Philadelphia Workplace Accident Lawyer
When you go to work on a construction site in Philadelphia, you put your life on the line for the company. There are more than 150,000 construction site accidents each year, according to the United States Department of Labor. There is a staggering range of accident types and injuries that can occur on a construction site. The causes of construction accidents are rarely singular, in part because so many different companies work on a single job site, side by side. Many factors must be considered when assigning liability after a construction accident.
If a negligent third party (not your employer or a co-worker) was responsible for your injuries, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim in addition to obtaining workers’ compensation benefits from your employer. For example, our law firm represented a man who was working on the roof of a building when he fell through a skylight and suffered severe and permanent brain damage. Our attorneys were able to show that the landlord and tenant of the building were aware the skylights were dangerous and were negligent. A Philadelphia jury awarded our client $24.8 million in damages.
A construction accident lawyer from Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., can help you explore all your legal options so that you can pursue all the financial resources you need to pay your bills and provide for your family in the wake of a work injury. We are ready to muster all of our available resources to aggressively advocate for your rights after a construction accident so that you can focus on your recovery. Call our team of experienced attorneys today for a free consultation.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Occupational Injuries?
Many injured workers may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation insurance covers work-related injuries sustained by a company’s employees, regardless of fault. Even if you did something wrong – and your employer didn’t do anything wrong – you could still be entitled to workers’ compensation.
If a negligent property owner, contractor, or another third party caused the accident, you could collect workers’ comp benefits and potentially pursue legal action against them. This is what is known as a third-party injury claim. Because many different companies, contractors, and projects can be present on a job site at the same time, there are many potentially liable parties. For example, a catastrophic accident may result from product defects in a piece of equipment, such as a forklift.
In this case, the forklift manufacturer could be held liable for negligent design or manufacturing. The company is responsible for maintaining the equipment and the company that purchased it may also be liable. Determining liability and seeking compensation for a construction accident can quickly become complicated.
It is always best to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable lawyer who can review the specifics of your construction site accident. Your attorney will identify all potentially responsible parties who might owe you compensation. It is important to always review any type of construction site accident claim – workers’ comp or otherwise – with an experienced attorney so that you can rest assured that you are taking the best possible legal action for your circumstances.
Types of Construction Accidents
Construction sites usually contain industrial machinery, heavy building materials, and many other possible dangers. To prevent potentially deadly workplace accidents, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) maintains strict safety regulations. These include rules pertaining to safety equipment, proper building procedures and codes, employee training, and more. However, contractors and other companies may ignore these rules in the interest of profits, increasing the risk of a catastrophic accident.
There are many different types of construction accidents, such as:
- Electrical Accidents
- Crane Accidents
- Accidents Caused by Structural Defects
- Carpenter and Ironworker Accidents
- Industrial Accidents
- Roofing Accidents
- Falls from Heights
- Scaffolding Accidents
- Fires
- Gas Leaks and Explosions
- Forklift Accidents
- Heavy Machinery Accidents
- Elevator Shaft Accidents
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Explosions and Burns
These examples are only a representation of all things that can go wrong on a construction site and cause serious injuries.
Construction workers may also be at risk for occupational diseases or illnesses if companies do not ensure that the worksite is free from mishandled toxic substances. These conditions may develop slowly over time, but they can be debilitating or deadly. Like any construction injury, occupational illnesses may be grounds for a workers’ compensation claim and/or personal injury lawsuit.
Types of Construction Injuries
Due to the variety of activities that take place at any given time on a construction site, workers can be injured in a wide variety of ways. Some of the most common construction site injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Broken Bones and Lacerations
- Sprains and Strains
- Torn Ligaments
- Impact Injuries
- Overuse Injuries
- Substance Exposure
- Spinal Injury
- Electrocution
- Loss of limbs
- Burns
- Wrongful Death
If you have suffered these or any other types of injuries due to a construction site accident, the attorneys at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., are here to help.
We have extensive experience handling construction site injuries just like yours, and we can help you get through all aspects of the legal process so that you get the compensation you deserve. When you call us for a free consultation, we will review your case with you in detail and devise a legal strategy that works for your situation.
Time Limit for Filing an Accident Claim
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Here in Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for personal injuries is two years from the date of the accident. There may be exceptions to this rule, so it is important to act quickly if you or a loved one has been injured in a construction site accident.
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The notice deadline is much shorter for workers’ compensation. Injured workers are generally required to give their employers notice of their injuries within 21 days. However, if a worker is denied workers’ compensation benefits, they have up to three years to file a worker’s compensation claim.
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If this seems confusing, you are absolutely right. These laws and other legal rules are best handled by an experienced construction accident injury attorney, like the team you can find at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C. We are available to discuss the timeline for taking legal action in your case right away so that you can rest assured that your case is being handled professionally and with the best chances of success.
Compensation for a Workplace Accident Injury
If you are hurt in a construction accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries and other damages. This can help you pay for the medical treatment you need and the adjustments you may need to make due to your injuries.
Workers’ compensation benefits are generally limited to the payment of related medical bills and partial replacement of lost wages. If you have a valid third-party claim, you could recover additional compensation. The following types of compensation may be available in a personal injury claim over a construction site accident:
Medical bills, including rehabilitation, physical therapy, and prescriptions
Lost wages due to time missed from work
Pain and suffering, which is calculated according to your specific injuries
Loss of future earning potential
Loss of consortium
Loss of quality of life
Disfigurement
While receiving compensation for your damages after a work accident is never a guarantee, a knowledgeable construction site accident attorney at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., can review your specific injuries to calculate what your case may be worth. Then, we can help you take the proper legal action for the best chances of success to seek the money you deserve for your injuries.
Talk to a Philadelphia Construction Accident Attorney Now
If you sustained catastrophic injuries in a construction site accident, our attorneys are ready to explain your legal options. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation as well as other damages through a third-party claim. Our exceptional lawyers can guide you through the legal process so that you can focus on your recovery and your family.
At Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., we have a history of success with these kinds of claims. Our attorneys achieved one of the largest settlements in U.S. history in a case concerning the collapse of the Tropicana parking garage in Atlantic City. Due to contractor negligence, the garage’s supports failed, killing five and injuring 30 others. This case, which took four years to complete, involved many defendant companies and eventually settled for $101 million.
While we cannot guarantee a $100 million settlement in each situation, your case could still be worth a great deal. Contact our law firm today to speak with a knowledgeable Philadelphia construction accident lawyer about your potential case. We offer free initial consultations and handle cases on a contingency fee basis — you do not have to pay us unless we get results for you.
