Natick, MA Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction is an important part of any growing city, including Natick, MA. Whether a new building is going up or an existing building is being remodeled, construction workers are there to do the job. While this work is important, it is also dangerous, and accidents are unfortunately common. Many workers are so badly hurt that they cannot return to their jobs, and legal action may help them get compensation for their injuries.
Construction workers perform all sorts of jobs. As such, there are a million and one ways for someone to be hurt in an accident. Some common examples include malfunctioning tools or machinery, electrical shocks and burns, and falling accidents. However your accident happened, we need evidence to back up your claims. Physical evidence, photos and videos, and testimony from coworkers can be a big help. While preparing your case, talk to your lawyer about all your legal options. In Massachusetts, injured employees often must go through Workers’ Compensation to get what they need, but a lawsuit is possible under certain circumstances.
For a free initial case review, contact our construction accident lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan by calling us at (617) 925-6407.
Possible Construction Accidents and Injuries in Natick, MA
To begin your case, we need to determine exactly how you were injured, who was there, and what events led up to the accident. It is not uncommon for injured construction workers to not fully remember what happened, and we might need to investigate to get to the truth. Below are some common construction accidents that may or may not come up in your case.
Accidents with Tools and Machinery
Powerful tools and machinery are necessary parts of construction work. These tools may range from small to large, and some can be very powerful and dangerous. Injuries with tools are not uncommon, but not all accidents are the result of user error. Instead, many accidents with tools and machinery happen because the tools are defective or were poorly maintained and malfunctioned. In such cases, you may be the manufacturer that produces faulty tools. You might instead sue the person who is responsible for the tools and machinery, like your employer.
Shocks and Burns
Electrical work is a common part of construction. You might come across exposed or live wiring even if you are not an electrician. Ideally, electricians should warn those around them if wires are live. Unfortunately, this does not always happen, and innocent workers are shocked and burned. Alternatively, an electrician might be working with live wires that they shut off, but a careless coworker turned the power back on by mistake.
Falling Accidents
One of the most common accidents on construction sites is falling accidents. You might be on top of a high ladder, on the roof, or working atop high scaffolding when you suddenly fall. Maybe the ladder or scaffolding was unstable or improperly assembled. There might be numerous unsafe conditions to consider when analyzing a falling accident. Depending on how high up you were when you fell, you might be dealing with severe injuries.
Finding Evidence to Support Your Claims in a Construction Accident Case in Natick, MA
Evidence to support your claims might be found almost anywhere, although much evidence tends to come directly from the scene of the accident. We can start with physical evidence. Were any physical items or objects involved in or somehow connected to your accident? For example, if you were injured by a defective power tool, we need the faulty tool as evidence. We should also have it thoroughly inspected to determine exactly what went wrong and why it is the defendant’s responsibility.
Security cameras often monitor construction sites, especially if the site is large and filled with expensive equipment and machinery. Depending on where and how your accident happened, there is a strong possibility that everything was caught on camera. We need to move quickly to obtain copies of security camera footage, as it might easily be deleted. If the defendant controls the cameras and refuses to turn over the evidence, we can get a court order making them cooperate. You should also take pictures of the accident scene if you can. Even without security cameras, photos of the aftermath of the accident can help us piece together what happened.
Construction sites are often teeming with workers, and the odds are that one of your coworkers saw the accident. Even if nobody saw the accident, your coworkers might have first-hand knowledge about the unsafe working conditions that caused the accident because they work under those conditions with you every day. Testimony from witnesses might be extremely powerful evidence, and we should interview anyone who was present for the accident.
Legal Options for Compensation for Construction Accidents in Natick, MA
If you were injured in a construction accident and need financial compensation, talk to an attorney before you do anything. Work-related accidents in Massachusetts might fall under Workers’ Compensation laws, which forbid lawsuits against employers unless special conditions exist. If you are an employee within the definition set by Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 152 § 1(4), you might be covered by Workers’ Comp. In that case, you may sue your employer if they do not carry the insurance needed to provide Workers’ Comp benefits or if they somehow deliberately caused or allowed the accident to happen.
The thing is, many construction workers are not considered employees within the above definition. Instead, many are classified as independent contractors, which are typically not covered by Workers’ Compensation laws. If you are an independent contractor, you may sue the person who hired you because they are not considered your employer but are more akin to a client.
Receive Help From Our Natick, MA Construction Accident Attorneys
For a free initial case review, contact our construction accident lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan by calling us at (617) 925-6407.
