Palm Beach Gardens Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction sites are some of the most hazardous working locations in Florida. Even when project owners and contractors follow all necessary safety rules and precautions, accidents can and do still happen. Indeed, many construction accidents are the result of failure to follow best practices, often in an attempt to take shortcuts and save a few dollars on a project.
If you have been injured on a construction site, you have certain legal rights to compensation. The Palm Beach Gardens construction accident lawyers at Steinberg Law can advise you of your options and represent you in any legal proceedings arising from your injuries.
What Are My Options for Compensation Following a Florida Construction Accident?
An injured construction worker and their family may have multiple avenues of compensation open to them depending on the nature of their accident. Some of the options we help clients with include:
- Workers’ Compensation — Any worker injured on their job can file for workers’ compensation benefits. All Florida employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance. This provides medical, wage replacement, and disability benefits for their injured worker, as well as certain death benefits in the event of a fatal accident.
- Personal Injury Lawsuit — Normally, an injured construction worker cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against an employer, as they are protected by workers’ compensation. But if any non-employer third party contributed to a construction accident, the victim can file a lawsuit to collect damages not covered by workers’ compensation.
- Wrongful Death — Following a fatal construction accident, the victim’s estate can file a wrongful death claim against a negligent third party. This enables the estate to recover compensation for eligible members of the victim’s family, including their surviving spouse and children.
- Social Security — Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income provide benefits to eligible construction workers who become disabled due to an on-the-job accident.
- Florida Unemployment Insurance — A construction worker who is laid off following an accident may be entitled to collect unemployment in addition to the other forms of compensation listed above.
One thing to understand about workers’ compensation versus a personal injury or wrongful death claim is that workers’ comp is a no-fault system. In other words, a construction worker injured (or killed) in an on-the-job accident does not have to prove their employer was negligent in order to receive benefits. In contrast, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against a third party requires proof of some negligent act or omission that caused the construction accident. This is why it is crucial to work with an experienced Palm Beach Gardens construction accident lawyer who can help you in building the strongest possible case for negligence.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
The first thing you should do following any construction accident is to report what happened to your supervisor and seek immediate medical treatment. And if you have questions about your legal rights, speak with a qualified Palm Beach Gardens construction accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Steinberg Law today to schedule a consultation.
