You can file a personal injury claim if you were injured in a construction accident because of a third party’s negligence. While your immediate employer may be protected from liability through workers’ compensation insurance, there are many circumstances in which an injured worker can file a personal injury claim.
Workers who suffer injuries because of non-employer contractors, defective equipment, work-related motor vehicle accidents, and other hazards may pursue a claim or lawsuit. An attorney from our team can determine if a personal injury claim could secure damages.
Situations That May Warrant Filing a Construction Accident Claim
Injured construction workers often have questions about how to seek compensation when injuries happen. While many states offer workers’ compensation, third-party claims are, in some cases, also an option. These cases generally do not have monetary caps or limits on damages, as workers’ compensation claims do.
When someone other than a construction worker’s employer causes an accident, the incident may qualify for a third-party construction accident claim. You could file such a case if you suffered:
A Fall Incident
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) explains that falls account for more than one-third of fatal construction accidents. When a fall results from a third party’s negligence, it may be grounds for a lawsuit. A fall may be a third-party claim issue if it stems from:
- Defective footwear
- Defective construction materials
- Defective harnesses that would have prevented the fall
- Any other defects or third-party errors that allowed a fall to happen
Many falls occur in the regular course of construction. When a third party’s negligence causes a fall that would not have happened otherwise, you can seek damages from their insurer or them directly.
Injuries From Safety Equipment Malfunctions
Safety equipment is the barrier between construction workers and serious injury. If safety equipment fails to perform its intended function and an injury or death results, the manufacturer may be liable through a third-party personal injury claim.
Princeton University lists some of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that must function effectively on a construction site, including:
- Hearing protection
- Safety harnesses, vests, and other heights-related protective equipment
- Hardhats and other protective headwear
- Protective gloves, which may protect against electrocution, burns, crushing injuries, and other hazards
- Face shields to protect against debris, sparks, and other projectile hazards
- Protective goggles and glasses
- Facemasks and other protective breathing devices
- Specialized clothing, which may be heat-resistant or have other protective qualities
Manufacturers must test their products rigorously and account for situations that may cause a defect. Our personal injury lawyers can bring a product liability lawsuit on your behalf, if necessary.
An Accident Involving a Motor Vehicle and/or Heavy Equipment Defects
If trucks, cars, or heavy machinery on a construction site malfunction and cause an accident, the vehicle’s manufacturers may be liable for damages. Heavy machinery (e.g., excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, and other machines) may fail to stop, drop a payload on a victim, or malfunction in other ways that cause serious injury or death.
Electrocution
Electrocution injuries can cause disabling injuries or death. If an electrical wire, circuit box, or other electrical components malfunction in a way that causes electrocution, manufacturers of that equipment may be liable for the victim’s injuries.
If a third-party supplier provided unsafe equipment or assembled electrical components negligently, they could be financially responsible for resulting injuries, too.
Injuries From a Structural Collapse
Manufacturers of scaffolding, platforms, or other structural equipment could be responsible for harmful collapses.
If any other events involving a third party caused you or a loved one to suffer injuries on a construction site, you could file a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
Who Qualifies as a Third Party in the Context of a Construction Accident?
A third party may be anyone who is not the direct employer of the injured party. If such a third party did anything to contribute to the victim’s construction injury, they may become the subject of a lawsuit.
Third parties named in construction accident cases may include:
- Equipment manufacturers
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
- Any other parties who endanger construction workers
If you are not a construction worker but suffered injuries while on or near a construction site, you may also be eligible to pursue a lawsuit. Flying debris is among the hazards that can affect those who are not working on construction sites.
Recoverable Damages for Construction Accident Victims
Injuries from a construction accident can cause several significant damages, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental health services
- Physical rehabilitation
- Vocational rehabilitation
If you incurred any other damages as a result of a construction accident, our team will identify and value them. We aim to recover every expense related to your construction accident.
Our Team Seeks Damages for Wrongful Death Claimants
A construction lawyer from our team will handle every phase of your construction accident case, including:
- Obtaining all evidence that suggests negligence by a third party
- Documenting all of your accident-related damages
- Negotiating a settlement
- Taking your case to court, if necessary
- Managing every other aspect of the legal process
We will protect your rights and serve as the contact point for those involved in your lawsuit. You can focus on your recovery without concern; in the meantime, we’ll fight for your compensation.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Call Jenner Law Today for a Free Consultation
Because of the many deadlines surrounding personal injury cases, we encourage you to consider your options as soon as possible. Jenner Law is available around the clock to answer your questions and explain your next steps. Call now to begin a free case review.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form