Were you hurt in a construction accident in Jacksonville, Florida? You might be confused about your rights and how you can recover compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages.
The experienced Jacksonville construction accident attorneys at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help you understand your legal rights. You can also get answers to frequently asked questions here. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information at (904) 396-1100.
How Can a Jacksonville Construction Accident Lawyer Help?
A construction accident attorney may be your best chance at recovering optimal compensation in your claim or lawsuit. One of our lawyers is board certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar, giving us a leg up in construction site accident cases.
Our award-winning lawyers have also received recognition throughout the legal community, including the Martindale-Hubbell 2021 Platinum Client Champion Award. We’ve been named Super Lawyers every year since 2009, which only 5% of attorneys in each state have.
We can assist you with your construction accident case by:
- Investigating the accident
- Identifying all parties who are responsible
- Exploring all options for recovery, including filing a workers’ compensation and third-party injury claim
- Gathering evidence to support your claim
- Reviewing all relevant insurance policies
- Appealing a workers’ compensation denial
Contact us today to learn more about filing a claim.
Does My Florida Employer Have to Carry Workers’ Compensation?
Florida requires all construction industry employers with one or more employees (including the business owner) to maintain workers’ compensation coverage.
What If My Employer Doesn’t Have Workers’ Compensation?
If your employer breaks the law and fails to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and you get hurt, you can consider taking legal action against your employer. While workers’ compensation claims are generally limited to partial wage replacement, medical, and vocational benefits, personal injury claims allow you to seek compensation for the full extent of your damages.
Your personal injury lawyer can also determine if there are other options for possible compensation, such as making a workers’ compensation claim with another party’s insurance carrier if they are required to cover you. Depending on the circumstances, this could be the property owner, general contractor, subcontractor, or project manager.
What Injuries Happen in Construction Site Accidents?
Some of the most common injuries that occur on construction sites are:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Internal injuries and internal bleeding
- Burns
- Chemical exposure illnesses
- Eye injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
These injuries can be detrimental to your future and your ability to earn a living.
What Causes Construction Site Accidents?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common cause of workplace fatal and non-fatal injuries are:
- Slips and falls
- Struck by moving objects
- Struck against stationary objects
- Caught in machinery or equipment
- Overexertion
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Electrocutions
- Machinery accidents
- Entanglement
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Falls
- Ground collapses
- Workplace violence
Some of the most commonly cited Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards that are violated that lead to injuries involve:
- Lack of warnings about dangerous areas
- Materials and equipment that are fall hazards
- Unguarded or unmarked edges, trenches, or holes
- Improperly constructed scaffolding
- Unguarded elevator shafts
- Liquid spills not cleaned up
- Lack of proper fall protection equipment
- Lack of safety training
- Defective products
- Unmaintained safety items
An experienced lawyer can investigate the cause of your accident and who may be responsible for it.
Who Is Responsible for Construction Site Accidents?
Many people may work on construction sites at the same time, which can complicate the matter of determining who is responsible for your accident. Recovering compensation for a construction site accident often relies on showing that another party owed you a duty of care and breached that duty, thereby causing your injury.
Depending on the circumstances, the following parties may be responsible for construction site accidents:
- Property owners
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Architects
- Engineers
- Product manufacturers
- Motorists
An experienced Jacksonville construction injury lawyer can help determine who bears liability in your construction accident case.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Construction Accident in Jacksonville, FL?
If your employer is responsible for your accident, you are typically restricted from suing them directly for compensation.
Instead, you are limited to workers’ compensation benefits, which typically include:
- Payment for medical care your doctor recommends
- Partial wage replacement benefits of two-thirds of your average weekly wages
- Vocational counseling, job placement, formal retraining, and related services if you are unable to return to your previous job due to your work-related injuries
If a third party such as a property owner or general contractor was responsible for your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- The full amount of lost wages beyond the limits of workers’ compensation benefits
- Medical expenses, including payment for medical expenses you anticipate incurring in the future
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
An experienced lawyer can review your claim and determine what type of compensation you may be able to recover.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Jacksonville Construction Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a construction accident, you deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity. Trust the award-winning construction accident lawyers at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers for help with your case. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
