Construction is an inherently dangerous profession. Every day you are surrounded by heavy equipment, dangerous machinery, and a changing, unpredictable environment. That’s why it is so imperative that the construction industry stays up-to-date on the latest safety procedures, properly maintain all equipment, and follow government and OSHA construction guidelines when it comes to creating and maintaining a hazard-free work environment for employees.
Some companies will, unfortunately, prioritize profits and getting a job done on time over the health and safety of their employees. When this happens, construction workers seriously injured in accidents are the ones who are left to pay the price.
Have you or a loved one been involved in a serious construction accident? Then it is time to talk to an experienced attorney. You are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages for your work-related injury or illness. However, workers’ compensation insurance companies are not always quick to offer the full and fair benefits you deserve. The legal team at Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. has the knowledge and resources to help you secure the comprehensive benefits you need following a serious construction accident.
What’s more, if a third party had a role to play in your construction accident, you may be eligible for additional compensation from that party. We’ll thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident to identify all forms of financial recovery that may be due to you.
Contact Carrollton construction accident attorneys at Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. to go over all your legal rights and options. Call us today at 770-205-0933 for a no-cost case evaluation.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Statistics show that construction is one of the most hazardous fields to work in. According to numbers from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 5,250 workers died on the job in 2018, and of those deaths, 21.1% were in construction. Countless more construction workers are injured. These construction accidents can cost companies millions of dollars per year; that’s because non-fatal injury rates in the construction industry are 71 percent higher than in any other industry.
There is a huge variety of ways that an employee may be injured on the job, but these can often be linked to four main causes, known as the “fatal four.” According to OSHA, the “fatal four” are responsible for more than half of the construction worker deaths in 2018.
The most common and deadly of the “fatal four” is falls, accounting for more than 33 percent of construction accident fatalities. Falls from major heights, like off ladders, roofs, or cranes, are a major source of falling fatalities. However, slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of non-fatal injuries on construction sites.
The three other leading causes of serious construction accidents include being struck by an object, electrocutions, and being caught in or in between an object. OSHA calculated that eliminating these “fatal four” accident causes would save hundreds of lives every year. These are some of the other more common types of construction accidents that can cause serious and even fatal injuries:
- Scaffolding collapses
- Ladder accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Crane accidents
- Trench collapses
- Injuries from tools or heavy machinery
- Falling debris
- Respiratory injuries (lack of respiratory protection)
- Eye and face injuries from debris or shrapnel
- Industrial trucking accidents
- Hazardous energy tagout accidents
- Defective equipment
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury while working at a construction site, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced Carrollton attorney. At Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C., our team has dealt with numerous construction accident cases and can help you determine all the steps you should take to secure your workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers’ Compensation in Georgia
All 50 states have laws and regulations governing workers’ compensation for employees who have been injured on the job. Georgia is no different. The system in Georgia is designed to compensate workers for some of their losses and help get the victim safely back to work, if possible. Businesses that employ at least three people are required by Georgia law to provide workers’ compensation insurance to their staff.
The question is, will the workers’ compensation insurance company pay you the full benefits you need and deserve? Insurance companies are for-profit companies, and it’s in their interest to minimize the benefits you receive in any way they can.
What many workers may not realize is that an experienced attorney can help you strengthen your case and work towards getting you the benefits you deserve from your employer’s workers’ compensation company. Workers’ compensation may be the sole remedy you have for collecting the money you need after a construction accident. You need someone in your corner, making sure that you are compensated fairly for your injures.
When you’re injured on the job, you may be eligible to receive the following types of compensation:
- Medical expenses: This may include hospital stays, doctors’ visits, prescription medications, rehabilitation visits, and other medical treatments necessary to treat your work-related injury or illness.
- Lost wages: You may receive a percentage of your lost wages.
- Temporary or permanent total disability benefits: When you can’t return to your job while you’re recuperating, you may receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, which provides two-thirds of your average weekly wage at the time of the accident. You can usually receive these benefits for up to 400 weeks from the date of the injury. If your injuries are catastrophic, you may receive permanent total disability (PTD) benefits for the rest of your life.
- Temporary partial disability (TPD): This means your injury temporarily prevents you from performing your regular job duties or working a full schedule. Usually, your modified job will result in lower pay. So, you may be able to receive weekly payments including two-thirds of the difference between your wages before and after the construction accident.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD): PPD provides benefits for a permanent partial disability, such as the loss or use of a hand, a leg, your sight, or your hearing. Your weekly benefits will include two-thirds of your regular wages, for a duration that’s determined by the nature and severity of your injury.
- Death benefits: Family members can file for compensation for funeral expenses and up to two-thirds of the decedent’s average weekly salary.
- Vocational rehabilitation: If you’re unable to return to your previous job, you may be able to utilize job training and placement services.
- Mileage reimbursement: You may be eligible to receive compensation for any travel expenses related to your injury.
Given the complexity of the compensation available, determining the types and breadth of compensation you may be eligible for can be overwhelming. Fortunately, an attorney can walk you through all the benefits you may qualify for, gather the necessary evidence to support that claim, and ensure that the insurance company treats you fairly throughout the entire process.
Third-Party Liability in a Construction Site Accident
In some instances, a third-party entity, such as the manufacturer of a defective machine that caused an injury, may be liable for your injuries, as well. In addition to protecting your rights and getting you the workers’ compensation benefits you need, an attorney can help you determine whether you may additionally be able to pursue an injury claim against a third-party group.
In an injury claim, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages, but unlike workers’ compensation benefits, you can also pursue other forms of non-economic compensation, such as pain and suffering and mental anguish.
If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, it is imperative that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Our legal team would begin a swift and thorough investigation of your accident to collect witness statements and evidence that can strengthen your case.
Here are the most common types of third-party entities that may be held liable for causing a construction site accident:
- Third-party contractors: Many construction sites employ third party employees and operators. If the negligence of a third-party contractor is to blame for a work-related accident, the liability for the accident can fall on them. Even if you are collecting workers’ compensation, you may still be able to legally hold a third-party vendor accountable for your accident.
- Manufacturers: If a defective part or piece of equipment is the cause of a work-place accident, then the manufacturers of that product can be held responsible for damages.
- Property owners: The construction site itself may be an unsafe place. If conditions on the property are hazardous, it may be the property owner who bears some of the liability for contributing to an unsafe working environment.
There may be other circumstances and parties involved in fostering unsafe working conditions at a construction site. The learn more about who may be liable for damages related to your accident, contact Carrollton injury attorneys of Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. for a no-obligation case evaluation.
Contact a Carrollton Construction Accident Attorney
Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. is passionate about protecting the rights of injured employees. Before you give up and fall prey to the bullying tactics of an insurance company, contact Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. to get a full run-down of your legal rights. We want to help you recover the compensation you deserve following a serious construction accident. Contact us at 770-205-0933 to set up a free case evaluation today.