Construction sites are usually hazardous environments to work in due to dangerous equipment and tools, large machinery, and strenuous activities. These hazards, together with negligent safety measures or other circumstances, can lead to work-related accidents. Consequently, the resulting injuries can be serious, costly, and potentially life-threatening.
If you suffer injuries following a construction site accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. But construction accident cases can be complex, and you need an experienced personal injury attorney to help you pursue the claim. Fortunately, a St. Petersburg construction accident lawyer from Perenich Law Injury Attorneys can help you fight for your legal rights and recover the most compensation possible.
What Are Common Causes of Construction Accidents in St. Petersburg?
Even the most cautious construction workers can suffer serious injuries on the job. Construction accidents can occur for various reasons, from a co-worker’s negligence to a lack of safeguards.
The most common causes of St. Petersburg construction accidents are:
Heavy objects falling
Defective tools or machinery
Electrocution, explosion, or fire
Being caught-in-between objects
Struck by an object
Falling from great heights
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the tragedies that can occur on a construction project. Remember that your health comes first if you experience an injury on a construction job. We will make every effort to secure restitution for all the losses you have sustained.
Perenich Law Injury Attorneys Can Help
The team at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys is no stranger to accidents. Between them, Terence, Gregory, and Timothy have more than 90 years of experience fighting for the rights of the injured. Fighting for justice is our mission. Whether you’ve suffered an injury in a construction accident or a slip and fall, we’re here to fight on your behalf. The legal system is complex, and we don’t want anyone to try to navigate the turmoil following an accident alone.
As you’ll see, we’ve handled accidents of all kinds.
Here are just a few of our recent verdicts and settlements:
Though we cannot promise similar results for all our clients, we believe our record indicates our ability to navigate a personal injury claim with efficiency and compassion. Give us a call for your free case evaluation with a knowledgeable construction accident lawyer in St. Petersburg and learn more about how we can help protect your right to compensation following a devastating accident.
Important Actions to Take Following a Construction Accident
There are steps you may take following a construction accident to protect your legal rights and to seek restitution for your injuries. These include:
Talking to an Attorney
Following a construction accident, you should be cautious about the information you provide until you contact a lawyer. Whether you are reporting the construction accident to your employer or recording statements with the authorities, be sure not to go deep into the details of the accident until you speak to your lawyer.
You should simply avoid giving information that could exonerate the liable party while showing that you are responsible for the accident. A seasoned St. Petersburg construction accident attorney will help you to understand the things you should avoid disclosing and guide you on the next course of action.
Notify Your Employer
Be sure to notify your employer if you have suffered a construction accident at work. Your employer may investigate and write down details of the accident. This information backs up your case when you decide to file an injury claim. If possible, you should report the accident to the employer with a written document and ensure you keep a copy.
Seeking Medical Care
A construction accident can cause serious injuries that require emergency medical attention. But you should always see a doctor after an accident, even if you don’t realize any injury symptoms. Some injuries can take several days or weeks to manifest.
Despite exhibiting no signs, the injuries can worsen over time. Besides, it can be difficult to prove that such injuries were due to a construction accident if you fail to seek medical attention.
Collecting Evidence from the Scene
You can try to collect evidence of the construction accident scene. Take photos and videos of the whole scene, the dangerous conditions that contributed to the accident, and your visible injuries.
Getting Witness Contact Information
Try getting contact details from workmates or other persons present at the accident scene. Reliable witnesses can be crucial in construction accident cases. Their statements may give valuable details regarding the accident and may help substantiate the claim.
Liable Parties in Construction Accident Cases
Determining the accountable party in a construction accident can be complex since it can involve multiple persons. A qualified St. Petersburg construction site injury lawyer can help determine who is liable for your losses. Generally, the liable party could be:
Architects or Engineers
Architects or engineers can be liable for injuries if a building whose design was not up to code collapses. Moreover, these professionals may be held accountable for not following proper protocols in the site safety inspection.
Site Owners
Site owners might be held accountable for a construction site accident, particularly if they were aware of a hazard but did not inform the employee or take action to correct the situation.
Equipment Manufacturers
Equipment manufacturers could be liable for construction accident injuries resulting from equipment that had manufacturer defects. For example, if a new work truck crashes and injures a worker and happens to have come with faulty brakes.
Prime Contractors and Subcontractors
Contractors must ensure the work area is reasonably safe. That includes ensuring the work site is free of hazards and proper maintenance of the equipment. For instance, a contractor can be liable for an injury to a worker that resulted from a faulty forklift, especially if they had received a report of the condition of the machinery.
What to Do After a Construction Accident
If you suffer injuries in a construction site accident, you can pursue compensation in two ways.
Workers’ Compensation Claim
You can file a workers’ compensation claim against your employer to collect benefits for medical bills and a percentage of your lost wages. This claim gives you a quick way to receive such compensation without having to prove that someone else was liable for your injuries. Unfortunately, you get limited compensation when you file this type of claim.
Although you recover damages for your lost wages and medical expenses, you won’t get compensation for non-economic damages, e.g., the agony you go through after the accident. Besides, you may not be eligible for a worker’s compensation claim if your employee has classified you as an independent contractor. Worker compensation benefits are solely for employees.
