Construction Accident Lawyers Nassau County
Construction Accident Lawyers Nassau County
Construction Accident Lawyers Nassau County Workers Trust Explains Construction Accident Claims Process
One of the more common types of injury cases we handle at name of form are construction site accidents. A Nassau County construction accident lawyer from Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen understands how devastating the injuries victims sustain in these accidents can be and will do all we can to ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Call our office to set up a free case evaluation. In the meantime, the following is a brief overview of construction site accidents.
Liability
Under Illinois law, if an employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, it usually leaves them immune from personal injury lawsuits should a worker get injured on the job. However, workers’ comp does not provide an employer immunity from injuries a worker suffers that was a result of an intentional or egregious act, although in the majority of these types of cases, the claim or lawsuit is usually filed against a third party.
Some of the more common third parties who are named in any claim a construction accident lawyer in Nassau County files includes:
- Construction site owner: If the lawsuit is filed against the owner of the construction site, the liability is usually based on the amount of control the owner actually had over the site, compared to the amount of control over the work that was being conducted on the site itself.
- General contractors and subcontractors: Under federal regulations, both general and subcontractors have a duty to provide all workers with a safe work site, ensure that all the processes used to complete work on the site is being done according to safety regulations put in place by the federal and state agencies, and to warn all workers of any dangers or hazards that are either on site or are part of the duties of the job. If a worker is injured and that injury is the result of any failure of the general and/or sub-contractor to follow those regulations, the laws allows the worker to pursue financial compensation for their injuries from the contractor responsible for the failure.
- Prime contractors: A primary contractor is a contractor who is responsible only for the work that is specified specifically in their contract or any work that the prime contractor assigns to a sub-contractor.
- Engineers and architects: There are situations where engineers or architects have the duty to oversee the progress of the project and to make sure all aspects of the project are compliant with safety and code regulations.
- Manufacturers: If the injury was the result of defective equipment, then any party involved in the distribution chain may be held liable. This includes the manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer.
If a worker is injured in a construction site accident, they should take the following steps to ensure not only they receive treatment for their injury, but also ensure they can pursue damages against those parties responsible for the injuries:
- Make sure to obtain medical attention immediately, even if you think you only may have a minor injury.
- Report the incident/injury to the employer, manager, or supervisor and document who you provided this information to.
- Talk to witnesses to the incident and see if they are willing to give statements to what they saw.
- Take photographs of the accident site, any equipment that may have caused or contributed to the injury, and of the injury itself.
- Contact a construction attorney in Nassau County right away to find out what legal recourse you may have.
If you have been injured in a construction site accident, contact one of the construction Accident lawyers Nassau County clients turn to for help from Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, PC.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Although construction site managers do their best to make the workplace safe for workers, accidents can still happen from time to time. Here are the most common types of construction accidents a construction accident lawyer in Nassau County, NY sees:
- Falls from Heights: Since many buildings are constructed at great heights, construction workers are at risk of suffering falls. If they are not paying careful attention and miss just one step, they can fall and suffer serious injuries. In some cases, fatalities can occur. Using protective equipment, like nets and safety hardness, can help reduce the risk of these accidents.
- Electrocution: As a construction accident lawyer in Nassau County, NY can confirm, electrocution is another common cause of construction accidents. Construction workers can suffer burns and shocks if they are exposed to live wires. Wet conditions, damaged equipment, working too close to power lines and improper cord use can increase the risk of electrocution. \
- Getting Hit By Objects: On a construction site, workers are also in danger of being struck by materials, loose objects and heavy machinery. These accidents can lead to serious head injuries. To minimize the risk of these accidents, it is important for workers to always be aware of their surroundings. They should also always wear hard hats. If an object does hit them, the hat can protect them from severe injuries.
- Being Struck by Vehicles: On a construction site, there are several vehicles carrying materials in and out. Construction sites are also frequently located near highways where many vehicles go by. If it is dark out or the drivers are distracted, they might not see the construction workers and hit them.
- Machine Entanglement: As a construction accident lawyer in Nassau County, NY can attest, construction workers have to work around heavy machinery and must be careful. If they are not paying attention or don’t have the proper training to control a machine, they can get caught in between a machine and suffer severe injuries, like loss of limbs. Do not ever wear jewelry or loose clothing that can easily get caught in these machines.
- Slips and Falls: Slip and fall accidents can also occur on construction sites. If there is clutter on the ground or an area is poorly lit, construction workers can slip and fall and suffer head injuries, broken bones and other injuries.