If you suffered serious injuries in a scaffolding accident, you could face a long recovery and questionable future health. You may require the services of a scaffolding & injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale.
When constructed and used in accordance with established safety protocols, scaffolding provides a safe and stable way to reach elevated work areas. As falls account for a substantial portion of Florida’s construction deaths, the risk involved with working on these sky-high platforms becomes a significant concern.
Scaffolding injuries can take months or years to heal, keeping you away from work and your sole source of income. Household bills begin to accumulate, and you may have no way to access the type of medical treatment you need for your injuries.
If negligence caused your injuries, it is important to hold the at-fault party responsible.
A workers’ compensation lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can help if you or a loved one experienced a significant injury accident. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine helps clients pursue financial compensation for injuries that resulted from someone’s negligence.
Call us now for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Scaffolding Accident & Injury Causes and Consequences
Scaffolding accidents are some of the most common causes of job site injuries. In fact, the U.S. Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) cites construction accidents involving falls as no. 1 in its “Fatal Four,” the four leading causes of construction worker fatalities.
To understand the reason for this phenomenon, look no further than OSHA’s 10 most frequently violated safety standards. Violations of fall protection standards rank no. 1 and scaffolding safety violations rank at no. 3. At no. 9, we find violations of fall protection training standards.
According to Florida Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP), “Falls are the leading cause of construction worker fatalities in Florida, accounting for one-third of on-the-job deaths in the industry.”
In other words, scaffolding accidents and injuries occur because construction companies:
- Fail to require fall protection equipment and protocols
- Fail to provide adequate fall protection training
- Fail to build and use scaffolding as required by OSHA standards
As a result, workers fall from heights significantly more often than they need to, suffering death or devastating injuries. Some of the most common injuries sustained as a result of scaffolding accidents are:
- Broken or crushed bones
- Internal injuries
- Neck and spine damage
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Loss of limbs
Employers could prevent most of these devastating injuries by complying with safety standards. If your employer failed to protect you and you sustained a serious injury as a result, you may have a legal basis to seek compensation.
Benefits of Having a Scaffolding Accident & Injury Lawyer on Your Side
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we put your needs first. We will ensure you get the medical attention you need for your injuries. We will handle all the details of your case, so you can relax and focus on the important task of recovery.
We will protect your legal rights and ensure that you do not make any statements or sign away any of your rights to seek fair financial compensation. We will investigate and document your accident, using the wealth of resources we have at our disposal.
We have investigators, safety experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and medical experts standing by to provide testimony and help us build the strongest possible case for you.
We will submit your claim to the appropriate party and negotiate to get a settlement in your hand as quickly as possible. If necessary, we stand ready to file a lawsuit to ensure the best possible outcome in your case.
When a Fort Lauderdale construction site accident lawyer from our firm represents you, our full resources are at your disposal. We know you want to get back to your life and put the incident behind you. For this reason, we will take care of everything in the process while you take your time to heal. Our goal is to get you fair and significant compensation for your losses so you can recover and move on.
Documenting Your Scaffolding Accident & Injury Damages
Proving the amount of your damages for a scaffolding Fort Lauderdale personal injury claim requires our legal team to assemble a variety of documents and information.
We typically start by consulting with your medical treatment team to obtain cost reports for your emergency care, doctor visits, and related expenses. We will talk to your doctors to determine what type of treatment you will require in the future and for how long, allowing us to estimate the cost burden of your future care.
We will also obtain your employer’s wage statements and income tax returns for the past several years. This information allows our legal team to document your lost income to date and calculate how much income you will lose for the time you are out of work. If our medical experts determine that your injuries will prevent you from working in your prior job role in the future, we will also request compensation for your loss of earning capacity.
Finally, we will calculate the legal value of your pain and suffering, loss of life’s enjoyment and any permanent disabilities you may face.
Demonstrating Negligence for a Scaffolding Accident Injury
The challenge of proving liability for a scaffolding injury lies with identifying what caused your accident. To accomplish this, we look to the legal elements of negligence.
Duty of Care
Your employer owes you and your coworkers a duty of care to protect your safety on the job. Your employer must obey applicable laws and observe OSHA safety standards. This includes providing appropriate safety training, enforcing safety policies, and requiring employees to follow safety protocols. When working on a scaffold, for example, your employer must require you to wear a hard hat and tie off to prevent falls.
Breach of Duty
If your employer fails to provide training or enforce safety standards, they have breached their duty of care. If your employer or another contractor fails to build or use scaffolding in accordance with safety standards, they have breached their duty of care to anyone on or near the work site.
Causation
If someone breaches their duty of care to you, and you fall off a scaffold as a result, we can establish causation for your accident. Whether your employer or another party breached their duty, they bear the liability for your accident and any monetary damages you incur.
Actual Damages
Once we establish liability, we will document your actual damages by providing proof of your medical care costs, lost wages, and any other expenses associated with your accident.
Typically, workers who sustain injuries on the job must obtain treatment through the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. However, if we can prove that your employer was negligent, we may recommend filing a lawsuit or pursuing a settlement directly through their liability insurance carrier.
Free Case Evaluation with a Scaffolding Accident Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
If you suffered serious or life-threatening injuries in a scaffolding accident, contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine as quickly as possible. In Fort Lauderdale and throughout Florida, our legal team has established a reputation for protecting the rights of injured workers, and we are standing by to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
We would like to offer you a no-cost, no-obligation consultation, so we can answer your questions and help you understand your options. If you cannot come to our office because you are hospitalized or incapacitated, our legal team will come to you.
To schedule your appointment with a scaffolding accident and injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, call us today.
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