If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury or wrongful death in a construction accident, you may want to consider pursuing a claim for financial compensation. Construction workers can seek medical treatment and lost wages through workers’ compensation insurance.
However, construction workers and non-workers may have grounds to pursue a Port St. Lucie personal injury lawsuit, depending on who bears fault and whether the accident resulted from negligence.
A Port St. Lucie construction accident lawyer can assist you in determining who was at fault for your injuries and prepare the strongest possible case on your behalf. If you would like to hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence and obtain fair financial compensation for your injuries, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help.
Construction Accidents & Injuries In Port St. Lucie, FL
Construction sites across the city play host to thousands of workers and site visitors every day–potentially exposing each one to the risk of a construction accident and injury. These sites stay busy and are full of large pieces of machinery.
Some of the most common types of construction accidents include:
- Falls from ladders, scaffolds, or structures
- Falling debris striking victims below
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents
- Construction vehicle crashes
The liability for construction injury accidents may fall to project owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, or any other party who acted negligently or recklessly.
Negligence And Port St. Lucie Construction Accidents
Negligence plays a pivotal role in handling construction accident claims. Individuals who engage in negligent behavior may be held legally liable for your injuries. Examples of negligent acts that cause Port St. Lucie construction accidents are as follows:
- Failure to repair or maintain construction equipment
- Failure to implement or enforce safety protocols and standards
- Failure to provide adequate training for site workers
- Structural design defects
- Materials or equipment defects
- Knowingly allowing a hazardous or dangerous environment onsite
- Failure to maintain a reasonably safe job site
This list covers only some of the possible scenarios that could lead to a deadly construction accident scenario in Port St. Lucie. If our legal team can demonstrate that the at-fault party’s negligence led to your accident and injury, we can build a strong case on your behalf.
Understanding The Value Of Having A Construction Accident Lawyer
With a construction accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine on your side, you will have a powerful and determined advocate ready to fight for your rights.
Our legal team will gather the critical information necessary to support your claim and identify the at-fault party. We have many resources available to assist in this effort, including investigators, safety experts, and medical specialists. We can even reconstruct the accident scene.
Once we have identified the at-fault party, we will submit your claim based on the applicable legal standards:
Construction Accident Workers’ Compensation Claims
If workers’ compensation refuses your claim or if the company refuses to provide you with adequate care for your injuries, we can assist you with pursuing a claim or filing a lawsuit. In many cases, workers injured in a construction accident may also pursue a claim against the general contractor, a product or equipment manufacturer, or against the project’s owner or architect.
Personal Injury Construction Accident Claims
We will use this approach in your case if you sustained injuries in a construction accident as a bystander, passerby, site visitor, consultant, or another non-employee capacity. In most cases, we submit your claim to the at-fault party’s liability insurance carrier.
Product Defect Claims For Construction Accidents
If a design or manufacturing defect caused your injuries, we may pursue a claim with the designer, manufacturer, dealer, or retailer of the defective machinery, tool, equipment, or product.
Premises Liability Construction Accident Claims
In this scenario, we will submit your claim to the project owner or their insurance company. We may use this approach if the project’s owner knew about (or should have known about) a potentially hazardous condition on the construction site but took no action to ensure your safety.
In each case, except for product defect claims, we must demonstrate the at-fault party’s negligence to establish legal liability.
Once we submit your claim, we will aggressively pursue a fair settlement agreement with the at-fault party or their insurance carrier. If necessary, we will prepare your case for court and file a lawsuit.
Calculating Your Construction Accident Claim Settlement Value
We will establish the value of your claim based on the nature of your injuries and your prognosis for recovery. Although each case is unique, some of the most common injuries that result from construction accidents include:
- Fractured or crushed bones
- Electrical or chemical burns
- Internal injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Lost limbs or digits
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Wrongful death
For personal injury, product defect, and premises liability claims, our legal team will calculate your settlement claim by adding together some or all of these items, depending on the facts of your case:
- Medical bills and care costs to date
- Lost income and benefits to date
- Estimated future treatment and care costs
- Estimated future lost wages and benefits
- Estimated future lost opportunity value
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional damages
If you sustained a permanent injury or became disabled, we will also include the legal value of those damages.
Facts About Workers’ Compensation Claims in Port St. Lucie
You may have the chance to file a workers’ compensation claim if you sustained an injury while working in Port St. Lucie. Regardless of whether you believe you’ll need to file a claim or not, we recommend that you report the accident to your employer right away.
Your employer should complete an accident or incident report regarding the event that led to your injuries. Make sure that you secure a copy of the report for your records. The report may contain information about:
- How the accident happened
- When the accident occurred
- Where the accident took place
This official document can help support either a workers’ comp claim or a personal injury claim. Once you report your accident, you may seek treatment for your injuries. When filing a workers’ comp claim, you must visit a doctor chosen by your employer.
However, you also have the option to visit a doctor of your own choosing to receive a second opinion. If you visit another doctor without the approval of your employer or their insurance agency, you may have to cover this cost on your own.
Compensation From Workers’ Compensation
The workers’ compensation program in Florida covers most injuries that occur while you’re on the job, even while working construction. However, the program may not cover losses from injuries that occurred while an employee was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Additionally, Florida’s workers’ comp system does not cover ailments associated with stress or anxiety. A construction accident attorney serving Port St. Lucie can determine if your injury makes you eligible for workers’ comp coverage.
Fault And Workers’ Comp Coverage In Port St. Lucie
Workers’ comp claims act differently than other claims for compensation when it comes to establishing fault or liability. Generally, workers’ comp claims operate on a no-fault basis. You do not have to show that your employer directly caused your accident in order to secure compensation through the program.
However, Florida also generally prevents employees from directly suing their employers after an on-the-job accident. You can discuss this situation with a lawyer after a construction site accident.
Lost Wages And A Workers’ Comp Claim
If you got hurt on the job while working in construction, your workers’ comp claim may cover a portion of your previous salary. However, the program does not provide you with the full amount of your average weekly wages.
A lawyer can help you determine how much compensation you may receive through this program. Note that workers’ comp coverage does not extend to any pain or suffering associated with your accident.
Call Now For A Free Consultation With A Construction Accident Lawyer In Port St. Lucie
If you sustained injuries in a construction accident in Port St. Lucie, call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine before you make any decisions or provide any statements to the insurance company.
We offer a no-obligation case evaluation to help you understand your legal rights and options for pursuing a claim. If we can demonstrate that one or more parties acted recklessly or negligently, causing the accident that led to your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation and hold the responsible party accountable.
We will fight diligently to get you the settlement you deserve to ensure you receive comprehensive medical care and compensation for your lost income and related damages. This will allow you to focus on your health and recovery rather than worrying about how you will pay your bills.
Contact our office with our online contact form for your free consultation with a construction accident lawyer in Port St. Lucie, FL.
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