Annually, construction worker injuries injuries are common like burns, back and neck trauma, falls, collisions, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations, often due to scaffolding mishaps and other serious construction accidents. Many of these incidents result from malfunctioning equipment, inadequate supervision, or the failure to implement established safety protocols, causing severe workplace injuries.
Understanding Your Rights After a Construction Accident in Westchester County
if you’re a worker in the construction industry and have experienced a serious injury on the job. You may be struggling with your injury, and possible physical disabilities that prevent you from working, stressed out by medical bills and maybe you have a family to support despite your injuries. You need to know that you have rights.
These types of injuries can cause the loss of income, your career and create substantial medical debt, and you deserve compensation from those who are at fault. With almost 25 years of experience handling construction site personal injury cases, at Curan & Ahlers, our construction site accident attorney knows how to fight for construction accident victims against insurance companies. Our lawyers are skilled negotiators and litigators who will defend your rights and get you the maximum compensation you deserve.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Falls, Electrical Accidents, Equipment Failures, and More
Construction sites are inherently risky environments, and some common types of accidents occur with alarming frequency. Falls from scaffolding, ladders, or heights are the most prevalent, often resulting from inadequate safety measures or equipment. Electrical accidents also pose significant risks, involving exposed wiring, power lines, or faulty electrical equipment, leading to severe injuries or fatalities.
Equipment failures, like malfunctioning cranes, bulldozers, or other machinery, can cause catastrophic incidents if not properly maintained or operated. Each of these accidents proves the need for rigorous safety protocols and ongoing training in the construction industry. Here’s a brief list of various types of accidents that could occur on a construction site:
Scaffolding accidents
Accidents that cause falls on construction sites
Heavy construction equipment accidents including defective equipment
Welding accidents
Explosions
Electrocutions
Falling debris or objects
Collapsed buildings
Transportation accidents on construction sites
Hazardous or toxic material
Other accidents related to construction
Who is Responsible for my construction site Injuries?
Employers, Contractors, Equipment Manufacturers, and Others
Responsibility for construction site injuries involves multiple parties, including employers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and others involved in a site's operations. Employers must maintain a safe working environment and may be liable if their failure to adhere to safety regulations leads to injuries.
Contractors share in this responsibility, especially if their oversight or direct actions contribute to unsafe conditions. Equipment manufacturers can be held liable if injuries result from defective machinery or tools. A thorough investigation is frequently needed to determine precise responsibilities of each party in a construction workplace.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?
In a construction site accident, you may be eligible for compensation covering both economic and non-economic damages:
Economic Damages: Medical Bills, Lost Wages, Rehabilitation Costs
This includes medical bills for immediate and ongoing care, lost wages if you're unable to work, and rehabilitation costs for physical therapy and necessary modifications to living spaces due to disability.
Non-Economic Damages: Pain and Suffering, Emotional Distress
These cover the less tangible impacts of an accident, like pain and suffering, which compensate for physical discomfort and emotional distress, addressing psychological impacts like anxiety or depression. These damages are important for addressing the hardship caused by your accident.
Critical Steps to Take Post-Construction Accident
Reporting the Accident, Seeking Medical Attention, Documenting Everything
After the construction accident, there are some critical steps that should be taken if you plan to file a personal injury claim. First, seek proper medical attention for your injuries. report the accident to local authorities.
Gather all medical records about your injuries and treatments, as well as documents, photographs of the accident location if possible. Write down details of what you recall about the accident because later you may not remember. All of these could be valuable evidence for your case.
Contact our Curan & Ahlers construction injury lawyer as soon as possible because if you plan to file a claim, there are deadlines you don’t want to miss which could affect your eligibility for compensation. Call us for a complimentary consultation about your case so we can review all of your documentation and get started in the process of negotiations for compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Construction Accident Claim in Westchester County?
According to New York's general statute of limitations for personal injury cases which includes Westchester County, you have three years from the date of the construction accident to initiate a lawsuit.
If the claim involves a wrongful death, the timeframe is shorter, with families having only two years from the date of death to file a claim. If the claim is against a government entity, such as a city or state department, you may have to file a notice of claim within 90 days of the incident, followed by filing the lawsuit within one to one-and-a-half years, depending on the circumstances.
Given these deadlines, you need experienced construction accident lawyers in Westchester, like ours at Curan & Ahlers. Consult with our construction site injury attorney to ensure your claim is filed properly and on time.
What Evidence Do I Need to Support My Claim?
Photographs, Witness Statements, Medical Records
To support a construction injury claim, gather evidence from the accident scene, like photos and witness statements detailing the incident, and comprehensive medical records that document your injuries. Evidence may help establish liability, and quantify damages. This will help your construction job site accident lawyer negotiate with insurance companies or litigate the case in court, increasing the likelihood of a successful claim resolution.
Why Should I Contact a Construction Accident Attorney?
You should call our construction accident law firm if you've been injured on a construction site because we navigate the complex legal issues surrounding construction accidents. Handling a legal claim while recovering from injuries can be overwhelming. Our skilled attorneys understand this and will manage all aspects of your claim, allowing you to focus on your recovery. They can identify violations that may have contributed to your injury and will explore all potential avenues for compensation.
After a Construction Injury, Contact Curan & Ahlers
If you have been involved in a construction injury, it is crucial to seek legal advice from an experienced attorney. At Curan & Ahlers, our team of lawyers specializes in construction injury cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Our team understands the complexities of construction injury cases and the laws surrounding them. We can help you determine who is at fault, whether you are entitled to compensation, and how to proceed with your case.
When you contact us after a construction injury, we will schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. During this consultation, we will gather information about the incident, your injuries, and any other relevant details. We will also explain the legal process and answer any questions you may have.
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