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Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Construction Accident?

Construction of roads and buildings is by its very nature a dangerous job. However, it is a positive reflection of a growing economy, and it creates numerous employment opportunities for many. Construction workers, from chief engineers to laborers, perform very difficult tasks by operating heavy machinery and working from dangerous heights. In doing so, they often become victims of construction accidents, which may leave them permanently disabled or worse.

Construction sites are not only hazardous to on-site workers, but also pedestrians and by-standers. From time to time, a construction site may have falling debris, such as rocks, metals, and other objects. The speeds at which they fall added with their weight are enough to cause serious injuries to whoever may be walking below. With a staggering increase in construction accidents in the United States, citizens should know of their rights to file a personal injury lawsuit in the event of a worksite mishap. Talking to a construction accident lawyer would be the best first step.

What Types of Accidents Occur in a Construction Site?

Despite having measures put in place to curb construction accidents, some construction companies do not implement these rules. As a result, workers find themselves prone to accidents. At any construction site in Texas or throughout the United States, there exists a wide array of potential accident causes, many of which can be prevented. Some of these causes include:

  • Exposure to hazardous and toxic materials
  • Faulty electrical wiring
  • Malfunctioning equipment
  • Falls from high elevations
  • Substandard construction structures
  • Falling objects or debris

Of the above causes, the majority of construction accidents occur when workers fall from elevated heights, when they are struck by dangerous objects, or as a result of operating dangerous and heavy equipment.

Who is Responsible for a Construction Site Accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction site accident, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against all potentially liable parties. The responsible party is required to make up for the economic and non-economic damages incurred as a result of your injury. Just like in any other personal injury accident, you may have multiple responsible parties in a construction accident, including:

  • The construction company
  • The construction engineer
  • The architect
  • The contractor
  • The property owner
  • The construction workers
  • The machine manufacturer

However, for you to get fair compensation for your injuries whether as a worker or a third party, your lawyer must base his or her arguments on the proper negligence, product defect, and premises liability laws.

Negligence

The majority of construction accident claims are often based on someone else’s negligence. To prove this, you must be able to clearly show that the defendant owed you a duty of care, that they breached their duty of care, and that this breach foreseeably caused your injury.

Premises Liability

All property owners have the responsibility of ensuring that every person within their premises is safe and not at risk of injury. If an injury occurs because a construction site is not safe, the construction company should held accountable for breaching the duty of care they owe to their workers.

Product Defects

A construction site often uses heavy machinery and toxic materials. While using them, they may malfunction, putting the operators or users in danger. To curb this, the party or parties responsible for the manufacturing, designing, and selling of defective product may be held responsible for a subsequent construction accident.

What are Damages in a Construction Accident Lawsuit?

The responsible party may be required to pay for all economic and non-economic damages associated with your injury. Economic damages include the tangible costs incurred, including medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, lost future income, long term care cost, and other necessities. Additionally, non-economic damages are meant to compensate the losses you and your family have incurred from pain and suffering, physical impairment, mental anguish, and much more.

Call Us for Help

For all your questions on construction site accidents and lawsuits, please call us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers. We treat every case with utmost confidentiality to protect your interests. Call us today to get started.

Lone Star Injury Attorneys, PLLC

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