Expert Construction Accident Lawyers Serving Santa Rosa
Construction accidents number in the thousands every year. In 2012, an estimated 67,940 non-fatal accidents were reported, accounting for 7.5% of the nation’s non-fatal accidents across all industries, with common construction site injuries ranging from serious to fatal. Additionally, there were 775 total fatalities due to construction site accidents. The Santa Rosa Construction Accident Lawyers at North Bay Legal understand how devastating this situation can be. Suffering a traumatic injury while working not only adds up financially in medical bills but also lost wages. Contact us today for help. Construction accident victims often face significant challenges, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The most common fatal construction accidents include falls, being struck by an object, electrocution, and being caught between objects. Non-fatal accidents include falls and being struck by an object, as well as overexertion. Luckily in this situation, there are two options for recovering financial damages.
Workers Compensation Claims in California
The first option for injured construction workers to recover medical expenses is to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation claims generally follow a no-fault system, meaning you do not have to prove negligence. You only need to prove you were injured and that the injury occurred at or during the course of your job.
Worker’s comp is paid by your employer’s insurance and usually covers medical expenses, lost wages, and disability. However, worker’s comp limits are capped. Sometimes the amount the insurance is willing to pay is not enough to fully cover damages, in which case you will need the help of a Santa Rosa construction accident attorney to file an additional civil lawsuit.
Construction Accidents and Personal Injury Claims
A civil lawsuit or personal injury claim can help you acquire additional compensation beyond what a worker’s comp claim awards. Construction accidents can lead to severe and life-altering injuries, and even death. Injuries of such severe nature can result in ongoing expenses and a permanent inability to work. Our goal is to help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
In a construction accident lawsuit, you must prove the defendant’s negligence caused the accident and your subsequent injury. Negligence in a construction site accident can occur in a broad variety of situations. Some of the more common occurrences are as follows:
- Falling from scaffolding that was improperly erected or maintained
- Injuries from defective equipment or vehicles
- Electrocution from defective equipment
- An accident due to a reckless driver
- Injuries stemming from a toxic chemical leak or spill, because of defective equipment or improper safety standards
These are just some situations that would constitute negligence on either the property owner or the equipment manufacturer’s part. There are hundreds of other situations that could happen that would indicate negligence.
If the accident occurred because of defective equipment, you will need to file a product liability claim against the manufacturer. You will need to prove that the equipment or tool was unreasonably dangerous when it left the manufactures facility, you were using the tool correctly, and the tool’s defect directly caused your injury. If the accident was not caused by a defective tool, you will need to prove that the property owner or business owner was negligent. For example, if the business owner violated an OSHA regulation and the violation caused your accident, he or she may be held liable. You will be able to claim damages to recover the costs of:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional agony
- Wrongful death (if a loved one was killed in a construction site accident)
- Punitive damages (if the defendant was grossly negligent)
Contact Our Santa Rosa Construction Accident Attorney Today
Contact attorney Michael Li today to help you understand your rights after an injury at a construction site. Construction sites are inherently hazardous due to dangerous equipment, heavy machinery, and hazardous materials, making legal representation crucial. Based in Santa Rosa, we serve clients in Sonoma County and the surrounding areas.
The Santa Rosa personal injury lawyers at North Bay Legal fight aggressively for our clients to get them the compensation they deserve. We work directly with each of our clients because we want them to be with us through every step of the process. Our Santa Rosa construction accident lawyers are committed to providing effective representation, and we always keep our clients as a top priority. Contact us today to begin building your case, and take the first step in getting your life back on track.