Delray Beach Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction sites are a dangerous place. There are any number of hazards that can potentially injure, maim, and even kill a worker or bystander. While there is always some inherent risk in construction, job site owners, general contractors, and subcontractors alike have an obligation to follow strict safety standards to minimize the risk of an accident. Even then, accidents still happen, often because someone failed to live up to their legal responsibilities.
The Delray Beach construction accident lawyers at Steinberg Law represent workers and their families in taking legal action to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages arising from a jobsite-related injury. We can review your construction accident, deal with insurance companies on your behalf, and when necessary file a personal injury lawsuit against the persons and companies responsible for your damages.
Do You Have to Prove Negligence in a Florida Construction Accident?
In most personal injury cases, the plaintiff must prove the defendant’s negligent or intentional act caused an accident. For example, if you are injured in a car crash, you can cite the defendant’s violation of traffic laws as the proximate cause of the accident. When it comes to construction accidents, however, it is often not necessary for an injured worker to prove such negligence.
That is because all employees of a job site, contractor, or subcontractor should be covered by workers’ compensation. Florida workers’ compensation requires employers to maintain sufficient insurance to pay for an employee’s medical bills and part of their lost wages following a work-related construction accident. These are “no fault” benefits, so the injured worker need not prove their employer’s negligence caused their accident. Nor can the employer deny workers’ comp benefits because they suspect the employee contributed to their own injuries.
But workers’ comp may not be the only avenue for seeking financial compensation following a construction accident. Depending on the facts of your own construction accident, your options may include:
- Third Party Liability — Florida workers’ compensation generally prevents you from suing your employer for personal injuries sustained in a construction accident. But if a third party caused your injury, you may still be able to pursue a personal injury claim against them.
- Non-Worker Injuries — When a non-worker is injured in a construction accident, workers’ compensation obviously does not apply. The injured party can file a personal injury claim against the job site owner and any of the contractors involved. Keep in mind, however, that the victim must then prove there was negligence.
- Wrongful Death — If a construction accident results in Delray Beach wrongful death lawyer injuries, the victim’s estate may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit under Florida law to recover financial compensation for the surviving family members.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
Most construction accidents fall into one of four categories: electrocutions, falling injuries, getting struck by an object, and slip and falls. Regardless of the method, however, it is important to seek out a qualified Delray Beach construction accident lawyer if you sustained any serious injury on a job site. Contact Steinberg Law today to schedule a consultation.
