Delaware Construction Accident Lawyers Upholding the Rights of Injured Workers

Injuries on the job can present special problems for accident victims and their lawyers. While in most cases it is not necessary to prove that an employer or any other party was at fault in establishing the right to workers’ compensation benefits, those benefits do not include the overall damages that can be recovered in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. The construction accident lawyers at Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC help injured construction workers recover damages for injuries suffered in accidents on the job at building sites, in maintenance or repair projects, or in highway or infrastructure development. They will analyze the circumstances of your construction site or industrial accident to see whether a non-employer defendant might prove to be responsible for the accident that caused your injuries. In construction work where many different companies operate under different contracts on the same project, it is not unusual to find that a delivery driver, material or equipment supplier, or even the property owner might be responsible for dangerous conditions resulting in accidents. To learn more about your options for compensation after an accident, contact us today for a free consultation: 302-428-8800.

What Types of Accidents Can Occur to Construction Workers?

Construction sites, due to their very nature, are hazardous places to work. There’s heavy machinery, tools, and equipment with many moving parts, noise, and constant movement of people and vehicles. Because of all these dangers, the construction industry has one of the highest rates of workplace injuries among all industries. Even though there’s usually an emphasis on safety at construction sites, a momentary lapse in focus or a single negligent action can cause result in devastating accidents such as:

• Catwalk or scaffolding accidents
• Falls from ladders or roofs
• Fires, explosions, or electrocutions
• Toxic chemical exposure
• Excavation accidents
• Crushing or pinning injuries involving heavy equipment
• Vehicle accidents involving dump trucks, delivery trucks or vans, equipment haulers, or repair trucks
• Crane accidents
• Carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly ventilated equipment
• Being struck by falling tools or objects

What Injuries Can Result From Construction Accidents?

Every year, tens of thousands of construction workers are injured in accidents at construction sites. Unfortunately, upwards of a thousand workers die yearly from their injuries. Construction companies are supposed to ensure safety for their employees, but sometimes the safety measures and required training are lacking or absent. Construction accidents can also occur when a third party, such as manufacturers of equipment, owners of the property, the architects of the building, or others, are negligent in their duties. When these unsafe situations occur, the risk of having injured construction workers increases exponentially. Common injuries from a construction accident may include, but are not limited to:

• Amputations
• Broken bones and fractures
• Burns
• Dislocations
• Eye injuries, resulting in diminished vision or blindness
• Head trauma
• Hearing damage or loss
• Loss of limb(s)
• Lung damage
• Organ damage
• Paralysis
• Severe gashes and scarring
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

If the injury is severe enough, it may result in permanent disability, coma, or even death. There may also be serious secondary complications from injuries, such as blood clots, sepsis, and other infections, which can prolong hospital stays and cause other issues. Exposure to chemicals or toxins due to a construction accident could also cause problems months or years down the road, including tumors, neurological disorders, and cancer.

Should You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim or a Personal Injury Claim?

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible to file both. One of the first things our law firm will do is ensure you have received the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. These benefits are available to almost every injured worker through their employer, and we can gather the necessary information and file a claim on your behalf. If you have already filed a claim and it was denied, we can submit an appeal and likely get you the benefits you deserve. These benefits should cover your current medical bills and around 60-80% of your lost wages. Although workers’ compensation may help you financially, it often does not cover all the expenses incurred from an accident, is subject to timely filing rules, and may not be available if your loved one perished in a construction accident. Additionally, although employers are required by state law to carry workers’ compensation insurance, it is possible that your employer is in violation of the rules, and you will be unable to file.

A personal injury claim is another option for injured workers, even if they have collected workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are some conditions that must be met for a case to be viable. Since employers are shielded by workers’ compensation insurance, they are not subject to personal injury claims unless they acted in a malicious way or intentionally harmed an employee, or they did not carry workers’ compensation as they were required to by law. There is also the possibility that a third party may be liable for your injuries. Examples of third parties involved in construction sites can include vendors, subcontractors, engineers, property owners, suppliers, and equipment manufacturers. If one or more of these entities is found to be at fault for your accident, a third-party liability lawsuit may be filed. If you’ve experienced any construction site injuries, it is important to contact personal injury lawyers as soon as possible to learn about your options for getting justice from those responsible.

What Compensation May Be Awarded for Your Injuries?

Because construction workers do physically demanding jobs, any injury can cause them to miss work or even prevent them from being able to hold a construction job again. This, coupled with the high cost of medical bills after an accident, can lead to a financial crisis. If you or a loved one has been injured on a construction site, the parties responsible should be held liable. Our accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate the specifics of your incident and will file a personal injury lawsuit when appropriate. We will help you pursue compensation for the financial losses you’ve experienced and for the non-financial difficulties you’ve endured. Some of the types of compensation you may be eligible to receive include:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Future medical care
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Funeral expenses
• Wrongful death

How Can a Construction Accident Lawyer Help You?

Navigating workers’ compensation and potential third-party liability issues after construction accidents can be complex. You need a trusted lawyer on your side to guide you, who will thoroughly investigate the accident and explain your best options for moving forward. Well-known and respected by their colleagues in the legal profession, the Delaware construction accident lawyers at Hudson, Castle, Inkell will work to achieve justice for you and your family. If you or someone you know has been injured in a construction accident, Hudson, Castle & Inkell, LLC can help you achieve the maximum compensation. We will carefully examine your case, speak with the insurance companies, and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve. We approach each case with skill and honor, beginning with a free consultation and continuing with the convenience of flexible appointments. We charge you nothing for our representation unless we win or settle. Reach out to us at Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC, by calling 302-428-8800 for a free, no-obligation consultation.