Construction workers are among the most at-risk of all professions as construction sites are fraught with danger. Construction workers are at an increased risk for injury because of the hazards that they face on a daily basis. Many construction workers risk their lives to do the job they love and provide for their families. Sadly, some of these men and women end up seriously injured or killed on the job.
Construction site injuries can result in lost wages, medical bills, and more. For this reason, many construction workers seek out legal help from a Philadelphia construction accident attorney to protect their rights after accidents or injuries occur on the job. In addition to potential lawsuits against construction site owners, manufacturers, contractors and engineers, it is also important that you know your rights as an employee in order to get the benefits that you deserve from your employer or their insurance provider through workers’ compensation.
There are many possible causes behind workplace injuries and fatalities among construction industry employees. Sometimes, it is simply the negligence of others that leads to a worker being injured or killed on site. Other times, workers are exposed to dangerous conditions without proper training or equipment needed for protection.
Construction sites are filled with many different tools and heavy machinery. Working around all this equipment can be dangerous when construction site workers have not been properly trained on how to safely use it. If you’ve never operated a crane before, for example, then being forced into that position without any prior instruction could lead to horrible injuries.
Some of the most common reasons to need a construction site accident attorney are from worker falls including from falling off a ladder or scaffolding. Many times these falls are fatal or cause debilitating injuries. Workers getting struck by falling objects or debris, sometimes from above them in the head, are another leading cause of construction site accidents.
Other causes of construction site accidents include:
What Your Case May Be Worth
The value of a case may be difficult to determine without knowledge of the specifics involved. Accidents on a construction site might have a variety of causes and there can be a number of responsible parties involved, aside from your employer.
For example, contractors under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statutes may be required to provide a safe working environment for their employees. A general contractor, on the other hand, may be a subcontractor of a developer or builder. The agreement will generally state how much responsibility a contractor must have on a jobsite.
It’s also worth noting that some construction-related injuries might be covered by workers’ compensation (also known as workman’s comp.). This is a form of insurance that pays for the medical and rehabilitation costs of employees who are injured while on the job. This includes costs such as doctors’ bills, hospitalization fees, physical therapy sessions or medical procedures.
Oftentimes, you cannot file separate lawsuits for work-related injuries under workers’ compensation against your employer. But with construction site accidents, there are numerous other potential negligent parties, including contractors or even equipment manufacturers.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction site accident, our experienced Philadelphia construction accident lawyers can assist you in obtaining the compensation that you deserve. You may be entitled to damages that include lost wages, future lost earnings and medical expenses. Our PA construction accident lawyers will analyze the details of your case and advise you on how we can best assist you in obtaining compensation for your injuries.
Call Premier Legal Solutions, PLLC at 267-824-2425.