Construction accidents can cause serious injuries and even death. It’s considered one of the most dangerous industries, and people risk their lives every day for the sake of employment. Despite the danger, it pays well and doesn’t require extensive credentials.
Although OSHA sets strict safety rules and regulations, they’re not always followed. Supervisors and foremen are known to cut corners to complete jobs faster, and while this is common, it’s extremely unsafe and causes thousands of injuries each year.
If you work in construction and you’ve been injured in an accident on the job, filing a lawsuit might be your best course of action.
Common construction accidents are expensive
The primary reason you’ll want to file a lawsuit is to recover adequate compensation for your injuries. Medical bills will pile up fast, and your health insurance policy is unlikely to cover everything. For example, in addition to falls and major injuries resulting from sharp machinery, many construction workers get caught between or under materials or objects.
When construction injuries are serious, it’s not uncommon to end up with long-term medical bills that include ongoing therapies and sometimes multiple surgeries. Insurance might cover some of these expenses, but not all.
If you can’t pay your medical bills, the only option you have is to file for bankruptcy. This is a common route people take, but you can avoid it by recovering compensation through a lawsuit.
Your company’s management should be held accountable
Being injured on the job is a big deal, and if it happened to you, it would likely happen to someone else. This is especially true if your accident was the result of unsafe conditions your boss has been neglecting.
The company you work for has a duty to maintain a safe work environment, and while that’s only possible to a certain degree in construction, that doesn’t excuse anyone from negligence. For instance, if your safety equipment isn’t in top condition, using it can put you at risk for injury. If your boss is responsible for providing you with equipment, it’s their duty to make sure it’s in good shape and worn equipment is replaced. If they know the safety equipment is in bad shape and they don’t do anything about it, they can be held responsible for any injuries that occur when that equipment fails.
Holding the company responsible has the potential to not only eliminate unsafe conditions for everyone but it can force them to change their policies if the court puts enough financial pressure on them. For example, if the court finds they’ve willfully neglected safety, they might get hit with punitive damages that are double or triple compensatory damages.
Filing a lawsuit doesn’t make you the bad guy
If you’re hesitating to take your employer to court for negligence in causing your injuries, consider that they had a duty to maintain a safe working environment for you and everyone else. If they let safety measures slip through the cracks out of laziness or pure unwillingness to comply, that’s not your problem.
Don’t worry about being seen as the bad guy in the situation, and don’t allow management to make you feel like you’re doing something wrong by seeking compensation for your injuries. They are responsible – not you.
Compensation can cover more than lost wages
If your situation qualifies for a lawsuit, you have the chance to recover more than just lost wages in compensation, whether you go to trial or settle out of court. Depending on the details of your situation, you could recover additional compensation for pain and suffering, lost future wages, future medical bills, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Thinking about filing a lawsuit? Talk to an attorney first
Before you file a lawsuit on your own, talk to a personal injury attorney about your case. Never pursue this kind of lawsuit on your own.
Depending on your state, you might not be able to sue unless certain criteria are met. In that case, you’ll need to file a workers compensation claim. However, an attorney will be extremely helpful in helping you file your workers’ comp claim to ensure you get the maximum benefits.
Regardless, contact a personal injury attorney before you take any action in response to your injuries. Even if you can’t file a lawsuit, a lawyer will help you navigate the complexities of workers’ compensation and can even fight on your behalf to get you what you deserve.
Featured Photo by Josh Olalde on Unsplash