Development in Brookhaven means that there is always some kind of construction happening. New apartment blocks and office complex buildings are popping up everywhere.
The place is littered with construction sites as more of these projects emerge to house people in the most populous town in Suffolk County.
A construction site is a dangerous working space that requires skill, focus, and expertise. Losing concentration can lead to terrible accidents, causing catastrophic injuries or even death. There are many other causes of construction site accidents.
Victims of accidents at construction sites lose a lot when they get hurt. They also incur several charges while they recover from their injuries. The employer's insurance company is supposed to help them with these losses during this time.
However, there are situations when the company minimizes how much compensation they are supposed to give or dismisses the personal injury claim altogether. This is the time to contact The Law Office of Carl Maltese.
Reach out to our law firm immediately after a construction accident in Brookhaven or other parts of New York. The Law Office of Carl Maltese has construction accident lawyers with years of experience handling personal injury claims. We have recovered more than $150 million in compensation for our clients.
Construction workers can discover whether they are eligible for compensation after suffering personal injuries. Schedule a free consultation with a Brookhaven construction accident lawyer to discuss legal options available.
Regulations for Construction Accidents in Brookhaven
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the regulatory body for construction in the United States Department of Labor. It has guidelines that construction workers and companies follow to reduce the risk of accidents.
Even with the regulations and inspections from OSHA, construction sites still experience more than 2,000 accidents annually.
Construction Accident Statistics
According to OSHA, one out of every five deaths among workers in the United States happens in the construction industry. Though accidents have reduced over the years, the number remains very high.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 150,000 construction site accident cases annually. These included falls, being struck by an object, electrocutions, or getting caught in a machine.
Construction site accidents lead to about 1,000 deaths annually, with the rest sustaining different degrees of injury. The data revealed that workers between 25 and 34 years were more likely to be involved in these accidents.
Our law firm has outstanding lawyers to help construction workers. We provide a free legal consultation to victims to ensure they make the right workers' compensation claims. Call now to talk to a Brookhaven construction accident lawyer.
Types of Construction Accidents
Understanding the type of construction accident a person is involved in helps build a good personal injury claim.
Some of the accidents that occur at construction sites include:
Crane or hoist accidents
Slip and falls
Repetitive stress injuries
Accidents involving forklifts
Trench accidents
Accidents that involve elevator shafts
Gas leaks, fires, and explosions
Electrocutions
Unsafe machine accidents
Struck-by accidents
Caught-between accidents
Exposure to toxins or other dangerous chemicals
Building collapses
Scaffold injuries
These result in severe injuries and deaths at construction sites. A person who experiences any of these accidents should get help from a Long Island construction accident attorney to ensure their rights are protected. The construction accident lawyers at our firm guide victims in construction accident cases.
What Causes a Construction Accident?
Construction site dangers exist at every turn. Employers considering costs and work schedules ahead of safety is a factor in many construction accident cases.
At The Law Office of Carl Maltese, any worker that sustains construction injuries due to this factor can get representation from a competent construction accident lawyer. We offer a free consultation for accident victims or their loved ones to get legal advice before filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Some of the common causes of construction site injuries include:
Lack of fall accident protection for people working on elevated structures.
Lack of protection for workers on the grounds from falling objects.
Tripping on construction materials.
No protection while using power tools.
Substandard machines and equipment.
Lack of safety precautions for workers near power lines.
No protection for workers in construction site trenches.
Unsafe property conditions.
Undertaking prompt investigations at construction sites helps to show violations of the OSHA safety rules if any.
Contact our law firm quickly to enable us to collect and preserve proof of these infractions. This contributes to building an excellent workers' compensation claim for construction injuries or construction site deaths.
Common Brookhaven Construction Accident Injuries
Construction injuries range from minor to severe depending on their nature and effects on the victim's body. Below are some of the common injuries that workers sustain from accidents at a construction site:
Broken bones
Eye injuries
Injury to the spine
Burns
Cuts and lacerations
Chemical exposure and inhalation
Workers may recover in a few days or sustain permanent disability. Lost wages from their inability to work can have life-changing effects on the worker.
Construction site employers are supposed to have workers' compensation insurance for such victims to cater to them at such a time.
When this occurs, our law firm can help with a Brookhaven construction accident lawyer to help the victim file an excellent workers' compensation claim.
Treatment After a Brookhaven Construction Accident
Medical care is vital immediately after a construction site accident. It is imperative for the person involved to seek assessment and treatment for their construction site injuries.
The medical professional can help a construction-accidents lawyer make a workers' compensation claim for the victim with the report they provide after assessment. It is evidence of whether the injuries are from the site or not.
Making a Construction Accident Claim
There are various compensation options available for construction accident victims. A construction accident lawyer can analyze each situation and determine the best course of action to get the maximum amount during settlement negotiations.
