Construction Accidents
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Construction sites have strict safety protocols to ensure that their construction workers won’t get traumatizing injuries.
However, construction accidents can still happen for various reasons.
Los Angeles construction accidents can cause severe or life-altering injuries.
If you or a loved one gets hurt during a construction accident, contact an experienced Los Angeles construction accident attorney to help with your personal injury claim.
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You Deserve an Experienced Los Angeles Construction Accident Attorney
Injured construction workers are often left in shock during a Los Angeles construction accident. Here at the Alden Law Firm, we understand that injured workers don’t have the time to deal with insurance companies.
Construction accident victims deserve an experienced construction accident attorney who can help them obtain financial compensation for their catastrophic injuries and other damages. We offer legal advice through a free consultation protected by an attorney-client privilege.
The Alden Law Firm has successfully helped many people who were injured in construction accidents receive the just compensation they deserve for their injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, property damage, and future losses.
How Common Are Construction Site Accidents in Los Angeles, CA?
Construction site fatalities are not uncommon in Los Angeles. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,061 deaths that occurred at the construction sites in 2019. Also, in 2019, construction workers who are aged 25-34 will most likely sustain injuries while on the job.
In order to prevent construction accidents, workers must ensure that they follow all work-related safety protocols and report any suspicious conditions that may put them at risk. Workers’ compensation benefits may be given to victims who sustain injuries during a construction site accident.
What Should You Do Right After Your Construction Accident?
Call 911 immediately if someone has been seriously injured during a construction work accident. Otherwise, the best thing you can do is sit down where there’s security and rest. If you feel like you are going to faint, do not try to hold your head up because it could make things worse.
Seeking medical attention is of top priority right after a construction worker injures himself on the job site. You want to be sure that there isn’t more damage than what you first saw during the accident.
It is important to preserve evidence in case files get mislaid or destroyed. You can take as many photos as you can of the accident scene, or if you’re unable to do so, let your coworker do this for you. Get any information that can prove the fault and liability of the person or people responsible for your construction accident at work. Reporting your injury or incident to your supervisor helps in many cases. It keeps a record of the accident and provides important documentation if you need to file for workers’ compensation.
You also need to keep your medical records. Construction site accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that require expensive medical treatment. You can use these records to claim compensation for your financial and emotional damages. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can evaluate of your case or claim and provide you with legal consultation as regards your rights.
Most importantly, you need someone by your side who understands and knows the laws surrounding your construction site accident. Our experienced Los Angeles construction accident lawyer has enough knowledge of the worker’s compensation laws and understands the intricacies of construction accidents. They can handle all the paperwork and other matters while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Contact our Los Angeles construction accident lawyer as soon as possible if you are suffering from life-altering injuries due to a construction site accident.
What Commonly Causes Construction Accident Injuries in Los Angeles?
Construction accidents are some of the most common types of work-related accidents that can cause severe injuries in California. These accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, but the most common causes are workers falling from great heights or being crushed by a vehicle or equipment.
Scaffolding accidents are serious accidents on most construction sites. It’s either because of faulty equipment or a negligent third party that causes construction workers to fall, resulting in injured workers.
Other construction accidents on the construction site include falling objects that can end in a personal injury lawsuit. Most of the time, it’s the heavy machinery used by the construction industry that ends up falling on many construction workers.
What Are the Typical Injuries in a Construction Accident?
Construction workers know how to work safely, but sometimes accidents happen despite a worker’s best efforts. These accidents often result in serious head injuries that could lead to brain damage or even death if not immediately treated by paramedics or doctors. Some of the most common construction site injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Dislocation
Almost all construction site injuries resulted from negligence on behalf of companies who failed to provide adequate safety measures at their workplace, which led to either injury or death. Contact our construction site injury attorneys for a free consultation. We can help you obtain compensation from your employers or insurance companies for your injuries.
What Kind of Compensatory Damages Are Available to Construction Site Accident Victims?
