Construction Accidents
Construction site lawsuits usually come from workers who are injured on the job. However, they can also be filed by visitors or people passing by a construction site, who are injured by falling debris, or other safety hazards.
Given the high number of risks present at job sites, serious injuries are a common occurrence, even with all the safety standards, regulations and statutes that exist to protect workers. In fact, the US Dept of Labor has stated that the construction industry has the highest number of worker fatalities of any industry.
If you, or someone you love. was injured or killed due to a construction site accident, contact our law firm to see what type of compensation, or damages, you can recover.
Construction Accidents FAQ
- If I don’t feel my job site is safe, what do I do?
- If I file a complaint, can my employer retaliate against me?
- Who is liable for construction site injuries?
- Who is responsible for ensuring that the construction site is safe?
- While working at a construction site, I was injured. Am I able to recover anything more than just my worker’s compensation benefits?
- Does worker’s compensation cover any injury I receive on the job?
- I was injured while working at a construction site. Can I sue the owner of the property?
- During an investigation into my job injury, it was found that my employer violated OSHA regulations. Will this help my case?
- I was walking by a construction site and was injured by flying construction debris. Is the construction company liable for my injuries?
First, discuss your concerns with your supervisor. Follow this up with a written statement of your concerns. If nothing is done about the unsafe conditions, file a complaint at your local OSHA office. You can get more information at http://www.osha.gov
It’s against the law for your employer to take any action against you for filing a claim. This includes firing you, transferring you, denying you a raise, cutting back your hours, or any other retaliatory actions. OSHA has a “whistleblower” protection act that provides protection against this type of abuse. If you feel your employer has denied you your rights, you must file a claim with OSHA within 30 days of the discriminatory action.
When a construction workers suffers an on the job injury, there are many parties who may be held liable. These include the property owner, the general contractor, sub contractors, architects, engineers, construction managers, and suppliers of equipment and materials. If you or a loved one has been injured, or killed, contact our office to discuss the specific details in your case.
The extent of responsibility varies by job. Typically the property owner and general contractor are the ones who are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment.
- While working at a construction site, I was injured. Am I able to recover anything more than just my worker’s compensation benefits?
It depends on the parties found liable. Worker’s compensation is only based on your employer’s liability. If other parties are also found to have been responsible for the accident, such as property owners, sub-contractors, suppliers, etc, then you might be able to recover damages from them as well.
Worker’s compensation is, by definition, supposed to cover accidental injuries that occur on the job, or during the course of employment related activities, regardless of who is at fault.
It depends on the amount of authority the property owner had over the site. Typically, the owner has a duty to maintain safe working conditions on the site. However, if the owner handed over control to an independent contractor, they may not be liable for any accidents that occur. Contact our firm to discuss your specific case details.
- During an investigation into my job injury, it was found that my employer violated OSHA regulations. Will this help my case?
It depends on a few factors. First, whether the violation they found was a direct cause of your injury, and where your case occurred. Different jurisdiction place varying amounts of weight on whether on not an OSHA violation occurred along with an injury. Contact our law firm to get more specific information.
- I was walking by a construction site and was injured by flying construction debris. Is the construction company liable for my injuries?
You may be able to recover damages from the company. Contractors owe a duty to the public to warn, and protect against, reasonable, foreseeable dangers that may occur. Usually, more is required than just posting a danger sign. The contractor is supposed to provide safe walk ways around the area, and sufficiently cordon off the hazardous area well away from the public. Contact our law firm for more specific information.
