Construction Accident FAQ

• What Are Construction Accidents?
• What Are the Most Common Types of Construction Accidents?
• What Causes Construction Accidents in Hollywood and Other Florida Communities?
• What Injuries Are Common in Construction Job Site Incidents?
• What Makes Construction Site Accidents Different Than Other Workplace Injury Claims?
• Who Is Liable in My Construction Site Accident?
• How Can I Get Compensation If My Construction Site Employer Does Not Have Workers’ Compensation?
• Could I Have a Claim, Even If I’m Not a Construction Site Worker?
• How Much Is My Construction Injury Worth?
• Why Is Having an Experienced Construction Site Injury Claims Attorney Important?

In Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and across South Florida, construction projects are essential to build and renovate homes and businesses as well as infrastructure. For the people who work on these sites, however, these projects are dangerous. In 2020 alone, the private construction sector in Florida saw 82 work fatalities, more than any other sector.

The team at Flaxman Law Group has worked with many survivors of serious construction accidents and we have put together these questions to address construction worksite accidents. If you have been injured and have further questions, you can always call us at 866-352-9626 to speak to a live person or contact us online to schedule a free accident consultation with a construction accident attorney.

Construction accidents are injuries which occur on the job on worksites. These accidents can occur during road work projects, during the construction of new buildings or structures, or during major renovation projects.

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Common construction accidents include:

• Falls, especially falls from heights (such as scaffolding)
• Being hit by objects
• Electrocution
• Crushing injuries, which can be heavy machinery accidents
• Forklift accidents
• Trucking accidents
• Traffic or pedestrian accidents

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There are four main causes of construction accidents:

Human factors: Human error and negligence can lead to injuries on busy projects. A person may fail to follow safety protocols, for example, or may be poorly trained, and this can lead to tragedy.

Technical causes: Poorly maintained or designed heavy machinery and work equipment can also lead to workplace accidents on construction sites.

Organizational causes: Construction sites need to have safety processes in place to keep everyone safe. If a site does not have the correct protocols and oversight, accidents and injuries can happen.

Environmental causes: Heavy rain, heat, and electrical storms can be very dangerous for workers exposed to the elements on a construction site. The supervisors and managers of a site are expected to take the weather conditions into consideration and take steps to keep workers safe.

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Injuries on the job can include:

• Burns and electrocution
• Head injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries
• Fractures
• Amputations
• Crushing injuries

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Construction site accidents involve heavy machinery, dangerous chemicals, and other hazards. This sector has a high rate of serious injury and death, which can mean the compensation survivors need may be higher. Workers and their families may need larger settlements to pay for complex injuries and ongoing medical care.

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If you were injured while working on a construction site, you may want to contact a construction accident injury claims attorney to determine who is liable for your losses. As an employee, you may have a workers’ compensation claim and may not be able to sue your employer.

However, you may also have a claim against the manufacturers of specific equipment, contractors, drivers who entered the worksite, and other potential liable parties. If you have a third-party claim, you may be able to get workers’ compensation benefits and benefits from a third-party claim. However, the workers’ compensation insurance provider may be entitled to recover some of the money you have received from a third-party claim.

An experienced attorney can review your rights and options with you as you seek compensation. He or she can also help you understand what the best strategy may be to seek fair compensation for your injury.

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Under Florida law, employers with qualifying employees are required by law to pay workers’ compensation insurance on behalf of their workers. However, some employers break the law or misclassify their workers to avoid having to pay. In these cases, you have the right to sue your employer if their negligence caused your injuries, and you can also sue any other liable parties. This allows you to seek full compensation for your injuries, which can be more than workers’ compensation benefits may offer.

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Yes, each year people are seriously injured while walking by, visiting, or driving by construction sites. For example, a delivery driver delivering lunch to a construction site may be hit by heavy machinery. Or a driver driving through a construction zone may be injured when a heavy object drops on their windshield. In these types of situations, those who are injured may have a claim if negligence caused their injuries.

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Every construction site injury claim is different, and how much compensation you may qualify will depend on several factors, including whether you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits or whether you also qualify for a third-party claim. If you have a third-party claim, you may be able to secure fairer compensation, because you may be able to seek full compensation for lost wages, whereas workers’ comp in most states places a cap on wage benefits. You may also be able to seek compensation for future expected medical bills, incidental costs, property damage, and pain and suffering, which are not covered by workers’ compensation.

The seriousness and expected costs of your injuries will also play a role in how much your claim may be worth. A serious, life-altering injury will be worth more than an injury from which you are expected to recover in a few weeks. Still, it is important not to undervalue your injuries. You may want to speak with an experienced workplace injury claims attorney to get an accurate picture of how much your injury can really end up costing you.

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Once you are injured on the job, insurance companies and other parties who may be held liable or responsible for your compensation will start to take steps to limit how much compensation they will pay you. Your construction site accident claims attorney protects your interests and pursues compensation that is fair, so you have the best chance of having more of your wage losses and medical care covered.

The legal team at Flaxman Law Group has more than 60 years of combined experience and in our years of serving South Florida residents, we have seen many hard-working construction site workers given lowball offers by insurance companies or even blamed for their injuries. Our team has already recovered over $100 million for our clients and we’re passionate about helping those who have been injured because of the negligence of others.

If you have been injured and would like to know whether you have a claim, we offer a free, no obligation consultation. Just call Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.

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