Nadrich & Cohen has handled hundreds of construction accidents to a successful conclusion. We are experienced construction accident lawyers who fight for injured construction workers. A construction site accident usually occurs when a worker is involved in a dangerous job during a major building, renovation, demolition or excavation project. We have found, on countless occasions, employers, who in order to save money or speed up the work, do not provide the necessary safety equipment and devices required by law resulting in workers being required to work in unsafe conditions, using the wrong equipment or defective equipment.
We have represented workers, pedestrians and even passers-by who were injured on a construction site. Construction sites are often not secured by proper safety equipment.
Call us today for a free consultation or text us from this page if you or a loved one was injured in a construction accident. You might qualify for financial compensation in a construction accident case. We have recovered over $350,000,000 for clients since 1990 and don’t charge a fee until and unless we win your case.
It Is Important To Call Us Today
If you were in a construction accident, it’s extremely important for you to contact an experienced construction accident lawyer immediately. Call us today. Remember, fellow construction workers who may be an important witness for you tend to move from job to job after completing their assignments such as excavation, framing, steel, concrete, demolition, etc. So, it’s vitally important for you to contact us as soon as possible. Also, construction workers are often known by co-workers by a first name or nickname and are difficult to track down. We know how to track these people down. But we need to first represent you – the injured worker. Further, construction work progresses quickly, and the accident scene vanishes quickly. Subcontractors and contractors come and go over the course of the project. It is very important for us to get involved right away so we can make sure exactly which contractor or subcontractor was present and responsible for the accident.
Construction Accident Compensation
If you or a loved one has suffered a construction accident injury, you may qualify for financial compensation for:
- Medical bills: You are likely already facing medical expenses related to your construction accident injury. You may also require ongoing medical treatment in the future. You may qualify for compensation for any past or future medical bills related to your accident.
- Lost wages: Construction site injuries often lead to victims having to miss time from work, either because they are hurt too badly to work or because they have to take time off to attend medical treatments. You may be eligible to recover compensation for any wages your accident left you unable to earn.
- Loss of earning capacity: Construction site accidents sometimes leave victims with permanent disabilities. When an injury at a job site leaves someone with a disability, they may no longer be able to work again, or may no longer be able to work in the construction industry again. You may qualify for compensation for any loss of or reduction of your earning capacity connected with your construction accident.
- Pain and suffering: Construction accidents, such as being struck by falling objects, can lead to physical pain and mental suffering. You might qualify for compensation for this pain and suffering.
- Wrongful death: Unfortunately, construction accidents can sometimes be fatal. Financial compensation can’t bring your loved one back, but it can prevent you from undergoing unnecessary financial hardship as a result of your loved one’s death. You might qualify for compensation for your loved one’s burial costs, funeral costs, medical bills, pain and suffering. You might qualify for compensation for the loss of your loved one’s income, household services, love and companionship.
What Can Nadrich & Cohen Do For Me?
We will serve multiple purposes for you in an construction accident case.
We can make sure your health is taken care of and help you with the management of your ongoing medical treatment.
We can learn all of the facts relevant to your case and assist with gathering evidence which proves another party is at fault for your construction accident injury. We can hire the best experts in California who can explain any evidence to a jury, judge or insurance company.
We can also make sure two claims are filed for you.
First, we can file a construction accident claim with all at-fault parties’ insurance companies. Second, we can make sure a claim is filed with the proper workers compensation insurance company.
Regarding the second claim, you might be eligible for workers compensation benefits, which may include disability benefits.
We can also file a lawsuit on your behalf. Most of our cases settle out of court because insurance companies know about our track record of success in court. However, if necessary, we can represent you in court.
Who Is Liable For My Construction Accident Injury?
Numerous parties might be held liable for your injuries. Construction sites can be complicated. It is common for numerous companies to be involved. Accidents might be a single party’s fault, but fault can also be divided between several companies.
No-Fault Workers Compensation
Construction workers can only bring a claim against those who employ them under California workers compensation law. California construction companies must carry insurance coverage for no-fault workers compensation. Every California employee must receive this coverage. Injured construction workers don’t need to prove their employers were at fault in order to receive benefits under workers compensation law in California.
Negligence
Worker’s compensation can cover medical bills, disability and lost wages. However, it’s not always enough to fully compensate injury victims for the losses they incur. Other remedies may be available, though. An injured construction worker can file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation from parties which are not their employer, in the event their accident was caused by those parties. In other words, manufacturers, subcontractors or contractors can be liable for your damages. You must be able to prove fault if you want to recover compensation in a third-party case such as this.
Non-Workers
Workers are not the only people who can be injured in construction accidents. Non-workers are sometimes hurt in these accidents, too. Someone might be struck by a falling object on a sidewalk near a construction site, for example.
