Metairie Construction Accident Lawyer
Working on any construction site carries a certain degree of risk. Whether you are on the scaffolding of a hi-rise project or just working on a highway, there is always the potential for someone to suffer a sudden and catastrophic injury. And while workers’ compensation often covers an employer’s potential liability for such accidents, there may be third parties who may be also held responsible through a personal injury lawsuit.
An experienced Metairie construction accident lawyer can review your case and advise you of your options for seeking compensation. At Palazzo Law Firm, we have helped many construction workers with both filing workers’ compensation claims and taking action against other non-employer parties whose negligence led to a preventable accident.
Workers’ Compensation May Not Be Your Only Option for Compensation
The four most-common types of construction accidents are falls, being struck by an object, being caught in-between objects, and electrocution. Falls are one of the most common construction injuries, and they can involve a number of factors, such as unstable scaffolding or ladders and a lack of property safety harnesses. In many cases, a fall at a construction site is fatal. But even in non-fatal cases a worker can sustain serious injuries such as a broken bone, spinal cord damage, or a traumatic brain injury.
As with any employment-related injury, when a construction worker is hurt on the job, they are entitled to seek workers’ compensation benefits from their employer. Workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system. This means you do not have to prove the construction company (or one of its subcontractors) was negligent in order to receive medical and wage replacement benefits. However, the employee is not allowed to sue the employer or contractor for negligence so long as they comply with workers’ compensation rules.
On the other hand, workers’ compensation does not cover third-party liability for a construction accident. This is critical because one of the most common types of construction accident, aside from falls, is workers being struck by vehicles on a job site. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that these “struck-by” injuries are in fact now considered the leading cause of nonfatal injuries among construction workers. If a person is hit by a vehicle or even a piece of equipment, the operator and their employer can be held liable for any injuries caused.
Contact The Palazzo Law Firm Today
Workers’ compensation is often inadequate to fully compensate an injured construction worker for all of their financial losses following an accident. So if there is a potential claim against a third-party outside of the workers’ compensation system, it may be in your interest to speak with a qualified Metairie construction accident lawyer who can help you conduct a full investigation into what happened. And even if your case falls exclusively within workers’ compensation, an attorney can still help you maximize your recovery from your employer and their insurance company.
If you would like to speak with an attorney as soon as possible, contact Palazzo Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.
