Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident Lawyers
The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You Got Hurt in a Construction Accident
If you or someone you know was hurt on a construction site, the Fort Lauderdale construction accident lawyers at the Levin Firm can offer legal support. We know that construction sites are hazardous places. Workers, subcontractors, and civilians can all get injured when proper safety protocols are not implemented and followed.
The aftermath of a Fort Lauderdale construction accident is difficult to navigate without the help of an experienced attorney. Your attorney will investigate the accident carefully to determine if you need to file a workers’ compensation claim, a third-party injury claim, or a personal injury claim.
At The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, our Fort Lauderdale construction lawyers know how to handle these tough cases. We have the resources and experienced needed to win maximum compensation for our clients.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your right to payment for your injuries.
Everyone Should Follow OSHA Standards at Fort Lauderdale Construction Sites
Everybody must follow OSHA standards on every construction project in Fort Lauderdale and throughout South Florida—and that means everyone.
Here are the parties that need to comply with OSHA while working on construction projects:
- Employers.
- Construction site owners: If someone owns a construction site, they have a responsibility to keep the site safe for everybody there. When construction site owners are told about a dangerous condition and they do not warn of the danger or correct the problem, they can be held liable for resulting accidents.
- Contractors and subcontractors: Any contractor or subcontractor working on a construction project or construction site must adhere to OSHA standards. They need to maintain safe work environments for themselves and construction workers. Amongst other things, OSHA standards state that contractors and subcontractors must practice proper, timely equipment maintenance and repairs.
- Equipment manufacturers: Some equipment is defective from the time it’s first used. When equipment manufacturers are responsible for making and selling defective equipment, they are also responsible for the damage that occurs because of it.
- Architects and engineers: Architects and engineers can violate OSHA standards if they don’t adhere to building codes, or if create designs with dangerous flaws. It’s possible to hold them liable for those mistakes in court.
If you have questions about OSHA standard violations at a construction site, reach out to our qualified attorneys for help.
Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident Causes
Accidents on construction sites in Fort Lauderdale can be traced back to lots of different causes. Most of the root causes of accidents listed below are actually due to another cause: negligence or recklessness.
Manufacturers, site owners, contractors, and other parties can all behave negligently or recklessly and put other people’s safety at risk.
Scaffolding and ladder accidents
Scaffolding and ladders allow workers to perform jobs high up. They’re necessary tools at most construction sites, but using them can be risky. It’s exceptionally dangerous to fall from high up; user and mechanical failures can both occur, as can other accidents.
Misuse of tools
Even safely-used tools can hurt somebody (like during an equipment malfunction), but misusing tools makes them even more dangerous. Tool misuse on construction sites leads to injury and, in some cases, death.
Mechanical failure
Lots of construction vehicles and large pieces of machinery can suffer from mechanical failure. When this happens, it’s very easy for catastrophic injuries to occur before anyone has a chance to figure out what’s happening.
Falling objects
Loose objects and debris are common at construction sites. These can cause serious damage if and when they fall onto people or property.
Other Causes of Construction Accidents
- Safety implements misuse.
- Welding accidents.
- Trenching.
- Slips and falls.
- User error.
- Heavy equipment failure.
Common Construction Accident Injuries
At The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, our construction accident lawyers have helped injured accident victims just like you. We know how to go up against insurers, construction companies, and their legal teams and win. We’ve helped injured accident victims and construction site workers who suffered serious and life-changing injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Amputation and disfigurement
- Internal organ damage
- Burns and scarring
- Electrocution injuries
- And more
Recoverable Damages After a Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident
Some of the most common questions that people have after construction accidents involves compensation. How much is my construction accident case worth? What damages can a victim recover? How much compensation should they expect to receive? Do you need to work with a lawyer if you want to get compensation?
Injured construction workers, civilians, sub-contractors, and tenants can recover damages after suffering an injury in a construction accident. However, there’s no easy way to predict how much you may receive in damages.
It’s usually proportional to the extent of your injuries, your relationship to the construction company, and the price you’ve paid for your injuries (emotionally and monetarily).
- Medical bills: You may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills if someone else caused your construction accident. This includes past, present, and projected medical bills associated with your injuries. Surgeries, prescriptions, specialized care, medical equipment, and other costs also qualify.
- Lost wages: It is very common for someone to miss time from work after a construction accident. Even if it’s only a matter of a few days, that can mean necessary money down the drain. You have the right to pursue compensation for lost wages incurred because of your construction accident.
- Diminished earning capacity: Lost wages are one thing, but diminished earning capacity is an even more daunting issue. Diminished earning capacity refers to someone’s ability to earn money being permanently diminished because of an accident. Damages are often much greater than damages for lost wages, because they compensate for a lifelong result of the accident.
- Pain and suffering: No one deserves to experience pain and suffering because of someone else’s neglect or recklessness. If you’ve had to grapple with physical or emotional pain, ask your attorney about pain and suffering damages.
- Disability: Some construction accidents lead to disability. When this occurs, it’s very important to partner with a reliable lawyer who can help you defend your rights. Many insurance companies and courts do not automatically fairly award disabled accident survivors. Pursuing these types of damages takes the knowledgeable pursuit of the right compensation.
Workers’ Compensation After a Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident
When you work with a construction accident attorney, you’ll probably find that you can rely on workers’ compensation to some extent after your injury. It’s normal if people don’t know how to request or receive workers’ compensation. We can help.
Here are some basic facts about workers’ compensation:
- Workers’ compensation exists to financially support employees who are injured on the job.