In accidents such as these, non-workers can file a personal injury lawsuit against the construction company who was at fault. In these cases, the injury victims needs to prove that the construction company caused their injury by being negligent. With the experienced construction accident lawyers at Nadrich & Cohen by your side, you might recover compensation for any injuries or expenses related to your injuries.
Construction Site Injuries
A construction site can be a hazardous environment. Various injuries can happen when proper safety isn’t followed. Common injuries at construction sites include:
- Falls: Falls from scaffolding, ladders and roofs are common. Falling is one of the most common reasons construction workers get hurt. Falls can cause head injuries, fractures and even death.
- Being struck by objects: Construction workers might be hurt by falling materials or tools.
- Electrocution: Construction workers can make contact with equipment or live electrical wires. This can lead to electrocution, which can cause heart issues, severe burns or even fatalities.
- Crush injuries: Construction workers can be crushed by machinery, collapsing structures or equipment. Serious injuries or death can result.
- Overexertion: Workers can be overexerted when they carry heavy loads or do repetitive tasks. This can lead to sprains, strains and other musculoskeletal injuries.
- Lacerations: Construction workers can be cut when they handle materials, use sharp tools or touch sharp edges.
- Eye injuries: Workers’ eyes can be injured by bright lights, chemicals or flying debris. Numerous eye injuries, including permanent vision loss, can occur.
- Respiratory problems: Workers can be exposed to hazardous materials like silica dust and asbestos. This can cause respiratory issues or chronic lung diseases.
- Hearing loss: Construction sites can be very loud and workers can end up with permanent hearing loss.
- Burns: Welding, chemicals, open flames and hot surfaces can cause workers to be burned.
Some construction site accidents are more common than others. Some of the more common construction site accidents include:
- Ironworker accidents: Ironworkers commonly work at extreme heights and commonly need to handle very heavy tools and equipment. Falling objects and falls are accidents which commonly affect ironworkers. An employer is responsible for making sure dropped objects and spills are prevented by making sure proper safety precautions, training, rigging, gear and harnesses are provided. When employers fail to provide these things, they are financially liable for any harm that results.
- Heavy machinery accidents: It is common for construction workers to work on or around heavy machinery like bulldozers, forklifts and cranes. An employer is responsible for making sure all vehicles are maintained properly and all workers are trained properly to use heavy machinery. Employers are negligent when they fail to do so and as such are financially liable for injuries suffered by workers because of this negligence.
- Electrical accidents: Construction workers are commonly exposed to electrical hazards such as machines which can conduct electricity from faulty or live wires, being close to power lines, and tools which utilize power. A lot of electrical accidents can be prevented by equipment maintenance, safety precautions and proper training. However, employers sometimes don’t take safety measures which are reasonable in order to make sure workers aren’t shocked, electrocuted or burned. When this occurs, an employer needs to be held responsible for any injury that results.
It Will Cost Us Nothing For Us To Help You
Nadrich & Cohen are not only qualified construction accident lawyers we are also contingency lawyers, which means that we do not get paid unless you get paid.
If you were injured while working around any type of construction site and are a construction worker such as a laborer, plumber, electrician, shipyard worker, sheet metal worker, carpenter, framer, pipe fitter, etc. you may have a claim for personal injuries because a third party other than your direct employer caused the accident. What happens in construction accident cases is that injured workers are frequently employed by sub-contractors who are employed or contracted with a general contractor for the job.
A third-party case means that we can obtain for you, in a personal injury lawsuit, the full monetary damages as an injured worker that you would otherwise be entitled to in any personal injury case including pain and suffering, medical bills, present and future loss of income, diminished future earning capacity and any and all other components of damages recoverable under California law. You are, therefore, not limited to workers compensation benefits in a workers compensation claim.
We also file a third-party cases when construction accident injuries were caused by defective equipment or tools. We have done so many times. We will file a products liability case against the manufacturer of the defective equipment.
When Can You File A Construction Accident Lawsuit?
Personal injury claims in California are based on negligence, or the failure to be reasonably careful for the purpose of preventing harm. Through a negligence claim, you might qualify to recover compensation for medical bills, reduction in earning capacity, lost wages, pain, suffering, disfigurement, scarring and more.
In third-party claims, construction workers who are injured may seek compensation for all of their losses. In order to do this, they will have to introduce evidence showing a party was negligent. This party may be a construction company, manufacturer, subcontractor or another party.
For example, say a construction worker ended up with bone fractures after they fell from a ladder which was improperly placed by a different on-site contractor. This injured worker might be eligible to file a lawsuit against the contractor if they can show the contractor placed the ladder improperly, leading to their injuries. Skillful California construction accident lawyers like the lawyers at Nadrich & Cohen will identify every potentially liable party to make sure injured workers receive the full compensation they’re entitled to under California law.
