In recent years, there has been an increase in construction-related injuries in many parts of the world. Construction workers in these accidents require experienced Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers who have worked in this field.
The Law Offices of Samuel Fishman are here to help you if you have been injured in a construction accident. We will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve, whether it is through a settlement or trial.
Some accidents are relatively minor, while others result in serious injury. If an accident was caused by negligence on the job site, it is a preventable incident that can be avoided in the future. One way to avoid future mishaps is by holding responsible parties liable for damages the accident has caused.
Common Types of Injuries At Construction Sites
When we talk about a construction accident in Philadelphia, several types of injuries are common. These include wrongful death, fall injuries, and electrocution.
Whether you suffered personal injuries or property damage, seeking legal help from construction accident lawyers will enable you to recover compensation for your damages. Let us discuss some details about these types of injuries to know more:
- Wrongful Death
Construction sites are highly prone to severe injuries and sometimes death. Hazards like uneven surfaces, large uncovered holes, tall buildings, heavy machinery, power tools, nails, lack of safety measures, and others can cause death.
It can be devastating for a victims’ family members to experience the sudden and unfortunate death of a loved one. They may be forced to face many hardships in the aftermath of a construction accident.
In such cases, the family can seek monetary compensation to help with related expenses like burial and funeral costs, property damage, loss of current and future income, loss of consortium, pain, and emotional suffering.
- Slip and Fall Injury
Slip and fall accidents that occur on construction sites are among the most common causes of wrongful deaths and long-lasting injuries. Construction workers often work at great heights, building tall structures and under extreme conditions.
Construction workers are often at risk of significant bodily harm. If they are injured, they may be entitled to compensation for their lost wages and medical expenses. You can face the head, neck, back, spine, and any other injuries in a slip-and-fall accident.
- Electrocution-
People at construction sites are typically prone to four types of electrocution injuries:
- Electric shock
- Electric burns
- Falls caused by the force of electrical energy
- Fatal electrocution
People can face multiple injuries due to electrocution. They can face tissue damage, muscle damage, and even nerve damage. Cardiac arrest is also common among victims of electrocution.
Burns can be severe and take a long time to heal. You may have to undergo many months of treatment and lost wages due to the inability to work. You can avoid financial distress by seeking compensation for your damages.
Important Details to Know Before Filing a Claim
Construction is unquestionably a dangerous occupation. That does not imply that injuries should go unreported or those worker injuries should go unattended. If you or a loved one has suffered from a construction injury, it is time to contact a construction accident lawyer for help. Here are some essential points to help you understand better.
- Devastating Construction Site Injuries
Given that heavy machinery and hazardous conditions are inherent to most construction sites, it is not surprising that many workers sustain catastrophic injuries that prevent them from returning to their previous jobs. The following are some of the more common construction-related injuries:
- Bone fractures
- Back sprains and other injuries
- Injuries to the spinal cord and nervous system
- Concussions
- Other types of traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Disfigurement, such as amputation of a limb
Injured workers face months of intensive medical treatment and some may never recover. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury, for example, you may require long-term medical care due to paralysis. If the workplace injury impairs your loved one’s ability to think and speak, they may need long-term care, which can cost thousands of dollars a week.
In some cases, injuries can be fatal, depriving survivors of the love, support, and income they had planned on. Fortunately, Pennsylvania law allows you to claim compensation through a lawsuit.
- Hazards at the Workplace
Competent construction injury lawyers understand how dangerous construction sites can be. Any hazard or dangerous condition can cause injury to a construction worker. Many of them are avoidable. If someone, such as a general contractor, could make the job site safer but did not, you may be able to hold them financially liable for your injuries.
Our Philadelphia construction accident lawyer understands that failure to maintain safe conditions increases the likelihood of a mishap occurring to construction workers and unsuspecting members of the public. Unsafe conditions on a worksite can result in severe injury or even death.
Most of these incidents could have been avoided if appropriate safety measures and practices had been implemented. You have the right to seek compensation for all your injuries from those who failed to take reasonable precautions to ensure your safety.
- Compensation
Compensation benefits are helpful, but they will not compensate you for your potential damages. Workers’ compensation typically only replaces two-thirds of your income, and your family will most likely require much more. Worse, workers’ compensation benefits will eventually run out, often before you are ready to re-enter the workforce.
Fortunately, if you can sue a third party for your injuries, you may be able to receive compensation for the following financial losses:
- All medical expenses include hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and equipment (such as wheelchairs).
- Physical therapy, vocational therapy, and speech therapy are all examples of rehabilitation costs.
- Current and future lost wages while recovering from your injuries, over what compensation will provide.
Some of your injuries, however, are not easily quantifiable in dollars and cents. Intangible injuries can still be worth tens of thousands of dollars, if not more.
Intangible damages may include:
- As a result of your injury, you are experiencing physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress brought on by the injury.
- Changes in your marriage, such as a decrease in physical intimacy.
- You may experience a loss in the enjoyment of life.
Non-economic damages are not always easily quantifiable, but you are still entitled to compensation.
- Gathering Evidence
Our courageous investigators will go to the Jobsite to document the hazard that caused the accident. They will gather all relevant data, such as:
- Witness statements
- Photographs of the hazard or potentially hazardous condition
- Medical documentation
- Other evidence of Jobsite safety violations
You are also the most important witness to the construction accident. Keep detailed notes about how the injury has affected your life, and write down what you remember.
- File a Claim as Soon as Possible
Victims have a limited time to file a lawsuit to hold someone accountable for their accident. You have only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Otherwise, the “statute of limitations” period will expire, and a judge will likely dismiss your case. You will receive no compensation, even if the other party is entirely to blame for your injury. To protect your legal rights, contact an injury lawyer right away.
Need Legal Help! Contact Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured on a construction site, you should contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer immediately. Because the landscape at a construction site is constantly changing, the site should be investigated, observed, and photographed in the same condition that you were injured. Property owners may attempt to repair or conceal the dangerous condition or eliminate it altogether.
Philadelphia construction accident attorneys will investigate every claim to aggressively and zealously represent injured clients and achieve the best possible results.