are:
o Where the accident occurred
o What was the weather like?
o Were you using any kind of equipment that caused the injury?
o Who was nearby?
o What did they do? What did you do?
o Was there an equipment malfunction?
Write down every aspect of the event. Your Accident Lawyer will need all that information. It will help them build you a stronger case!
The next thing to do is to get a good lawyer. In these cases, you want someone who has experience with accident law, seek a firm who specializes in it and you’ll get better results. Not seeking an experienced lawyer is a serious mistake. You’ve been injured, it’s not your fault, and you need to be compensated. It’s that simple.
Construction site injury lawsuits are not cut and dry- there are a number of people who can be held accountable for your injury. Most people feel that because of worker’s compensation laws you are unable to file a lawsuit. This is partially true. Typically these laws prohibit you from suing your employer, but don’t forget they are not the only ones at fault. Third-party contractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers can all be held accountable for the injuries you have endured. Workers compensation laws do not prohibit you from recovering losses from these parties.
So How Do I Know Who Is At Fault?
New York State is very protective of construction workers, so in this case, the law is definitely on your side. It is the responsibility of the property owner and general contractor to keep the site safe and to ensure safety for all its workers. In some cases, even the subcontractors are held responsible. If an unsafe environment caused your injury, those are the first people to look at. They can also be held accountable if they provided you with defective or unsafe equipment to work with. In the event you were injured by a malfunctioning tool or piece of equipment, the product manufacturer can also be held responsible. Houston Car Accident Lawyer
What to Seek In a Lawyer Specifically
Again, the very best thing is to find a law firm who specializes in personal injuries and who has experience with construction site lawsuits. You will need someone who is familiar with the separate set of laws in place strictly for construction site injuries.
Other Things You Should Know:
o The only way to know if you have a case is to seek advice from a knowledgeable attorney with experience. Don’t just assume you don’t have a case, talk to a lawyer first.
o You can’t know exactly what your case is worth until you talk to a lawyer, however the law allows you to recover your full loses, including lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
o Every case is different when it comes to how much time you have to file your claim. This time frame is called the Statute Of Limitations. The sooner you file your claim the better. Don’t delay.