Construction sites are incredibly dangerous, and, not surprisingly, construction work has one of the highest injury rates out of all occupations. However, construction workers have several options to pursue compensation after an accident. At the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, we have decades of experience helping our clients recover financially after construction accidents. We can determine which type of claims are most likely to result in the largest award for you and your family and effectively pursue a claim on your behalf.
Types of Construction AccidentsGiven the many dangers at a construction site, as well as the various types of workers present on a site, there are many different types of construction accidents. Some of the most common accidents include:
Regardless of the nature of your injuries, the skilled personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers at the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, have helped others who found themselves in a similar situation.
How Can Injured Construction Workers Recover Financially After an Accident?Workers who are hurt in a construction accident have several different ways they can obtain compensation for their injuries. The first is a workers’ compensation claim. Under North Carolina law, almost all employers are required to have a workers’ compensation insurance policy. These policies provide coverage for employees’ injuries that occur on the job or in relation to their job. For example, a construction worker could file a workers’ compensation claim after a serious accident, such as falling off scaffolding, or after developing an occupational illness or diseases, such as hearing loss or respiratory illness.
There are a few important things to know about workers’ comp claims. First, because the workers’ compensation system is a no-fault program, an injured worker doesn’t need to prove that anyone else was responsible for their injuries. Thus, even if you were hurt due to your own mistake or negligence, you may still qualify for benefits. Second, workers’ compensation benefits are limited, in most cases, to a worker’s medical expenses and lost wages. In other words, you cannot obtain non-economic damages through a workers’ comp claim.
The other option for those injured in construction accidents is to pursue a third-party personal injury claim against the responsible party. These cases are different from workers’ compensation claims in several ways. First, because they are personal injury claims, they require you to establish that someone else was negligent and that their negligence caused your injuries. Second, in most cases, you cannot pursue a third-party injury claim against an employer if they have a valid workers’ compensation insurance policy.
Together, these differences make obtaining compensation through a third-party injury lawsuit more challenging. However, the trade-off is that you are eligible for non-economic damages in a third-party personal injury lawsuit.
Have You Been Injured in a Construction Accident?If you or a loved one recently suffered serious injuries on a construction site, the dedicated Charlotte personal injury lawyers at the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, are here to help. With more than two decades of experience working with injured workers, we understand what you are going through and what it will take to get you the compensation necessary to make you whole. We offer all prospective clients a free consultation, during which we will explain the personal injury and workers’ compensation systems, answer your questions, and provide you with guidance on how to effectively pursue your claim. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with a Charlotte workplace injury lawyer, give us a call at 704-405-2580. You can also reach one of our Concord injury lawyers at 704-918-4747. We take all personal injury and workers’ compensation cases on a contingency basis, meaning we will not bill you for our services unless we can connect you with compensation for what you’ve been through.