Fall risks, heavy machinery, and exposed electrical wiring. Working on or visiting a construction site comes with many risks. There are strict regulations in place to keep workers safe, but accidents still happen regularly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 3.5 percent of construction workers suffered an injury in 2015. This total is much higher than most industries.
If you were the victim of a construction accident, you might want to discuss your injuries with a construction accident lawyer in Oakdale, Long Island. Call Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. at 631-600-000 for a free consultation.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After an Oakdale Construction Accident?
The types of damages you can recover depend on the type of claim you file. Worker’s compensation typically covers:
- Medical care for any accident-related injuries
- A portion of your lost wages
If we can file a third-party liability insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit based on your case, however, we may be able to recover other types of damages. In addition to your medical care and lost wages, we will request compensation for:
- Ongoing care costs
- Future lost income if you cannot return to work
- Property damage that occurred because of the accident
- Any other related expenses
- Pain and suffering
Who Is Responsible for the Injuries I Suffered in an Oakdale Construction Accident?
The answer to this question is not as clear-cut as it seems. Who is financially responsible for your treatment, missed wages, and other damages depends on many factors. For example, if your construction accident occurred on a site where you were working, state law may limit you to relying on your company’s worker’s compensation insurance for money to pay for your medical care and cover your other bills. However, if your spouse visited you on a construction site and suffered injuries, you may be able to file a third-party liability claim to recover compensation.
Depending on the circumstances, the party financially responsible for your construction accident injuries might include:
- The property owner
- A motorist or forklift operator
- A contractor or subcontractor
- The manufacturer of a defective product
- Your employer, in rare cases
New York State has complex worker’s compensation laws, and the organization of construction sites make determining who is at-fault in these situations especially complicated. The best way to understand who might be financially responsible for your damages and your best option for recovering money to cover all your losses is to talk about your case with an attorney. He or she can help you file your worker’s compensation claim, a third-party liability insurance claim, or a civil suit against the liable party.
How Do People Suffer Injuries on Oakdale, Long Island, Construction Sites?
Construction accidents cause injuries every day. From minor scrapes and bruises to devastating permanent injuries and even death, the outcome of these accidents can vary widely. Some people visit an urgent care clinic for treatment and return to work the next day. Others require weeks or months of inpatient care, including extensive rehabilitation and therapy. Some people never return to work.
While the severity of injuries varies widely, there are some common causes of these injuries. They include:
- Falls – Falls are the top cause of deaths on construction sites, and they cause a large number of injuries as well.
- Crush injuries – Crush injuries are surprisingly common on construction sites. Workers and visitors suffer serious injuries from catching a body part — or their whole body in or between two surfaces.
- Falling Objects – Falling objects, whether from a few feet up or from a crane or other height, can cause serious injuries.
- Accidents With Tools and Heavy Machinery – Construction projects require power tools, heavy machinery, and other equipment to operate in a small space. Not only can accidents occur because of misuse or careless actions, but malfunctions caused by product defects also are not uncommon.
- Burns and Electrocutions – There are many more burn and electrocution hazards on a construction site than at most other workplaces. Almost any other workplace would limit access to corrosive chemicals, and few others have the exposed wiring and other electrocution hazards you might encounter on a construction project.
- Environmental Causes – Some construction site injuries do not occur because of an accident at all. Instead, the incident occurs because of inclement weather. Frostbite in the winter is a possibility, but heat exhaustion and dehydration are a bigger concern when working outside during the summer.
- Repetitive Motion Injuries – Construction workers may also suffer repetitive motion injuries, including back, shoulder, and knee injuries. All manual laborers are at an increased risk of this type of injury. Many are preventable with the right training and by following proper procedures.
Contact a Construction Accident Lawyer in Oakdale, Long Island Today
Our team of construction accident lawyers at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. are here to help you get the full amount of compensation available based on the details of your case. Call our Long Island office today at 631-600-0000 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
