Lake Charles Construction Accident Lawyer

Lake Charles Construction Accident Attorney

Construction sites are one of the more dangerous worksites in the state. Employees have the highest risk, working with dangerous equipment, completing their work at great heights, and working under tight deadlines. Construction accidents can cause devastating injuries, costing injured individuals significant financial loss. If you have been injured in an accident, a Lake Charles construction accident lawyer can determine how you can recover damages.

Construction contractors must follow safety regulations to keep employees and others safe. When these regulations are violated, these entities could be liable for the injuries caused by these hazards. If your life has been altered by injuries that happened because someone else was negligent, you should not have to pay those costs.

Sanchez Burke, LLC: Representing Those Injured on Construction Sites

Construction sites are exceptionally hazardous, particularly to employees working on them. Numerous people could potentially be injured in an accident, including bystanders. When an individual or entity is responsible for the accident due to carelessness, they can be held accountable for the injuries they sustained.

At Sanchez Burke, LLC, our attorneys have more than 60 years of collective experience in personal injury cases. We understand complex cases like construction site accidents and know how to investigate the cause of these incidents. There are many potentially liable parties, such as another employee, their employer, or even the property owner.

When individuals or entities cut corners, they could cause serious harm. Our team wants to help you recover medical costs and other financial losses from your injuries.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Construction Accident?

When you are a bystander injured in a construction accident, you must prove that another party is liable for your injuries in order to recover compensation. Determining who is liable requires a thorough investigation of the incident, its cause, and the potential negligence of numerous parties on the site. An attorney can use their resources to conduct such an investigation. Many parties could be liable, such as:

• Property owner. Property owners can be responsible for damages under premises liability law. If they were aware of a hazard on their property or should have been and failed to address that safety hazard, they can be held liable for injuries the hazard causes.
• Employees. Whether you are an employee or a bystander, another employee could be responsible for your injuries. When you are an employee, you may only be able to recover compensation through a workers’ compensation claim, but there may be situations where you can hold your coworker liable. A bystander who can prove an employee acted negligently could hold them or their employer liable.
• Construction contractor. The general contractor managing the construction site should ensure the site follows safety regulations. If they fail to uphold this responsibility, they can be liable when a neglected hazard causes an accident.
• Subcontractors. Third-party subcontractors may act negligently on the worksite, causing an accident. Employees and bystanders alike could file a personal injury claim against this party.

Personal Injury Claims Versus Workers’ Compensation Claims

When you are an injured bystander, you can file a personal injury claim if you can prove that a party was negligent or engaged in misconduct and this behavior led to the accident.

An employee can usually recover compensation only through a workers’ compensation claim. There are some benefits to this, including the fact that you do not have to prove that anyone was negligent. However, there are also drawbacks. Workers’ compensation claims can recover the cost of your medical bills and a portion of your lost income. They cannot recover full wages or non-economic damages, while personal injury claims can.

In some cases, an employee can file a personal injury claim, either instead of or in addition to a workers’ compensation claim. This can recover the full total of your financial and non-economic losses. This may be possible if a third party was to blame for your accident, like negligent equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or premises owners. An attorney in Lake Charles can look over the cause of your accident and determine your options for financial recovery.

FAQs About Lake Charles, LA Construction Accident Laws

Who Investigates Construction Accidents?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will investigate construction accidents. Its goal is to determine if any safety violations were committed and how to better protect employee safety. Depending on the scope of the accident, state officials may also investigate the accident.

If you were injured in a construction accident, either as an employee or a bystander, it is important to work with a lawyer. They can investigate the accident with their resources as well and help you protect your interests.

How Can a Construction Accident Lawyer Help Me?

A construction accident lawyer can help you in numerous ways, including:

• Gathering evidence to support a personal injury claim.
• Determining who was negligent and, therefore, at fault.
• Negotiating for you with the at-fault party and their insurance company.
• Calculating the total of your financial losses.
• Negotiating a fair settlement.
• Taking the case to court if a fair settlement can’t be negotiated.

Working with an attorney provides you with a better chance at recovering maximum compensation.

What Is the Largest Cause of Construction Accidents?

Falls are one of the largest causes of construction accidents for construction employees, according to OSHA, making up for 34% of all fatal construction industry injuries in 2009. This included falls from scaffolding, ladders, girders and other structural steel, floor openings, and stationary vehicles.

Falls from heights are considered one of the leading causes of fatalities, and falls from the same level are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in the construction industry.

How Long Should It Take to Come to a Settlement After a Construction Accident Personal Injury Case?

The time it takes to come to a settlement in a personal injury case after a construction accident varies significantly because it depends on the specifics of the case. Your case timeline could be impacted by whether the case goes to court, whether you have skilled legal representation, the severity of your injuries, and how long until they are healed.

Although a case may take a long time to resolve, it is often a good thing and means your attorney is fighting for the full compensation that you are owed.

Navigating a Claim After a Construction Accident in Lake Charles

An accident on a construction site can cause debilitating and life-changing injuries. It is important that you recover the full compensation that you deserve. Contact Sanchez Burke, LLC today and see how we can help you protect your financial future.