Baytown is a highly industrialized city and a hub for major construction developments. From oil to chemical plants, there’s a lot of activity going on every day. There are also dozens of road construction projects underway to support the existing infrastructure. This has created hundreds of jobs for Baytown residents, but unfortunately, these construction sites can be dangerous for the workers and passersby. When a construction site accident occurs, workers or any other person within the area may suffer catastrophic injuries, altering their way of life permanently.
Although most construction site workers are legally protected through workers’ compensation under their employer, this is often not enough to cover losses suffered by injured persons. And in cases where the employer does not have workers’ compensation coverage, the employee maintains the legal right to pursue a personal injury claim against their employer. Unfortunately for passersby or any other party not employed on the site, they cannot be covered by workers’ compensation. This means that when an accident occurs, the injured party will have to pay for their medical bills and other damages out of their own pockets. Incurring financial losses for minor bruises may be possible, but when you suffer serious harm such as head injuries, you need an alternative source of finances to continue your way of life. This is where a Baytown construction accident lawyer comes in.
If you or someone you love was injured in a construction site accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may qualify for monetary compensation. An experienced attorney can help you prepare and make a strong case against the liable party for settlement. Very often, personal injury cases settle during negotiations with insurance companies. However, this does not mean that you can’t proceed to trial. If you strongly believe there was employer or employee negligence in the accident where you were injured, you should contact a Baytown personal injury lawyer from Lone Star Injury Attorneys as soon as possible.
A construction accident can be fatal, but fortunately, not all of them result in significant harm to victims. Similarly, not all injuries call for a legal claims process. When deciding to file a construction injury case in Baytown, you should take note that there are specific scenarios that call for victims to pursue a claim. These circumstances include the following.
Construction accident victims are free to file a claim anytime. But before doing so, you should consider what is to be gained from your case. For example, you may have slipped and fell, injuring your toes or bruising your arm in the process. While nothing stops you from filing a claim for such injuries, without documentation of medical treatment, it may be difficult to prove your claim. But if you suffered head injuries, broken bones, injured spine, or had your valuable property damaged in a construction site accident, you may have good reason to sue for compensation with the help of a lawyer.
If your family member was killed in a development site accident in Baytown, you have every reason to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Under this legal process, you may claim damages that the deceased would have otherwise sued for if they had survived the accident. You also seek compensation for losses suffered by the deceased’s family due to the loss of their loved one. For example, if the deceased’s children are no longer able to go to their school due to a lack of school fees, you can seek damages to allow them to enjoy the privileges they did when the deceased was alive. Spouses may also file for loss of consortium for the loss of companionship after the deceased’s passing.
As mentioned earlier, construction workers are often insured against harm with their employer’s insurance. When an accident occurs, they automatically qualify for workers’ compensation as long as they were injured while on the clock, regardless of liability. However, many employers choose to opt-out of full workers’ compensation coverage. You should consider seeking legal advice from a skilled lawyer familiar with construction accidents to determine the best way forward.
Unlike in workers’ compensation where liability is not a concern, the justice system for personal injury cases is based on negligence. You and your Baytown attorney must establish liability before pursuing a construction injury claim. Any of the following parties may be liable for a construction accident:
Liability is often determined based on the specific cause of the accident. As experienced attorneys, we hire experts to help establish how your accident occurred. By doing so, we get to hold the right party liable for harm caused. Our Baytown construction accident lawyers have handled these cases before, and understand how to navigate through stringent legal requirements around personal injury lawsuits. To learn more about your legal options and their viability, talk to us today for a free consultation.
