Accidents at construction sites are rarely straightforward matters. The injuries can be more severe due to the presence of heavy machinery and materials. Multiple contractors and subcontractors may be involved. Furthermore, a high level of construction activity can obscure the exact causes of an accident.
Trust a New York City personal injury lawyer at Manhattan’s Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C. They represent construction workers and third parties who suffer injuries due to construction accidents. Their knowledge and experience in handling construction accidents can help you recover a significantly larger amount of damages than if you were to pursue it without legal representation.
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Which Parties are Liable for Damages in a Construction Accident?
Even a small construction site might involve a general contractor, one or two equipment suppliers for scaffolds or machinery, a few subcontractors who perform specialized jobs, and skilled tradespeople who work on plumbing, electrical, or HVAC systems.
If, for example, you are injured by a tool that falls from a scaffold, your first instinct might be to pursue the subcontractor who dropped it. That accident, however, might have been the result of the improper installation of the scaffolding. An experienced lawyer will know which parties to pursue to recover the damages that you deserve.
What Damages Are You Entitled to Recover?
Your actual medical expenses following a construction accident are the most objective damages that you might seek to recover on your own. A knowledgeable and experienced attorney will look at the bigger picture to help you recover damages for:
- your anticipated future medical expenses;
- costs of rehabilitation and occupational therapy;
- expenses associated with transportation to and from appointments with doctors;
- wages and income opportunities you lost while you were recuperating from injuries;
- your pain and suffering and any psychological trauma you experienced as a result of the accident.
How Can You Create a Level Playing Field for Liability and Damages Negotiations?
Construction companies, material suppliers, and subcontractors generally address liability issues in construction accidents as a regular part of their business. They retain teams of defense lawyers to handle hundreds of construction accident cases every year. You will be at a significant disadvantage if you go up against those lawyers without legal counsel.
The best way for you to level the playing field and to place the negotiations on equal footing is to retain a New York City construction accident lawyer who has handled an equal number of personal injury and accident claims.
What if You Are a Construction Site Employee?
Construction site employees who are injured can collect damages and lost wages through workers’ compensation insurance and other reimbursement mechanisms. Many workers’ compensation programs establish difficult thresholds an injured employee must satisfy before he or she qualifies for benefits, and even then, those benefits will generally not replace all of their lost wages. They also will not reimburse the employee for all medical and other costs and expenses.
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Do You Need a Lawyer to File a Lawsuit?
Most court systems allow plaintiffs to file “pro se” lawsuits without an attorney, and if your losses and injuries are small you might not have any other option. Before you start a “pro se case,” however, you should at least contact a personal injury lawyer to determine if you have an opportunity to pursue a larger damages award than you thought might be available.
Many accident and injury attorneys provide complimentary consultations and represent accident victims on a contingency fee basis in which their fees are paid from damages they collect from the party that caused the accident.
How A Construction Accident Lawyer Lawyer Can Help
There are many benefits to working with a construction accident lawyer because securing the compensation you deserve can be challenging if you have been hurt in New York City or Long Island. Attorneys will advise you on your options while helping you navigate the legal system. Some of the ways we can help include:
Identifying Your Legal Options
Construction accident injuries often present more complex legal issues than most injury cases. For example, your accident may give rise to the potential for a personal injury lawsuit and a workers’ compensation claim.
Often, a worker injured on the job must seek benefits through the workers’ compensation system. This is especially true if the employer is at fault for the injury. However, many third parties are often involved in a construction site, including contractors and visitors. These parties could be the target of an injury lawsuit if they have been negligent. Again, your attorney will identify your legal options in these situations.
Advise You On The Value Of Your Claim
Construction accidents are complex, and it takes careful analysis to determine the approximate amount of your compensation. An attorney will advise you on potential past and future losses, including economic and non-economic damages you might be entitled to recover from the defendant.
Protecting Your Legal Rights
You have the right to pursue legal action following an accident, but that right is not without limits. For example, you must file a legal claim within a limited window of time to recover compensation. Your attorney will ensure you comply with these deadlines.
Negotiating A Settlement
Many construction accident injury cases will ultimately result in a negotiated settlement. Your attorney will negotiate for the compensation you deserve from all of the at-fault parties in your case.
No Fee Unless We Win. Get the Compensation You Deserve !
Contact the New York Construction Site Personal Injury Lawyers at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C.
If you suffer a construction site injury anywhere in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, or elsewhere in New York, please see our website or call Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, & Green to speak with a personal injury lawyer about how you can recover the largest damages award that may be available.
We offer complimentary consultations on all construction accident injury cases. If you retain us and we agree to represent you in your accident and injury case, we will fight tirelessly to recover the full amount of compensation that you deserve for your construction site injuries.
Additional Resources:
- www.alllaw.com: How to File a Personal Injury Claim. https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/personal-injury/how-file-claim.html
- www.findlaw.com: Should I Hire a Construction Accident Attorney? https://www.findlaw.com/injury/workers-compensation/should-i-hire-a-construction-accident-attorney.html
- www.cdc.gov: Construction Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/statistics.html
