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Construction sites are often dangerous places, with large machinery, heavy physical labor, and multiple parties working on various things at once. This, unfortunately, can lead to accidents occurring at a rate higher than normal. In fact, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, injury rates in construction were 24 percent higher than they were in all other industries on average.
If you or your loved one has been hurt while working in construction, now might be the time to call a personal injury lawyer. There are several ways that construction injury compensation can prove challenging to receive. This is due to the fact that construction workers are not always considered employees, and reporting injury is sometimes frowned upon. You want an experienced legal team on your side to make sure that you get the amount your injury deserves in order to help your recovery.
If you were injured, or if your loved one was killed on a construction site in New Jersey, you do not have to go through this difficult time on your own. At Judd Shaw Injury Law, we want to help you and your family to move forward and get the best outcome possible in your personal injury case. We offer risk-free initial case reviews at no charge, give us a call to schedule yours today at 732-888-8888.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Construction accidents can cause injuries that run the gauntlet from bone fractures, strains, tears, sprains, heat burns, lacerations, contusions, and bruises, to multiple traumatic injuries – all of which generally involve time missed from work. Depending on your employment status, those days missed from work can cause financial difficulty, and paying for medical treatment may become a burden. Worse still, some construction-related injuries can prove to be very serious, causing the victim to be permanently disfigured, or even fatal.
In 2021, the construction and extraction occupations had the second-most occupational deaths, counted at 951. Undoubtedly, many of these were caused by four of the most common construction injuries, namely:
- Falling
- Being struck by an object
- Getting electrocuted
- Being caught in or between something
Causing over half of construction worker deaths, these dangers are a clear and present danger to all who work on construction sites.
If you or your loved one has been injured in one of the above types of accidents, or another, you need to defend your rights and find out what you are entitled to by law. While a personal injury lawsuit may seem daunting or unnecessary in the beginning, you owe it to yourself and your family to ensure that you are receiving the most compensation in order to help your chances of recovery, both physically and financially.
What to Do If You Have Been Injured in a Construction Accident
In a recent study, more than 25 percent of respondents said that, at some point in their construction career, they suffered a work-related injury but did not report it. Do not let fear of losing work opportunities or trying to minimize your injuries cause you to harm your chances of receiving compensation. The first step after an injury is always to report it to your employer.
The second step is to seek medical treatment. Even if your injuries seem minor, it is crucial to establish a medical record of your injuries as soon as possible. You may need to go, at first, to a specially selected doctor that is approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. You can always get a second opinion down the line with the help of a lawyer, if necessary.
If you are an employee, you might be entitled to a workers’ compensation payout, if you meet the requirements. However, if you are an independent contractor, this doesn’t automatically prohibit you from seeking compensation. Before filling out any settlement paperwork, it would be wise to speak with a construction accident attorney.
It is vital to hire a construction accident lawyer right away, so he or she can begin collecting evidence to support your case. This evidence may include things such as eyewitness reports, security camera footage, written work orders, and your medical documentation. Whether this evidence ends up helping your workers’ compensation claim or a later personal injury lawsuit, it is critical that it be collected promptly, before any changes take place at the construction site.
How Construction Accident Lawyers Help
In the aftermath of a construction accident injury, you are likely worried about the loss of work, medical bills, and pain involved. Hiring an attorney might be the last thing on your mind. However, construction accident lawyers can provide many benefits to various types of workers’ compensation claims.
In addition to collecting evidence, hiring a construction accident lawyer will provide benefits such as:
- Having a negotiator to deal with insurance companies and your employer
- Helping you file the necessary paperwork with minimal stress
- Ensuring that any settlement offer you accept is a fair one
- Walking you through each step of the legal process
Most importantly, hiring a lawyer soon after your injuries enables you to recover and rest without having to worry about legal matters.
When dealing with a workplace or construction site accident, the first thing to check is whether or not you might be entitled to workers’ compensation. However, even if you are covered, it does not mean that your path to compensation will be seamless.
Some insurance companies do everything in their power to avoid paying you what you deserve. This can lead to poor relations with your employer. It is much better to entrust your claim to a construction accident attorney who can ensure you get the proper coverage you need for what you have suffered.
Contact Our New Jersey Construction Accident Lawyers Today
At Judd Shaw Injury Law, we stay concentrated on what really matters – your recovery. With our extensive network of expert medical professionals on hand, we ensure that our clients get the best care possible. Meanwhile, we take the weight of dealing with insurers and paperwork off of your shoulders.
We are passionate about what we do, and our track record of achieving favorable settlements and jury awards for our injured clients speaks for itself, including a recent $2.6 million settlement for a construction site slip-and-fall accident. We go the extra mile to hold negligent parties responsible, be they contractors, subcontractors, foremen, machine operators, or manufacturers.
Do not let underhanded insurance tactics or the fear of litigation stop you from living the life you deserve. Construction accidents happen, and those who had a hand in causing them, whether due to negligence or recklessness, must be held accountable for their actions.
It may seem like an uphill battle, but there is a knight in shining armor, as we say, waiting to help you at Judd Shaw Injury Law. Call 732-888-8888 or contact us online 24/7 for a free consultation.