1. File a lawsuit against an employer
The construction accident lawyer files a claim against the employer to prove that they were negligent, had malicious intent, or exhibited signs of discrimination.
2. File a Workers' Compensation Claim
Before filing such a claim, a person should understand their rights under the law. A victim should contact The Law Office of Carl Maltese to get guidance from a construction accident attorney.
3. Make a Third-Party Claim
A construction accident victim can sue a third party for their injuries if they can prove they are responsible. It takes years of legal experience to master how to accurately determine the at-fault party in an accident. Victims should seek legal counsel for such events to ensure they file a good case.
Here are some third parties at a construction site:
Contractors who are negligent of the safety protocols of OSHA.
Owners of a construction site where the injury occurs.
The manufacturer of a defective machine or equipment that injures someone.
Architects or engineers who fail in their design and safety obligations at a construction site.
A construction accident attorney from our law firm can help victims make any of these claims. The attorneys have experience with Brookhaven construction accidents and can help with any legal issue.
Types of Damages Available for a Brookhaven Construction Accident Victim
The Laws in New York State allow victims to claim the following types of damages after a construction accident:
Non-Economic Damages
These cover the emotional consequences of the accident. A victim can make claims to cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, trauma, etc.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the financial losses a victim suffers from the construction accident. These cover past and future medical expenses, lost wages, disability, and property damages.
Wrongful Death Damages
Construction accident cases that result in the victim's death have consequences on their family members and others they support. If the accident lawyer can prove negligence, the family can make a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. This will cover funeral and burial costs, medical treatment expenses, and loss of support from the dead relative.
What Steps Should a Victim Take After a Construction Accident?
After an accident has occurred, a victim should take the following steps for the best outcome:
Get medical attention to help treat injuries
Gather evidence to back up the claim
Contact a construction accident lawyer
Notify the employer with details of the accident
These actions add more weight to the victim's claims and simplify the job of the construction accident lawyer.
How to Prove Negligence in a Construction Accident
Proving negligence is essential to the workers' compensation insurance that a worker gets after sustaining construction site injuries.
The checklist below can help anyone establish negligence:
Does the accused owe the plaintiff a duty of care?
Was that duty breached in any way?
Did the person's carelessness result in the plaintiff's injuries?
Has the plaintiff suffered damages as a result of this negligence?
A construction accident attorney can guide the plaintiff through this process to establish negligence before filing a claim.
How Can a Construction Accidents Lawyer Help?
A construction accident attorney is vital in ensuring that a victim is given fair compensation after sustaining injuries at a construction site. The accident lawyer can hold the construction company liable if employers try to bully them out of their injury claim.
Often, insurance companies set limits on damages they pay to victims. This is unfair considering their lost wages and medical bills they have to pay. A construction accident lawyer can seek damages in several ways to help victims get compensation for their injuries.
The construction accident lawyer does the following:
They analyze and determine the extent of a victim's loss
They determine how much compensation is fair for the calculated loss value
They gather evidence to support a victim's claims
They interact with the at-fault parties and insurance companies on behalf of the victim
A construction accident lawyer handles the claims and allows the plaintiff to focus on recovering from their injuries.
Contact our law offices for legal advice from an experienced construction accident lawyer.
Statute of Limitations in Brookhaven
Under the New York Civil Practice Law, a victim of an accident case should file a personal injury lawsuit within three years after the date of the injury. The more the claim delays, the likelier it is that the request for damages will be thrown out of court.
Victims should contact our firm immediately after a construction accident. They will get help from a construction accident lawyer in Brookhaven.
Why Choose a Construction Accident Lawyer from the Law Office of Carl Maltese?
Any construction accident case is as good as the lawyer that handles it. The complexities can be overwhelming even to attorneys that don't have experience in construction accident claims.
Reach out to The Law Office of Carl Maltese to get an experienced Brookhaven construction accident lawyer. We have many reasons to consider our firm an excellent choice for legal representation in a construction accident case. A few of them are listed below:
The free case review option for victims helps them discuss the details of their case with a skilled construction accident lawyer.
Our law firm has been around since 1966. A victim can be sure that their case will be handled by a construction accident lawyer that knows what they are doing.
The victim of a construction accident or personal injury case doesn't have to pay legal fees upfront. Our construction accident lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis.
Our firm serves clients in other personal injury practice areas such as car accidents, slip and fall, pedestrian accidents, and dog bite cases.
Other Brookhaven Practice Areas
Contact The Law Office of Carl Maltese in Brookhaven
A person that has sustained injuries from a construction accident should call The Law Office of Carl Maltese at (631) 857-3703 for a free case review from a Brookhaven construction accident attorney.
Our super lawyers maintain a positive attorney-client relationship and understand the pain and suffering construction accident victims go through.
We are ready to help construction workers get a fair settlement for lost wages and medical bills from the liable party.
Contact us immediately to schedule a free consultation.