Third-Party Injury Lawsuit
You can choose to take action against another party that may have contributed to your construction site accident injuries. The third-party could be a subcontractor, general contractor, construction site owner, or the equipment, tool, or vehicle manufacturer. If you choose third-party litigation, you must prove that the party negligently contributed to your injuries. A third-party claim may provide substantial compensation that includes recovery for emotional suffering, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.
Legal Options to Pursue if a Loved One Passes Away
Accidents in construction sites can lead to minor or severe injuries. However, they can also lead to the loss of life. If a construction accident leads to the death of a loved one, the legal option available is a wrongful death lawsuit. The deceased’s estate’s representative can prosecute the claim to recover damages, including the decedent’s earnings had they not passed away, benefits such as retirement benefits, and even the loss of love, affection, compassion, and guidance.
Find out if you are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit after the untimely passing of your loved ones in a construction accident by reaching out to an experienced St. Petersburg construction accident attorney at our firm. A skilled legal professional can establish whether your claim is viable and help you seek all the compensation you are entitled to following the passing of your loved one.
Time Limits for Filing Third-Party Injury Claims
The statute of limitations outlines the maximum duration you have to file a third-party claim following a construction accident. Failure to file the claim within that time will prevent you from collecting compensation for your losses and injuries. The time limit varies from state to state. Generally, you have two years in Florida from the time of the construction accident injury to file your third-party claim.
However, it is always best to take legal action as soon as possible since numerous exceptions to the rule can affect the time you have to file a case. Consider contacting a capable construction injury lawyer in St. Petersburg quickly to evaluate your case. The lawyer can inform you of the amount of time you have to file your injury claim.
How Much Is a Construction Accident Case Worth?
No two construction accident cases are similar. Therefore, the value of a construction accident case varies depending on several factors. Workers’ compensation claims cover medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and limited death benefits but do not cover non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
The value of a construction accident case covered by a workers’ compensation claim mostly depends on:
The expected recovery time
The earnings before the accident
Whether the injured person has a disability
Whether the injured person expects to recover fully
The cost of medical treatment
Whether the injured person can resume work in the same capacity
The value of a construction accident case when you file a third-party claim depends on:
Whether the accident caused disability
Any accountability the injured person had in the accident
Mental trauma experienced from the accident
Any property damage suffered
The severity of the injuries
The total amount of the lost income (past and future)
Impact of the injuries or disability on the family
You should work with a construction accident lawyer who can help protect you from unfair blame from the other party, unfairly low estimates of the financial impact of your injuries in the future, and understatements of necessary medical benefits. An experienced St. Petersburg construction accident lawyer can have an extensive network of professionals who can help evaluate the medical aspects of your lawsuit to ensure fair compensation.
How Long Does a Third-Party Injury Claim Case Take?
The time a third-party claim will take can be difficult to determine since various factors influence it. For instance, a construction accident involving a severe injury or a large sum of money can take longer since the defendant understands the implication on their bottom line and is likely to fight harder not to be held accountable. A St. Petersburg construction accident lawyer can help ensure the other side does not take advantage of you.
Do I Need a Construction Accident Lawyer?
Seeking compensation for construction accident injuries can be overwhelming. The other party will have an attorney aiming to discredit your claims to ensure you get minimum compensation. That is why you also need a lawyer to prove that the other party is liable for a construction accident that led to your injuries. Besides, a lawyer is crucial in your case and can help in the following:
Gathering Evidence and Determining the Legal Options
If you collected evidence by taking photos and videos and obtaining witness contact details, an attorney can help bring this information together to strengthen your construction accident case. The legal professional can use the evidence to establish who was at fault and review your accident in detail to determine your legal options. In fact, the attorney can bring in professionals such as doctors and accident reconstructionists to help substantiate your claim.
Representing You in Court
Pursuing legal action can be a hassle. A lawyer can help handle all the paperwork involved in filing a construction accident case, including witness statements, medical records, police reports, etc.
Additionally, you may not know the value of your claim, so the defendant may attempt to lowball you to avoid giving you a fair settlement. An experienced lawyer can help establish the appropriate settlement for your case and help fight until you get it.
Answering All Your Questions
Many questions may arise during your pursuit of compensation. A qualified St. Petersburg construction site injury attorney can answer all those questions from the legal perspective to help calm your mind and to help you understand what to expect.
Protecting Your Rights
Although the law entitles you to pursue compensation if you suffer injuries from a construction accident, there are challenges along the way. Strict time limits and filing requirements could force you to unwittingly surrender your rights to recovery if you miss any deadlines. A construction accident lawyer understands the applicable rules and procedures of your case and will ensure you do what is necessary within the deadlines.
Speeding up the Claims Process
A lawyer understands the necessary actions to take at the right time. A good construction accident attorney in St. Petersburg will move your case faster, thus promoting a quicker recovery for you.
How a St. Petersburg Construction Accident Attorney Can Help You
At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, we commit to handling your construction accident case and pursuing compensation as you focus on recovery. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a construction accident, we will provide you with the competent advocacy and professional care you deserve. Call now to talk to a St. Petersburg construction accident lawyer to review your options, or contact us for your free consultation.
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