Occupational injuries are sadly a reality in many industries. Accidents can still happen even with understanding safety regulations and taking all the right precautions.
When an accident occurs on a job site, the effects that the injured worker suffers can be incredibly traumatic. Some occupational injuries can result in permanent disabilities, loss of wages, and even vast medical expenses.
In such circumstances, having an experienced personal injury lawyer is crucial for getting the compensation and justice you deserve.
Extent of Workplace Accidents
Workplace accidents can be small, minor, or major depending on the severity of the accident. Some common types of accidents and injuries include:
- Lifting or strain injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Injuries incurred by machinery, equipment, or vehicles during industrial operations
- Electrocution
- Burns
- Ingestion of poisonous chemicals or products
- Workplace Violence & Trauma
Regardless of the field of work, it is possible to experience an accident owing to an unstable work environment, careless employers, absence of safety standards, overworking, and much more.
While these are rare, they can result in serious emotional as well as financial stress.
Unbelievable Facts About Construction Site Accidents
Although the construction industry has advanced safety measures to protect individuals, accidents still occur at an alarming rate.
Here are some recent stats on accidents in the construction industry:
- Construction is one of the most dangerous sectors for workers, with about 10% of worker fatalities in the US (1), even though only 5% of the population (2) is involved in construction and related work.
- More than 4700 construction site employees die every year (3), or 13 a day, in fatal workplace accidents including falls, incidents with equipment, and industrial operations.
- Over 60,000 construction site accidents (4) occur annually around the world.
- Hearing cases with temporary disability in body mechanism result in an average of four lost work days per incident, (5) while permanent impairment cases result in more than 60 lost days per worker.
During any construction process, whether it’s building houses, apartments, bridges, or high-rise buildings, injuries are bound to happen even after observing all safety measures as required by the law.
But when a preventable accident happens because of the negligence of a general contractor or property owner, you should hire a seasoned personal injury lawyer to fight for your rights in terms of both justice and compensation.
Awareness of Health and Safety at State level
Each state has its own laws, insurance coverage, liability regulations, or other measures and policies that construction companies must adhere to minimize workplace mishaps.
Knowledge of these laws helps personal injury lawyers establish more convincing legal claims and demand higher compensation payouts. This is why it’s important to work with experienced personal injury lawyers.
Competing with Insurance Companies
Claimants face difficulties in handling such cases due to hectic legal processes.
Meanwhile, insurance agencies also pay inadequate and low compensation that doesn’t suit the victim’s needs, not even cater to his or her medical needs after the accident.
Personal injury lawyers understand what amount of money can be claimed for certain injuries and possess the negotiating skills to cope with insurance companies. They will be able to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
This helps to alleviate the pressure on the victim who is in the recovery process.
Legal Experience Matters
Most victims don’t have legal experience or court knowledge.
This is why hiring a lawyer who understands complex legal matters is very important. An experienced personal injury lawyer who understands state and federal laws can make a world of difference to your case.
Try to hire a lawyer who has experience in representing construction personal injury cases. This will ensure the best outcome for your case.
Choosing the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer is a wise decision after facing a construction accident, but hiring a reputable personal injury law firm is essential.
Factors such as lawyers’ credentials, track records, membership of lawyer associations, or the character of the lawyer all play critical roles in their selection.
The construction accident attorney-client relationship is an important factor in achieving success in the legal arena.
Potential clients should look for personal injury lawyers with the following characteristics:
- Extensive background in construction liability cases: Searching for a law firm solely focused on construction accidents involving an injured worker, shows that the firm has up-to-date knowledge of the topic, which is reflected in successful cases.
- A proven trial record: Although most construction accident cases are settled out of court, having an attorney with substantial trial experience adds more pressure on the other party during negotiations.
- Excellent settlement history: Expert personal injury lawyers understand how accurate and fair compensation should look and will do their best to get the maximum compensation payout. Analyzing the prior successful settlement in law practices demonstrates their loyalty to their clients.
- No charges upfront: The most effective personal injury firms will operate on a contingency fee structure, so the client will not have to make any initial payment.
Fees are only received if a financial amount is agreed upon and paid later. Sometimes there is an initial retainer fee ranging between $500 to $5000 but it pays off in the end.
Bottom Line
The financial, physical, and emotional impact of a construction accident can make the road to recovery quite difficult.
A seasoned personal injury lawyer provides legal balance and assurance to the victims and their families. This allows those affected to heal and seek justice. Competent and experienced lawyers seek the highest compensation rightfully due to their clients.
Article references:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- TST Europe
- Bronx Lawyers
- International Labor organization
- National Library of Medicine