Construction sites are often dangerous environments. They may be filled with heavy machinery, electrical wires, tools, moving equipment, ladders, scaffolding – all of which make construction the most dangerous workplace in the United States in terms of fatalities; it ranks fourth for non-fatal injuries suffered in the workplace.

If you have been injured at a construction site in Miami – as either a worker or as a visitor – it is important to contact a personal injury attorney specializing in construction accidents. With experience in worker’s compensation, slip and fall accidents, and premises liability — Our Miami construction accident attorney will be knowledgeable about state and local workers’ comp statutes and whether they apply in your situation, and will explain personal injury lawsuits and other options that might be available to you.

COMMON TYPES OF INJURIES RESULTING FROM A CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT

At a construction site, the most common accidents can happen as a result of:

• Handling material
• Being struck by or colliding with an object
• Being stuck under or squeezed by an object
• Contact with equipment, tools, and other objects
• Slips, trips, and falls.

The most common injuries that result from these constructive accidents are:

• Back injury
• Brain injury
• Broken or fractured bones
• Burns
• Electrocution from damaged, faulty or exposed wires on the job site or in equipment being used
• Illness from toxic chemical exposure
• Internal bleeding
• Loss of/or diminished hearing
• Loss of/or diminished vision
• Neck injury

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT?

Since construction accidents result from a variety of circumstances — using defective equipment, not following safety rules, unsafe site conditions, improper use of dangerous equipment, neglect, carelessness — it is not always clear who is responsible for a workplace injury.

• According to the Florida premises liability theory, negligent property owners and property managers can be held responsible for injuries occurring on their property.
• The construction company may be considered responsible.
• A sub-contractor, manager, or foreman may be liable.
• If the equipment being used is defective or has a design flaw, the manufacturer, distributor and/or retailer of the equipment may be held liable under the theory of product liability.
• A negligent co-worker may be held responsible.
• Engineers and architects responsible for the unsafe design and building of the site can bear liability.
• If a visitor to the construction site is injured, a property owner may be liable if he did not make the visitor aware of potential hazards
• If a worker or visitor to the site is harmed by toxic chemicals or substances, the chemical company, distributor, and/or retailer may be liable for damages.
• If a road construction accident occurs, a careless or negligent driver who injures the worker may be held responsible.
• If violations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules are the cause of or contribute to the accident, employers may also face civil and criminal penalties.
• Generally, a property owner is not held responsible for an injury suffered by a trespasser on the construction site. However, if a child trespasses onto the property and is injured, the property owner may be liable. Florida courts sometimes consider construction sites to be attractive nuisances, which attract children.

Determining liability in a construction accident resulting in injury is often an extremely complicated issue, and requires the assistance of an experienced attorney — Book a consultation today to begin building your case

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AFTER SOMEONE HAS BEEN INJURED IN A CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT?

• Seek immediate medical attention — even if the injury appears to be minor.
• If the injury is severe or life-threatening, have someone call 9-1-1 for an ambulance to transport you to a hospital. Have the attending physicians or paramedics document your injury.
• Report the accident to your employer right away.
• Be as detailed and specific as possible when writing an accident report.
• Take pictures of the accident scene and anything surrounding that you think might be useful.
• Obtain information from witnesses, if there are any, including their name, contact information, and a brief description of what they saw.
• Get in touch with a lawyer specializing in personal injury lawsuits and workers’ comp cases (if you were an employee and was injured on the job).

WHAT CAN A MIAMI CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT ATTORNEY DO FOR ME?

If you have suffered an injury at a construction site in Florida, as a worker or as a visitor, you are most likely entitled to compensation.  Many workers injured at their workplace think that they are only entitled to workers’ compensation; however, in certain circumstances, there are third-party lawsuits that can help injured workers receive additional money for damage such as pain and suffering.

An experienced attorney specializing in construction accidents will look over the details of your case, determine what type of claim to file, examine the accident site, collect important evidence for your claim, and be with you every step of the way in the complex legal proceedings.

To find the best Miami construction accident attorney to help you with your case, contact us.