Should I Hire a Construction Accident Attorney?

Should I Hire a Construction Accident Attorney?

A construction accident can create life-threatening health complications, chronic pain, limited mobility, and poor quality of life. In nearly every city and state, very specific laws require a construction site to be made as safe as possible for those passing through it. When something goes wrong, and an injury occurs, you may have the right to compensation for your losses.

Construction site accidents are complex, often involving multiple parties and substantial expenses. Employing a construction accident attorney is crucial, as they can furnish you with the information, resources, and experience necessary to secure the optimal outcome for your case. Contact our San Diego construction accident attorneys now to explore how we can guide you through this intricate legal landscape.

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Your Construction Site Attorney Will Determine Why the Accident Occurred

One of your construction accident attorney's steps is to uncover what went wrong. Answering the question about what occurred helps determine who may be responsible for your losses. The facts and evidence from the incident scene will shed light on this. Some examples of who may be responsible include:

• The construction site manager
• The property owner
• Employees of the construction company who failed in their duty
• Third-party contractors or parties on the construction site
• Equipment manufacturers

By using evidence from the incident, your attorney will uncover who is responsible for your losses. Having a construction accident attorney handle this is invaluable. Your attorney knows how construction sites operate, who is responsible for various areas of the site, and what safety steps they must take to ensure the property is secure.

Your attorney also can obtain additional information and data from third-party sources. This may include access to employment logs or video of the site. It is more challenging to obtain this type of evidence that can prove negligence. By filing a motion with the court and presenting a clear reason for needing that data, attorneys can access what is often off-limits.

Construction sites are inherently dangerous locations. Yet, every party operating on that property must do what it takes to keep others safe through all phases of the construction process. When that does not happen, your construction accident attorney finds out why. Using that information, we can start obtaining a claim for your losses.

Common Injuries from Construction Site Accidents

Construction accident attorneys encounter many injuries from construction sites, especially in areas where construction is constantly in roadways and neighborhoods. Among the most prevalent injuries stemming from construction site accidents are:

Traumatic brain injuries

OSHA shares that about 25 percent of all construction fatalities that occur involve traumatic brain injuries, commonly known as TBIs. Falls from heights, objects striking a person in the head, or equipment hitting someone can cause these accidents. Both fatal and nonfatal traumatic brain injuries occur due to negligence consistently. This is a failure to keep locations safe, the lack of safety equipment, or ineffective warning for those passing by.

Traumatic brain injuries can result in:

• Death
• Cognitive function decline
• Changes in personality and mood swings
• Long-term impairment causing loss of mobility, communication, or mental health disorders

Broken and shattered bones

Some of the most frequent nonfatal injuries on construction sites are associated with broken bones, shattered bones, or complex fractures. These injuries often result from incidents like being pinned by equipment, falls, and crushing accidents. While some injuries may heal completely, others may lead to persistent issues, resulting in losses such as:

• Mobility loss
• Amputation
• Reconstructive procedures
• Numerous surgical procedures
• Chronic pain

Spinal column injuries

The spinal cord, which runs through the spinal column along the back, can be damaged in any type of construction accident impact or trauma to the area. Spinal column injuries can happen as a result of falls, equipment or safety failures, crushing accidents, and vehicle-related injuries. Some of the long-term losses from these injuries include:

• Partial or full paralysis
• Long-term recovery and rehabilitation to learn to walk
• Chronic pain
• Loss of ability to work or earn a living
• Difficulty with day-to-day function

Burns

Burns can occur due to poor equipment use or protection, electrical lines that are not protected, or explosions. They can also occur due to exposure to chemicals that burn the skin due to toxicity. Burns can also occur as a result of equipment malfunction. Some of the long-term losses this can result in include:

• Scarring
• Amputation
• Pain
• Disfigurement
• Multiple procedures to repair damage
• Infection

Additional types of injuries that can occur at a construction accident site may include:

• Eye injuries
• Electrocution-related injuries
• Neck and shoulder injury
• Back injury
• Knee or ankle injuries

In all of these situations, having an accident attorney can be critical to proving that the losses are due to the construction company's or another party's negligence. It is then necessary to show what those losses are. Your attorney will calculate the losses you have incurred to fight for your due compensation.

