The construction industry is a necessary and often underappreciated industry. We rely on construction workers to help our towns and cities grow and improve infrastructure, but these workers often face serious risks at work. If you or someone you know was injured on a construction site, you may be entitled to substantial damages, and our legal team is ready to help.
You might have multiple options for getting fair financial compensation. Insurance claims, private settlements, and lawsuits are all possibilities, and your attorney can help you decide which is best for you. One of the first steps in your case is to determine how the accident happened and who is responsible. Factors such as inadequate safety procedures, insufficient training for workers, and unstable or defective equipment are common. You should contact an attorney soon, as the time to file your case might be growing short.
Start your case with a free case review by calling our construction accident lawyers with the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407.
How to Get Compensation After a Construction Accident
There are numerous people and moving parts on a construction site, and accidents can stem from a variety of factors. As such, you may have various options for obtaining compensation, depending on your specific circumstances.
Many injured construction workers can file insurance claims to cover their damages. Depending on your employment status, you might be covered by your employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurance, and filing a claim may be your sole legal remedy.
However, many construction workers are independent contractors who are not covered by Workers’ Comp, and you might instead file a claim with your own insurance, if you have any.
If Workers’ Comp does not cover you, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer or whoever else is responsible for the accident. While lawsuits can be time-consuming, frustrating, and generally challenging, they may result in substantial financial compensation, sometimes exceeding the amount provided through insurance.
Another option is to negotiate a private settlement with the person or persons responsible for the accident. The size of your settlement must be negotiated and agreed upon by both parties. The stronger our evidence, the more leverage we may have during negotiations.
Typical Reasons Behind Construction Accidents and Injuries in Dracut
Construction sites might have various dangerous tools, numerous workers all performing different jobs, and hazards lurking around every corner. There might be many possible accidents, but below are a few examples our construction accident lawyers see fairly often.
Lack of Safety Procedures
Construction sites rely on safety procedures and protocols to keep workers free from harm. These procedures might be rules implemented by contractors or contracting firms who hire construction workers. Many more procedures, protocols, and regulations are enforced by larger governing bodies that regulate the entire industry.
In many cases, accidents happen on construction sites because important safety procedures were not followed or not enforced.
Poor Training
Construction workers should have the proper training, skills, and experience to work on a construction project. If they lack experience, they should be supervised by someone knowledgeable and experienced. Unfortunately, this does not always happen, and inexperienced or poorly trained workers are thrown into the job with little to no oversight.
Remember, construction sites are highly dangerous, and a simple mistake from an inexperienced worker might cause them or someone else serious injuries.
Falling Accidents
Some of the most common accidents in the construction industry are falling accidents. Workers often work from high places, like atop ladders, windows, or rooftops. Even a fall from a seemingly short distance might cause serious injuries, especially if you land on an unforgiving surface like concrete.
How Soon After a Dracut Construction Accident Should You File a Case?
You do not necessarily have to file your claims in court immediately after a construction accident, but your time to do so is limited. We must file your case in court within the period defined by the statute of limitations. Under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260 § 2A, you may have 3 years from the date of the accident to file your case.
If you wait too long, you might run out of time to file, and you may be time-barred, meaning you cannot file a claim for this particular cause of action. Not only that, but the longer we wait, the harder it may be to find evidence.
Construction sites are in a constant state of change. If we do not inspect the site and collect evidence quickly, it will likely disappear. Even if you are unsure of how to proceed, call a lawyer anyway. They can help you decide what to do next.
Factors That Influence the Value of Your Construction Accident Case
Perhaps the biggest question that injured plaintiffs have before starting a construction accident case is about how much their claims may be worth. This is an important question, but a hard one to answer without reviewing the factors surrounding your case.
First, we should consider the severity of your injuries. More serious injuries often require more extensive medical care and result in higher hospital bills. Not only that, but you might be unable to work for longer, leading to a loss of more income.
We should also consider the defendant’s behavior in relation to the accident. If their actions were especially egregious, a jury may be more willing to award punitive damages. Alternatively, if the defendant shows no remorse for what happened to you and refuses all accountability, a jury may be far less sympathetic toward them.
Call Our Dracut Construction Accident Lawyers for Help Now
Start your case with a free case review by calling our construction accident lawyers with the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407.