Construction Accident Statistics
Over 150,000 construction accidents get reported in the United States every year. Some of these accidents are only minor accidents or moderate accidents. However, some are also quite serious. Unfortunately, when a construction accident occurs, it may lead to catastrophic consequences.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 35.3 percent of deaths in the workplace by construction and extraction workers were due to trips, slips and falls in 2020. Workers in these occupations were injured 21,400 times due to trips, slips and falls that year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1,100 construction workers end up dying every year because of accidents at construction sites. This number represents over 20 percent of job-related deaths in the United States! For perspective, only five percent of Americans who work full-time work in construction.
The number of deaths from electrocutions and struck-by incidents at construction sites decreased between 2018 and 2019, according to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Unfortunately, evidence suggests the possible deterioration of construction industry safety standards. Recent years have seen more injuries at construction sites. Almost 400 workers died on the job in California in 2015 according to the California Department of Industrial Relations. This represented a large increase over previous years’ totals, and was largely driven by an increase in construction industry workplace deaths.
Which OSHA Rights Can Nadrich & Cohen Protect For Me?
OSHA provides United States workers with rights to maintain and promote working environments which are safe. These rights include the right to:
- Use lawfully-given rights without discrimination or retaliation
- Ask for an OSHA workplace inspection
- Receive test results copies regarding workplace hazards
- Receive training and information about OSHA standards, harm prevention methods and hazards
- Receive medical records copies
- Review records regarding work-related illnesses and injuries
A lawyer can assist injured workers in filing OSHA complaints. Employers aren’t allowed to retaliate against, demote or fire employees who file complaints. A lawyer at Nadrich & Cohen can help file a claim against any employer who retaliates against an employee for filing a complaint with OSHA.
How Long Do I Have To File A Construction Accident Lawsuit?
There is a time limit for the filing of personal injury claims such as construction accident injury claims in California. This time limit is known as a statute of limitations.
If you have been injured in a construction accident, you have until two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries. However, if you are filing a claim for compensation from a government entity, that time limit is reduced to six months from the date of the accident.
Putting together a convincing personal injury case is a long, time-consuming process. You shouldn’t expect fantastic results if you wait until the last minute to file your claim.
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one was injured in a construction accident. Calling us today gives us as much time as possible to build a convincing case for you and make sure that any relevant claim is filed in time.
Is It Worth It To Hire A Construction Accident Lawyer?
A victim of a construction accident will usually recover more financial compensation if they obtain the representation of a lawyer, as opposed to representing themselves and filing a construction accident lawsuit themselves. It is the goal of insurance companies to make money. They make money by minimizing or denying legitimate claims. A construction accident attorney at Nadrich & Cohen can fight for your legal rights and assist in making sure you recover the financial compensation and justice you deserve.
We represent construction accident victims on the basis of only charging a contingency fee. This means you will never owe us any money out of your own pocket. You will only pay us a fee if we recover financial compensation on your behalf. Having Nadrich & Cohen on your side helps remove much of the stress regarding the legal process. Having Nadrich & Cohen on your side also helps increase the chances you receive justice for being injured.
How We Handle Construction Injury Claims
Typically, construction accident claims will have many parties involved including contractors, subcontractors and others. The first thing we will establish is who is at fault or who caused the condition that caused the accident. Of course, it has to be a very recent accident for us to do so. We always look at the following additional parties: property owner, general contractors, subcontractors, etc.
We obtain the OSHA report (Occupational Safety and Health Administration Report) which may list ongoing safety hazards, violations or potential fines, negative recommendations or other issues regarding the contractor. If we get on the site, we will have an investigator take pictures.
We get copies of all permits pulled for the job, contracts between all parties to the project that are relevant, all safety manuals concerning corporate safety or project safety for each contractor or subcontractor and the safety plans for the site concerning job hazards, transcripts of weekly meetings, progress reports and any previous OSHA warnings and citations. We obtain permits from the city or county office in charge of permit approval and inspections.
Our construction accident lawyers are very familiar with 29 C.F.R. 1910 (general workplace regulations) and 29 C.F.R. 1926 (localized issues solely regarding construction). These laws mandate certain safety oriented procedures and standards. We are always looking to show what could have been done to prevent an accident.
If we take the case, our construction accident attorneys will hire the most qualified industry expert and hire them for their analysis and expertise from the very beginning. In this area of the law – construction injury cases – experts are of paramount importance. You cannot win without an expert. We may also bring in an OSHA expert as well.
If you or your loved one was in a significant construction injury accident, please call a construction accident attorney at Nadrich & Cohen. We can handle construction claim accidents throughout California because we have an office near you.
If you would like, you may complete the free, and confidential case review on the upper right corner of this page and an intake specialist will call you back within 12 hours. You may qualify for financial compensation in a personal injury claim.
