The construction accident lawyers at the Law Office of Carl Maltese serve Long Island construction workers that have been injured in the Suffolk County area. Even with the continued advances for safety in a workplace, construction work is still considered very dangerous. Accidents arising from construction can involve serious and even life-threatening injuries resulting in lifelong impacts on a person's ability to perform normal daily activities. It is so important for anyone who has been injured while on a construction site to seek the formal legal advice of experienced attorneys.
Even for those who don't experience any type of immediate pain related to the injury, it is still necessary for them to get in touch with a construction accident lawyer in Suffolk County. This is because underlying issues of their injury may not always present themselves immediately. Injured workers can schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Carl Maltese to better understand their rights and know what to do regarding their involvement in a construction accident.
The construction accident lawyers at the Law Office of Carl Maltese stay abreast of all the changing laws that affect a construction accident and utilize their in-depth knowledge regarding a personal injury claim to help their clients pursue compensation. All victims of construction site injury cases are provided with a free case review.
How a Constructions Accident Lawyer at the Law Office of Carl Maltese Assists Construction Accident Victims
The construction accident lawyers at the Law Office of Carl Maltese understand the hardships that serious injuries can create for construction workers and their families, especially when considering how a construction injury can prevent a major wage earner from providing for them and their loved ones.
Permanent disability may even mean the end of one's career, and sometimes, finding other work offering the same wages and benefits may not always be possible. However, it is possible for a victim to recover compensation for their lost wages, injuries, and more.
These construction accident lawyers have successfully negotiated and litigated accident settlements for decades and, as such, have recovered millions in compensation for their previous clients. Their expertise in handling construction accident cases is exactly what is needed for a personal injury victim to endure the legal process and obtain compensation as a result.
What Damages Can be Recovered for a Construction Injury?
There are many damages that a construction worker may be eligible to recover if they happen to have suffered injuries on a construction site in Suffolk County. Listed below are examples of some of the damages that may be recovered:
Hospital costs
Ambulance transportation costs
Emergency room stays
X-rays, lab tests, CT scans, and other diagnostic imaging scans
Physical rehabilitation services
Surgery
Therapy
Medication
Current and future medical care bills
In addition to the above damages, there are also other losses that may be eligible for recovery, such as:
Loss of job
Loss of wages
Loss of support
All out-of-pocket bills
Loss of earning capacity
Mental suffering
Physical pain and suffering
Additional emotional damage
Who May Be Liable For a Construction Accident?
The liability of construction accidents is determined based on the specifics of an incident. Hiring a Long Island construction accident attorney can provide injured workers with guidance through the complex legal process of construction accident claims. A construction accident lawyer will represent their client so that they can obtain the compensation needed in order to heal from their injuries.
First and foremost, an employer or head general contractor has the duty to prepare their construction workers properly. This means that each worker is needed to be educated in proper protocol and procedures when working on construction sites. This includes mandatory safety training that is ordered by state law. Proper training regarding all equipment must also be provided, on top of how to replace defective equipment.
It is the job of a construction accident lawyer to identify the liable party in a worker's compensation claim. The liability established will depend on the circumstances of the injury and the construction site accident.
What Can Be Sued for After a Construction Injury?
In the state of New York, workers generally cannot sue their employer for work-related injuries. Therefore, a construction accident personal injury case may be classified as one of the following.
A Product Liability Case
This arises when a worker has been injured by a defective or faulty product. If this is the case, they may be eligible to file a product liability claim for compensation from the supplier or manufacturer of the product.
A Wrongful Death Case
Family members who have lost a loved one as a direct result of construction site accidents may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Negligence may be brought forward by the legal advice of a Long Island construction accident lawyer.
A Personal Injury Case
If another party's negligent behavior caused a worker to suffer injuries in a construction site accident, then they may be able to pursue this party for compensation in a personal injury claim.
Third-Party Claim for Construction Injuries
The state of New York allows workers to file lawsuits where they may be able to recover compensation for injury-related expenses from third parties. These third parties include:
Contractor
Property owners
Subcontractors
Architects
Engineers
Equipment manufacturers
These several parties have the responsibility for maintaining safe construction sites that have adequate safety measures and safety equipment in place. Third-party claims typically offer much greater compensation than what a workers' compensation claim offers. Damages that have been recovered under workers' compensation claims do not normally recover accident-related damages, such as pain and suffering.
The Special Liability Rules that Apply to Some Construction Fall Injuries
Under the statute of New York, a general contractor or owner may be liable for injuries related to elevation. This does not only include worker falls but also injuries that have been caused by falling debris or equipment.
The special laws that New York has in place, therefore, protect construction workers who have been injured on the job in some type of accident. The Long Island construction accident lawyers at the Law Office of Carl Maltese are familiar with the Scaffold Law and other statutes that may apply in their client's case.
A worker who has, therefore, suffered injuries on a job site, such as a scaffolding accident, falling from a height or ladder, the Long Island construction accident attorneys at the Law Office of Carl Maltese can serve them.
Types of Construction Accidents That May Qualify for Compensation
There are many different types of situations that may result in a construction accident, common construction accidents, therefore, include:
Falls from elevated heights
Scaffolding accidents
Being hit by falling objects
Falls from ladders
Crane Accidents
Unsafe equipment accidents
Forklift injuries
Electrocution or other electrical accidents
Trench collapses
Fires and explosions
Welding accidents
Building collapsing
Statistics That Surround Accidents at Construction Sites
Thousands of construction workers are injured while working construction annually. Although the construction industry and its related worksites are inherently hazardous, worksites must still be kept safe. Dangers are generally inevitable when it comes to construction sites, but more injuries seem to happen when proper safety measures are not being abided by.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) claims that:
From 2019 to 2020, as many as one in five fatalities in the workplace was in the construction industry. This was more fatalities than any other private-sector occupation.
Three out of five of the most cited OSHA regulations in the year 2019 to 2020 were related to a fall injury on a construction site, which includes fall protection, ladders, and scaffolding.
Regardless of the vast amount of safety regulations, there is still a high risk that remains in regards to construction, making it a dangerous industry to work in. Anyone injured in a construction accident may mistakenly have the belief that a claim for workers' compensation is their only legal recourse.
However, there are other legal remedies available for serious construction injuries, in addition to workers' compensation. Long Island construction accident lawyers at the Law Office of Carl Maltese will work together with a victims' workers compensation lawyer should they already have one helping them with their claim.
What to do After a Construction Accident
As already noted in the information presented above, construction sites are dangerous. There are all sorts of dangers ranging from dangerous equipment and heavy equipment to hazards at extreme heights. Thus, anyone who is hurt on a construction site needs to follow the steps below to promote the best possible results for their case outcome:
Injured workers should seek medical assistance immediately.
They need to notify their employer of the injuries sustained.
All evidence needs to be gathered.
Other Suffolk County Practice Areas
The Construction Accident Lawyers Represent Injured Workers on a Contingency Fee Basis
The construction site accident lawyers at the Law Office of Carl Maltese represent their clients on a contingency fee basis. This means that if compensation cannot be recovered, clients do not pay these lawyers an attorney fee.
Those injured in construction accidents can get ahold of these lawyers today at (631) 857-3703 to book a free legal consultation. Weekend and evening appointments may be available if requested, and if the victim is unable to travel due to injuries sustained, these lawyers will go to them.