Injured at work? Three Questions for Your Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction work is widely known as very dangerous work. You may need to work with heavy equipment or climb a high scaffold to get the job done. If you ever suffer a work-related injury, there are many options you have to recover financially. A construction accident attorney can work with you and your employer to obtain the maximum amount of money that you will have to pay for your expenses, as well as for any other costs arising from your injury. Here are some questions you may have about the process.
Is Workers’ Compensation An Option?
Just like working for any other industry, people with injuries sustained on a construction site are entitled to be covered by workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation pays for your medical expenses and lost wages while you recover from your injury. It will also pay you for a period of time if you are permanently disabled due to the injury you received. It requires you to show that you were injured in the course of completing an act at your job. However, there is a limitation on the amount you will receive. This is because this program is very clear and requires no outside litigation, saving the company money.
What if workers’ compensation is not enough?
In the event that you are injured so badly that you are out of work for an extended period of time, or even permanently, your construction accident attorney may recommend that you sue your employer in addition to receiving other benefits. Your ability to bring a civil lawsuit against your company will depend on the circumstances of your injury and the state in which you live. The nature of construction work provides many possible liable parties that could be a part of your injury. Your injury could be due to faulty architect design or engineering oversight. When there are multiple entities that are potentially liable, a construction accident attorney will work to find out who is liable in order to initiate a lawsuit.
Can an equipment manufacturer be held accountable?
Some injuries may not be caused by one person or group of people in the workplace, but by faulty equipment. If this happens, you can sue the manufacturer of that equipment to help pay for the damages. This lawsuit will be considered a product liability lawsuit rather than personal injury or negligence. You will be asked to prove that the equipment was in poor condition or dangerous when it left the manufacturer. You will also be asked to provide proof that you were using the equipment in the correct way.
The nature of this job is inherently dangerous, but you still have the right to a safe and hazard-free workplace. You should contact your construction accident attorney as soon as you are injured to ensure that you receive any and all benefits that are owed to you.