West Hempstead Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction accidents can become complicated very quickly. Our West Hempstead construction accident lawyer at Levine And Wiss, PLLC, is intimately familiar with the laws and regulations that can affect your claim. An attorney can help you explore multiple avenues to meet your needs after your injury. 

When you are injured, especially if it is at your job, you need an experienced West Hempstead personal injury lawyer to fight for your right to compensation.

Recovering is hard enough without the added pressure of dealing with worker’s compensation and insurance companies on your own. Support from an experienced professional is crucial to recovering the maximum compensation available to you. 

Understanding West Hempstead Construction Site Accidents

Construction sites are notoriously dangerous. We can see how many objects are in play anytime we pass the mixed-use project advancing at 111 Hempstead Turnpike. Any number of slight lapses in judgment can mean catastrophic and sometimes life-threatening accidents.

Levine And Wiss, PLLC has represented workers in various professions who have been injured at construction sites. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that construction laborers experience trip and fall accidents more often than all other workers in recent reporting years. This becomes a higher safety concern when we consider that more than 60% of construction workers are exposed to heights.

Additionally, 60% of construction laborers work in proximity to moving mechanical parts. This happens at a higher rate than most other workers, putting them at additional risk of being caught, crushed, or otherwise injured.

As long as all parties are vigilant in their duties, these accidents can be kept to a minimum, but one error can cost millions of dollars and the quality of someone’s life. 

Causes of Construction Accidents

With the countless working parts of an active construction site, the cause of an accident may be difficult to determine initially without the help of a West Hempstead construction accident lawyer.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) provides requirements related to leading hazards at a construction site and safety guidelines for electrical work, heavy machinery, and other facets of an active construction site. Some of the primary causes identified by OSHA and from our experience in construction site accidents include:

• Lack of appropriate head protection for a fall
• Unsafe use of a ladder
• Inappropriate or lack of use of scaffolding
• Electrical injury 
• Cave-ins from unsafe trenching practice
• Crane accidents 
• Injury from falling objects

Any number of these injuries may result from someone else’s negligence. Additionally, being injured by any of these causes can result in permanent disfigurement, disability, or even death.

Liability in a West Hempstead Construction Accident

Determining who is liable in the event of an injury can be a very complicated process, and it frequently only comes after a thorough investigation. Determining the cause of an accident is crucial. From there, a West Hempstead construction accident attorney can trace the incident back to one or more sources, such as:

• Mechanical: if a machine malfunction due to negligence caused the injury, the negligent mechanic may be at least partially responsible.
• Employer: If the employer cuts corners on their obligations to maintain equipment, whether it be safety gear or machinery safely, this could fall on them. Additionally, an employer may be held liable for the acts of their employees in some circumstances.
• Property owner: If the accident was caused by inappropriately marked or poorly maintained premises, this may land on the leaseholder or property owner and their insurance.
• General contractor: If a general contractor fails to follow safety guidelines or other OSHA requirements that may apply to your job site.
• Independent contractor: unsafe or negligent behavior from an independent contractor may lead their small business to be liable.
• Manufacturers: If the manufacturer of the equipment has somehow released a defective product, they may be legally responsible for your injuries.

In many cases, if you are injured while working and are an employee, you may qualify for workers compensation. However, workers’ compensation has its limits and may not be able to provide you with what you need.

Regardless of your specific employment circumstances, if someone else’s negligence has caused your injury, you need the support of an experienced construction accident attorney in West Hempstead to help you navigate the process and hold all responsible parties accountable.

Damages in a West Hempstead Construction Accident

When you pursue a civil lawsuit for personal injury, one of the final steps is determining and claiming damages for your losses associated with the injury.

A skilled attorney should be able to help you determine what costs and losses are eligible for compensation and help you value them. Some of the more common claims in construction accident cases are:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages (those not covered if workers compensation is applied)
• Emotional anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Household support needed due to injury
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium

You may be eligible for many of these damages when negotiating a settlement offer or presenting your case in court. If you are a representative of the estate of a lost loved one, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit for the wrongful death of your loved one.

Compensation for wrongful death may be based on medical bills related to the injury, funeral expenses, or even to supplement the expected income from your loved one. 

Call a Construction Accident Lawyer in West Hempstead Today 

It can be incredibly frustrating to be injured, unable to work, and accumulating an unthinkable amount of medical bills. Negotiating with an insurance company or West Hempstead construction accident attorney that isn’t yours is exhausting on the best day but worse so when you are already in pain.

Hiring an attorney can feel like an extreme move to many people, but it’s really just leveling the playing field when everyone else will also have legal representation. 

If you have been hurt in a construction accident, call a construction accident lawyer in West Hempstead at Levine And Wiss, PLLC  today for a free case consultation.

You can contact us online or by phone to schedule your free case consultation with any of our four locations across New York. We work on a contingency fee basis, providing reassurance that you will not be charged fees until we have secured compensation for you.