Fitchburg, MA Construction Accident Lawyer
Physically recovering from construction accident injuries is often an arduous experience, and victims should not be financially liable for the cost of treatment or other damages due to negligence.
Injuries often sustained during construction accidents include broken bones, head and spinal cord injuries, lacerations, and burn injuries. The top causes of these injuries vary, including vehicle accidents, explosions of defective equipment, trips over hazards, and falls from scaffolding. Typically, employees may only file Workers’ Compensation cases unless our lawyers can identify a third party whose negligence caused an accident, such as an engineer, equipment manufacturer, or property owner. After identifying a liable third party, our lawyers will have three years to prepare and file your claim in court, after which we may negotiate a settlement that includes compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
To discuss your case for free with our construction accident lawyers, call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan now at (617) 925-6407.
Injuries Often Sustained During Construction Accidents in Fitchburg, MA
Injuries from construction site accidents vary, ranging from permanent spinal cord injuries to disfiguring burn injuries. Get the appropriate medical treatment as advised by doctors, and do not try to return to work before you are physically able to, as that could hurt your claim.
Trips, slips, and falls are common on construction sites. Workers might trip over wires, equipment, or other hazards, sustaining fractures in the hands, wrists, or other areas of the body during impact with the hard ground. Falls from higher heights, like off of scaffolding, might be fatal or otherwise result in permanent injuries that require life-long care or physical therapy, like spinal cord damage.
Fires might break out on construction sites during explosions of defective machinery or auto accidents. Negligent drivers might run into roadside construction sites, or vehicles used during the course of construction work might collide with other machinery, catching fire and resulting in burn injuries, which might cause emotional distress in addition to considerable physical pain.
Any sprains, fractures, deep lacerations, and other injuries should be taken seriously, reported to construction sites, and assessed by medical professionals. If you hit your head at all during an accident, especially during a fall, get evaluated for a concussion or other brain injury, which might come with complications for victims.
Preparing Your Compensation Case After a Construction Accident in Fitchburg, MA
Employees injured on construction sites might only be able to pursue Workers’ Compensation unless another party is liable, such as tool and equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, property owners, or engineers. In that case, they might file third-party lawsuits to recover additional damages, like pain and suffering.
Those not employed by construction companies, like passersby injured because of falling objects or other hazards, can file lawsuits against negligent companies. The reason workers cannot do this is because Workers’ Compensation is typically the exclusive remedy, again, unless parties other than their employers are negligent. To recover Workers’ Compensation, you do not have to prove your employer’s negligence, as you are entitled to these benefits because of your employment status in Massachusetts.
To confirm another party’s liability, our construction accident lawyers may investigate the incident further, interviewing peers who witnessed it and can offer statements confirming its cause. If a negligent product or tool manufacturer produced defective equipment that injured you, we may have to look deeper into the company’s production processes to pinpoint what went wrong. Equipment used on construction sites is complicated and capable of causing considerable damage if defective, and manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products work properly and come with the appropriate safety instructions for users to avoid incidents.
Your Deadline to Sue for Construction Accident Injuries in Fitchburg, MA
According to Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A, victims have three years to prepare and bring their claims when filing third-party lawsuits for construction site injuries. Delaying filing could have serious ramifications on your case and financial recovery, so immediately initiate your claim if possible.
The same statute of limitations applies whether victims are hurt as workers or passersby at construction sites. Because injuries from these accidents are often so severe, it benefits victims to file sooner than three years so that they can get compensation faster.
Once you bring your case, settlement negotiations might commence, which also take time to ensure victims only accept fair offers from negligent third parties. When evaluating offers, our lawyers will consider your total damages from the accident, including your pain and suffering. Such non-economic damages are not compensable from Workers’ Compensation, further incentivizing victims and our lawyers to identify possible third parties whose negligence caused or contributed to an accident.
Missing the statute of limitations would prevent you from recovering damages, and our lawyers can prevent this from happening by calculating your final filing date at the start of your case and proceeding accordingly.
What You Can Do to Help Your Fitchburg, MA Construction Accident Case
The most important thing you can do to benefit your claim is seek medical attention, report the accident to your employer, and focus on your physical recovery as our lawyers prioritize your financial recovery.
Unless you fully complete your treatment plan after an accident, continue getting medical care. Fractures and sprains might require period checkups with doctors, while spinal cord injuries might require additional surgeries or physical therapy. Whatever your situation, follow your doctor’s guidance and advice as closely as possible. Defendants might point to missed appointments with doctors and raise questions about the severity of victims’ injuries or the need for compensatory damages, so do not neglect your physical recovery at any point during your case. As you get care and build medical evidence, our lawyers can request records from hospitals and providers to support your claim.
Call Our Fitchburg, MA Lawyers to Talk About Your Recent Construction Accident
Call our construction accident lawyers of the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for help with your case.
