Construction workers, in many ways, are the backbone of our society. They erect buildings, create highways, and support the entirety of New Jersey’s infrastructure. They put utility systems in place and maintain roads and bridges. Construction workers demand our respect, which is why, at the very least, they deserve to work in a safe environment. Unfortunately, construction workers often perform extremely dangerous work. Since construction workers use heavy machinery and handle dangerous tools at elevated heights, they are often prone to serious injuries. Further, construction accidents can also happen to innocent passersby. For example, sometimes falling objects can strike unsuspecting people simply walking in the vicinity of a construction site. For this reason, NJ laws impose a duty upon those in charge of construction projects to maintain a safe environment and protect workers. The experienced injury attorneys at the Wilton Law Firm have helped countless individuals recover damages for injuries sustained in construction accidents, and we are ready to do the same for you. To discuss your situation with a skilled construction accident attorney, contact The Wilton Law Firm today.
Causes & Consequences of Construction Accidents
Construction site accidents are a serious problem, and they happen more frequently than you’d imagine. Some of the most common construction accidents include falls from unguarded scaffolding and roofs, forklift accidents, crane collapses, roof collapses, table saw accidents, electrocutions, and chemical burns. However, other serious injuries caused by construction accidents include head injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, permanent scarring, and amputations. In addition to the obvious physical pain and emotional anguish, these injuries can entail daunting medical bills. If you have suffered an injury on a dangerous construction site, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The Wilton Law Firm can help with your recovery.
Construction Accident Liability
Since hazards on construction sites are so dangerous, employers, contractors, and equipment manufacturers must sufficiently maintain the construction site and equipment to ensure the safety of workers and passersby. Federal and state laws mandate workplace safety standards. An employer may be required to offer protective gear, while a company that manufactures construction equipment may need to provide proper safety warnings. In New Jersey, an injured person must prove that the party responsible for his or her injuries did not act reasonably. In construction accident claims, OSHA regulations offer a good baseline; if the defendant violated OSHA regulations, the defendant was probably negligent.
Workers Compensation and Third Party Claims
A workplace injury can give rise to both a workers’ compensation claim and a claim against a negligent third-party contractor:
- Workers’ compensation claims: These are set up by the employer to compensate workers injured on the job. Unfortunately, workers’ comp benefits are often not enough to adequately cover an injured worker’s damages because workers’ comp imposes statutory limitations on the amount of benefits that can be recovered.
- Claims against third-party contractors: A contractor may be liable for injuries caused by a company’s failure to comply with OSHA regulations, which impose minimum workplace standards. Even if your claim is covered by workers’ comp, you may still want to pursue a claim against a third party to receive additional compensation.
Contact a Monmouth County Construction Accident Attorney
It is not always easy to determine who was at fault in a construction accident. Your accident may have had many contributing factors and more than one at-fault party, including coworkers, subcontractors, a general contractor, equipment manufacturers, and leasing companies. The experienced lawyers at The Wilton Law Firm will investigate your claim to ensure all negligent parties are held responsible. We will consult with medical experts and engineers to determine exactly what happened. Our experience and meticulousness help us catch important aspects of your case that other attorneys may miss. If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident in Monmouth County, New Jersey, contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at The Wilton Law Firm today.