After a construction site accident, you, the injured worker, should get immediate assistance and contact a Los Angeles construction accident lawyer. You can gain compensation from compensable damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity or ability to work
- Loss of household services
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Permanent injuries
- Wrongful death
These are some of the possible damages that you can gain compensation for from either workers’ compensation insurance or from a negligent third party. The construction industry has to follow the California Labor Code that allows workers’ compensation benefits.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Los Angeles Construction Accident Injuries?
The California Labor Code states that all employers must carry the construction worker’s compensation insurance for their employees. However, you can’t file a personal injury lawsuit against your contractor for workplace injuries or common construction accidents in most cases.
You also have the right to obtain compensation for common injuries caused by a negligent third party or equipment accidents from equipment manufacturers. Here is a list of the following entities that can be held liable for your construction accident injuries.
Worker’s Compensation
Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance can cover your medical bills and lost salary. However, your workers’ compensation benefits might not be enough to help you fully recover.
If you claim your worker’s compensation benefits, you must also agree not to pursue a personal injury claim against your employer. Talk to a personal injury attorney about your construction accident case to learn more about pursuing compensation.
Third-Party Negligence
When your construction accident injury is caused by someone else other than your employer, you can file a personal injury claim against that person. Negligence in construction site accidents is pretty common in Southern California.
Getting injured by exposed wiring or falling on dangerous equipment because of someone else’s negligence can cause serious injuries. Our Los Angeles construction accident attorneys can help you through the processes of your lawsuit.
Defective Equipment
Using heavy equipment with a product defect can lead to multiple construction site accident injuries in Southern California. You can file a lawsuit against the company or manufacturer of the heavy equipment that caused the accident.
An example of this is when you’re using equipment that ensures fall protection but ends up failing because of a product defect. The property owner also has the duty of care to maintain the standard of equipment to keep construction workers safe.
Companies and manufacturers have the responsibility and duty to ensure the safety of their products. They also have the duty to provide you with ample warnings about the risks when using their heavy equipment. Once this duty is breached, you can hold these entities liable for your injuries.
Road Work Zone Accidents
Road work zones are filled with construction zone signs and warnings to ensure the safety of their construction workers. Drivers often neglect road work signs endangering road workers and causing multiple injuries.
There can be multiple instances of car driver neglect, such as speeding, aggressive driving, or distracted driving. You can file a personal injury case with the help of a construction site accident lawyer to help you hold these car drivers responsible for the accident.
In most construction accidents, your workers’ comp will cover most of your medical expenses. However, it might not be enough to cover all of the financial expenses and damages caused by the accident.
Seek a construction accident lawyer from our Los Angeles construction accident law firm. You can request a free consultation protected by an attorney-client relationship to help you seek justice and pursue compensation.
How Long Do You Have to File an Injury Claim?
Construction accidents have a limited period to recover compensation. The limited time you have to recover compensation depends on the type of compensation you are entitled to claim. These claims are worker’s compensation, negligent third-party claims, and government entity claims.
- Worker’s Compensation. You will only have 30 days from the date of your accident, or the date of the discovery of your construction site injury, to inform your employer. After 30 days, you will no longer be able to recover your worker’s compensation benefits.
- Third-Party Negligence. Every state has its own personal injury statute of limitation, and construction accident claims are no exception. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in California is two years from the date of the construction accident.
- Government Entity. Sometimes, a government entity can be held responsible for your construction accident injury. You only have six months from the date of the accident to file a special administrative claim against a government entity.
Construction sites always have strict safety protocols that must be followed to avoid serious injuries. If an injury occurred in a construction site accident, you only have a limited time frame to obtain compensation from these entities.
Contact Our Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Firm If You Have a Construction Accident Case
A workplace injury can be fatal, and such injuries might even be permanent or life-changing. As a construction worker, you can seek out your worker’s compensation or file a personal injury case.
The Alden Law Firm has an experienced construction accident lawyer that can help with your construction accident claim and ensure that you receive maximum compensation. You can contact us at (213) 214-6937 or visit our office at 611 Wilshire Blvd # 310, Los Angeles, CA.