While an injury can happen in any location at any time, industrial job sites like construction areas pose substantial dangers. If a company or individual involved with the construction site is negligent or fails in their legal duty of care in any way, someone could be seriously injured.
A Lafayette construction accidents lawyer could help if you were injured at a worksite and believe that one or more parties could be responsible for what happened. An injury attorney from Tomeny | Best could review what forms of compensation may be available to you and if you are entitled to file a lawsuit seeking legal damages.
Liability in Construction Accidents
Construction worksites are known to present a range of potential dangers. However, when construction companies adhere to proper safety measures, adequately train new hires, and take the required precautions, they can minimize the risk of injury. On the other hand, if any individual or company involved with the construction site is negligent, it may be just a matter of time before a terrible accident occurs.
Legal liability for a construction accident can be distributed across multiple individuals or companies, depending on the area where the incident took place, the hazards present at the time of the incident, and who was controlling or supervising the area when the incident happened. Construction accidents can occur in a wide variety of circumstances. Defective equipment, failure to adequately train workers, failure to adhere to applicable safety standards, faulty or decrepit scaffolding, or incidents involving vehicles or heavy machinery are common causes of construction worksite injuries.
Prolonged exposure to hazardous materials like asbestos, silica, radiation, or dangerous chemicals is also a leading cause of construction site injuries. Incidents involving falling debris, demolition incidents, and forklift accidents are among other frequently cited factors in grave construction site injuries. The construction company, the owner of the construction site, construction workers, construction contractors, construction subcontractors, and even equipment manufacturers could be on the hook for damages when an accident occurs.
In the aftermath of a construction accident, a Lafayette attorney could help determine who may be liable for an injured individual’s losses. Injured workers are generally prevented by law from directly suing their employer because they can collect worker’s compensation benefits, but this does not prohibit them from filing a personal injury lawsuit against any negligent third party who contributed to the accident.
Starting a Legal Case After a Construction Accident
Construction site accidents can leave workers grappling with injuries ranging from head, neck, back, and shoulder injuries to broken bones, internal injuries, burns, and various occupational illnesses. Any of these or other construction site injuries will often require extensive upfront medical treatment as well as subsequent surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other forms of rehabilitation. Some workers may be left requiring ongoing medical care, such as in-home nursing, or require the use of assistive devices. A serious construction site injury can even permanently impact someone’s ability to work or interact with loved ones as they did before the accident.
A successful lawsuit could help an injured construction worker recover the value of their economic and non-economic damages stemming from the accident. Economic damages are specific dollar-amount costs related to the injury and can pay for past and future medical bills as well as lost wages. Non-economic damages are the intangible costs related to the injury, such as emotional distress, mental hardship, pain, suffering, and lost life enjoyment. Workers who think they might be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit after a construction accident should speak with a Lafayette attorney who could advise what types of compensation they may be able to claim.
Consult With a Lafayette Construction Accidents Attorney
If you were injured on a construction site, you may have a case for compensation. Louisiana law requires that most companies carry workers’ compensation coverage. Usually, you will not be able to sue your employer for injuries you sustain on the job because workers’ compensation kicks in regardless of fault. However, construction accidents often involve multiple parties, such as contractors, subcontractors, and engineers, who could be legally responsible for what happened to you. In this case, you could be entitled to file a lawsuit against that liable third party or parties on top of any workers’ compensation benefits you might be entitled to.
A Lafayette construction accidents lawyer could evaluate your prospective claim in a one-on-one legal consultation. Contact Tomeny | Best now to speak with an attorney about your case.
