Compensation For Injured Construction Workers

Construction work is the world’s most dangerous profession, with thousands of workers suffering severe and fatal injuries each year. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA,) close to one in five workplace deaths are in the construction industry. Unfortunately, injured workers, and the families of workers that are killed on the job, rarely collect what they’re entitled because of laws that restrict lawsuits against employers. The only way to collect a large amount of compensation is to hire a NYC construction accident lawyer that knows how to make claims under exceptions to the workers compensation law, under labor law and against third parties that were responsible for the accident.

What Causes Construction Accidents?

The primary objective of a construction company is to bring their job in on time and on budget. This often means cutting corners on expensive and time-consuming worker safety measures that increase the volume and severity of construction worker injuries and fatalities. These are some of the common types of construction accidents that sit on the desk of a New York City catastrophic injury lawyer:

• Trench collapses;
• Cave-ins;
• Electrical malfunctions;
• Falling objects;
• Fires;
• Explosions;
• Hazardous waste and
• Hearing loss.

There are many other types of construction accidents, including slip and fall accidents and car accidents. If you’re involved in a construction accident, it’s important to call the best NYC construction accident attorney as soon as possible, so that evidence can be preserved and deadlines can be met.

Are You Limited To Collecting Workers Comp?

The workers compensation law in New York states that it’s the sole remedy for workers injured on the job, giving injured workers the impression that they can never bring a lawsuit against their employer or co-workers. What’s less well known are the many exceptions to this rule, labor laws that allow lawsuits and claims against third parties. That’s why it’s important to work with a NYC construction accident attorney that specializes in this area of the law and knows how to thoroughly investigate your case for evidence that might allow for a lawsuit that can fully compensate you for your pain, suffering, mental anguish and lost earnings. One of the major exceptions is that you can sue your employer if they intentionally caused your injuries. This isn’t limited to your employer punching you in the nose – if your employer knew, or should have known, that you lacked proper safety equipment, you may be successful with your claim. In some cases, a third party may have been at least partially responsible for your injuries. For example, if you were injured because of a machine’s defective manufacturing, you could sue the manufacturer. You can also sue your employer under Labor Law depending on the facts of your case, such as falling from a great height or objects falling on you. Every case is different, so it’s important to seek a consultation with an experienced NYC construction accident lawyer as soon as possible.

What Are Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), blindness or loss of a limb are so severe that they turn a person’s life upside down. Not only is long term treatment necessary, but returning to previous employment is often out of the question and some type of vocational retraining is usually necessary. The cost of care is astronomical and income is reduced, so it’s important to work with a NYC catastrophic injury lawyer that knows how to maximize the value of your case.