- If you were not performing work when you were injured at a construction site, you are not eligible for workers’ compensation insurance.
- Workers’ compensation does not cover all of the potential damages a victim may experience af.ter an injury, but workers don’t need to prove fault or that a violation caused the injury
- We can help file your claim and improve your chances of getting it approved, or fight a wrongful denial or reduction of your rightful benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
What OSHA standards are violated most frequently at Fort Lauderdale construction sites?
According to Federal OSHA, the ten most frequently cited violations were:
- Fall protection (29 CFR 1926.501)
- Hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
- Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451)
- Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) (29 CFR 1910.147)
- Respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910.134)
- Ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053)
- Powered industrial trucks (29 CFR 1910.178)
- Fall protection-training requirements (29 CFR 1926.503)
- Machinery and machine guarding (29 CFR 1910.212)
- Eye and face protection (29 CFR 1926.102)
Are Fort Lauderdale construction workers covered under workers’ compensation insurance?
Yes, construction workers are covered under workers’ compensation insurance. Their employers pay for the insurance and workers receive insurance coverage at no extra cost.
When construction workers are injured, they can visit a doctor who is approved by the appropriate insurance company for an examination. Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical costs from that point forward.
Workers’ compensation benefits are intended to include:
- Required medical care, treatment, and prescriptions necessitated by your injury;
- Disability and death benefits; and
- 2/3s of your average weekly wage while you are out of work (generally, workers are not compensated for the first seven days they are out of work because of their injuries).
Who can I sue if I was hurt in a Fort Lauderdale construction accident?
Remember: every construction accident is unique. It’s impossible to tell who may be responsible (and whom you can sue) for your accident. The best way to know who caused your accident is to consult a qualified construction accident attorney. An attorney can help you understand your legal rights.
Some examples of people and entities who are held liable for construction accidents include:
- Property and construction site owners;
- Other construction workers whose negligence caused your injury;
- Manufacturers of defective tools or other equipment; and
- Worksite managers.
Who can a victim sue if they are injured while visiting or walking near a Fort Lauderdale construction site?
If you are walking by or visiting a construction site and you are injured, you have the right to sue anyone responsible for your injuries. If you want to know who might be responsible for your specific accident, you should talk to an experienced construction accident attorney.
Three common examples include:
- The site owner;
- General contractors; and
- Subcontractors.
Even if you visited a construction site uninvited, those responsible for maintaining the site still owed you a duty of care. You should still be kept safe. If people who own or work on a construction site fail to keep you safe, you may have a legal right to bring a case against them.
Can I still sue even if my injuries after a Fort Lauderdale construction accident were not severe?
Yes. Absolutely.
You have the right to pursue damages if you have been hurt by someone else’s recklessness or neglect. The extent of your injuries does not matter. If you have been injured at a construction site, you should reach out to a qualified attorney to learn more about your rights.
What are the common types of Fort Lauderdale construction accidents?
Most construction sites present lots of opportunities for accidents to happen.
It doesn’t matter whether someone is an employee, a contractor, or anyone else—when they’re on construction site premises, it’s very easy to be hurt by:
- Equipment accidents: Equipment accidents can be very dangerous, especially if they involve heavy machinery. There are a lot of different pieces of equipment that see use at construction sites and most of them can hurt you.
- Falling objects: Falling objects are very dangerous and they can fall (or be dropped) from absolutely anywhere. Common falling objects at construction sites include bricks, tools, and boards.
- Crane accidents: Cranes are risky on their own. Workers must follow strict safety measures when they operate and use cranes (or similar vehicles and equipment). Unfortunately, crane accidents are commonplace at construction sites. Many different components of cranes can be defective and, in some cases, users do not follow safety procedures.
- Scaffolding collapses: Thanks to scaffolding, construction workers can perform important work high up off of the ground. Scaffolding requires proper setup and maintenance, and these don’t always occur. Scaffolding must be erected, maintained, and taken down properly. It’s dangerous when something goes awry.
- Fires and explosions: We all know what fires and explosions entail. When they happen near construction, they can create additional through their proximity to equipment and machinery. There are often pressurized containers and flammable chemicals on construction sites that both present a fire danger and make fires more dangerous when they occur.
How dangerous is construction work?
Did you know that more than 5,000 construction workers die on the job each year? That’s more than 100 construction worker fatalities per week, and more than 14 per day.
The stats don’t lie. It’s dangerous to work in construction—21 percent of private industry worker fatalities in 2018 occurred in construction. That’s one in five worker deaths last year that were in construction.
Many common accidents in the construction industry are also commonly fatal. Electrocution falls, strikes by objects, and caught-in/betweens: these four types of accidents are “the Fatal Four.” Sixty percent of construction worker deaths involve the Fatal Four. Eliminating the Fatal Four could save up to 591 lives across the U.S. each year.
As a construction worker you face serious risks. In fact, one in ten construction workers is injured every year. How does that play out in injury numbers? It accounts for roughly 15,000 construction accident injuries every year.
Choose An Experienced Construction Accident Lawyer at The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers
Win With Levin.
At the Levin Firm, our team of Fort Lauderdale construction accident attorneys dedicates ourselves to educating and empowering our clients. If you choose to work with us, we will help you understand your case and pursue your rights after an injury accident. Reach out to us online or call (954) 715-3260 today to find out more about our services or to schedule a free initial consultation. A construction accident lawyer at our law firm is here to help.
The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers | Fort Lauderdale Office
820 NW 7th Terr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
954-715-3260