Your Attorney Determines What Your Losses Are

After a construction accident, your focus must be on recovery. You need to follow your doctor's recommendations, obtain therapy, and work towards full recovery. Your construction accident attorney will work closely with you to prove how this accident has impacted you. To do that, your attorney looks at the multiple types of losses you likely have. Here are some examples:

Medical losses

In a typical construction accident, a person will need emergency medical care, a potential hospital stay, surgical procedures, and medications. They may need long-term rehabilitation in a treatment center, adjustments to their home to accommodate mobility loss, and numerous doctors' appointments with specialists and others to work towards recovery.

This leads to significant costs. Your attorney will calculate all of these losses on your behalf. This includes gathering data from existing medical bills you owe and projecting costs related to continued care you may need. Your construction accident attorney will speak to medical professionals to determine what to expect moving forward in your recovery regarding medical costs for continued care needs.

Lost time at work

Additionally, you might have faced medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and ongoing expenses related to your injuries. These financial burdens are part of your overall losses, and seeking compensation can help alleviate the strain on your finances. Construction site accidents can have lasting effects, and pursuing a legal claim can assist in securing the financial support necessary for your recovery. Contact our construction accident attorneys now to discuss the specifics of your case and explore the potential avenues for obtaining the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Pain and suffering

Many construction accidents result in long-term injury and recovery. Many result in permanent disability. Throughout the entire time, you may struggle with pain and suffering. You may have numerous injuries that require you to move through your life with supportive devices or using pain medications. You may also lack the ability to do the things you love to do.

Pain and suffering is very much a real loss for a construction accident victim. If what happened to you is someone else's fault, they should pay you for your losses, including pain and suffering. Unlike medical bills, it can be more challenging to place a monetary value on what your pain or suffering is worth. Yet, with the help of your construction accident attorney, it becomes possible.

Your attorney will gather information and statistics about your losses from various sources. They will speak to witnesses who can explain how this accident impacted you. They can also look at previous case files and awards to understand your case's worth.

Most importantly, your construction site accident attorneys will use their experience in several ways:

• They can determine what losses you already have
• They will estimate the impact on your quality of life
• They will gather data to show the impact on your relationships
• They demonstrate how your injuries impact your earning capacity
• Attorneys can use hard data and evidence to demonstrate how this injury may have cost you years of your life

Their experience allows a construction accident attorney to find the data and resources to back up your claims and support your efforts to receive compensation. Many times, victims need those financial resources to meet day-to-day obligations after a permanent injury and to continue to obtain medical care.

Your Construction Accident Attorney Knows How to Prove Negligence

Another core reason to hire a construction site accident attorney is to make it abundantly clear you are not at fault for this accident. To prove negligence, the construction accident attorney must demonstrate four key elements.

• The person or company owed you a duty of care. This is the responsibility to do something to minimize risk.
• The person or company violated that duty of care in some way. They did not meet their responsibility to you, the victim.
• That breach of their duty of care caused injuries to you.
• The injuries led to losses to you either financially or through pain and suffering claims.

Proving all four of these elements occurred is critical and yet complex at the same time. On a construction site, especially if you are not an employee of the construction company, you must prove that there was a reason for you to be on the property or otherwise present. The key is to demonstrate that the company established a duty of care and that a breach of that duty is due to something they did or did not do.

This can be simple to do, or it can be very difficult. However, your case and ability to receive compensation for the injuries you suffered relies, at least in part, on your ability to prove negligence occurred. You can rely on your construction accident attorney to do what it takes to prove that it occurred in your situation.

The Benefits of Hiring a Construction Accident Lawyer

Consider, again, what the core reasons to hire a construction accident lawyer may be in your case:

• Attorneys understand the rules and requirements OSHA sets to ensure safe construction sites. They are knowledgeable and can identify when individuals fail to adhere to these rules.
• Attorneys can collect data and evidence that may be inaccessible or challenging for others to obtain. That evidence may be exactly what is needed to prove your case.
• Your attorney comprehends the cause of the incident and can utilize data to demonstrate that negligence occurred, providing clear evidence to insurance companies and the court that you are entitled to compensation.
• Attorneys also have ample experience to understand all the losses you have suffered and can create a clear claim outlining those losses.

In many states, you have two years from the accident date to take action. Do not wait that long to contact a construction accident attorney. The sooner you do, the faster you can get the legal guidance to move your case forward.

Construction accidents can be intricate legal cases, often involving various parties, complex regulations, and significant financial implications. Our experienced construction accident attorneys are well-equipped to guide you through this intricate process, providing the knowledge, resources, and assurance needed to pursue a successful claim. Don't navigate the complexities of a construction accident case alone—reach out to our attorneys today to discuss your situation and understand how we can work together to secure the compensation you deserve.

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