Construction Site Accidents

Construction sites are known to be dangerous. When they are negligently maintained or contain unreasonable dangers, workers and others can be seriously hurt. Both federal and state entities set regulations regarding construction sites as well as claims associated with them. Workplace accident claims can often become complicated battles. The injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon have experience helping people in the Miami area who have been hurt on a construction site. We know how to navigate the legal complexities to pursue proper compensation for your harm. Our firm represents clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as throughout Florida.

Even the most careful workers can get hurt on the job at a construction site and sustain serious, life-altering injuries. Accidents may happen for a variety of reasons, including:

• Falling scaffolds;
• Electrical injuries;
• Dangerous chemical spills;
• Explosions or fires;
• Crane accidents; or
• Faulty equipment.

These types of accidents can result in a variety of serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury, broken bones and fractures, amputations, or severe burns. Sometimes these accidents can even be fatal. Construction workers should know their legal rights and options when it comes to workplace injuries, and those responsible for creating an unsafe environment should be held accountable for any harm that occurs.

Just because you work in a dangerous place does not mean that your supervisor or employer is not responsible for making sure your job environment is reasonably safe. Various parties can potentially be held liable for injuries sustained at a construction site, including its owners, general contractors, sub-contractors, or any manufacturer that provides defective equipment. Construction companies have a responsibility to have sites checked by safety inspectors to make sure hazardous materials, surfaces, and equipment are not present. Where these inspections fail or are not performed, workers can be seriously hurt. Depending on the type of accident and who was responsible for it, different areas of law could govern a lawsuit that arises from it.

Workers’ compensation claims may be the appropriate remedy for employees who are hurt on the job. Usually, an injured worker is not permitted to bring legal action against his or her employer if these no-fault benefits cover the harm sustained. However, this type of claim can be pursued in combination with a third-party lawsuit against a non-employer defendant that shared responsibility for the accident. For a victim to assert the right to damages in a personal injury lawsuit, he or she generally must show that the defendant was negligent. This means that the defendant breached a duty of care owed to the victim and that the breach caused the victim’s harm and the associated damages. For instance, if a sub-contractor failed to secure heavy building materials properly, and those materials fell on a worker, causing a brain injury, the sub-contractor may be liable.

Severe injuries sustained in a construction site accident can require years of medical treatment, which may be painful and costly. Damages that may be recovered from a negligent defendant often include pain and suffering, loss of income, medical costs, and lost earning capacity. Construction site accidents may require an extensive investigation of the site and the circumstances surrounding the incident, as well as an examination of the materials and equipment, to determine liability.

The accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon believe that people in Miami and other communities who have dangerous jobs should be compensated if they are hurt at work. If you have been injured in a construction site mishap, we can help you pursue a legal claim against those responsible to help alleviate the financial burden during the recovery process. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case.