Injuries at Construction Sites: Legal Recourse for Workers

Construction sites are usually active environments with many people and machines moving about during the day and night. With so much going on, construction sites can be dangerous, and everyone working on an active site has to stay focused and alert to their surroundings. However, since the work is done in such a dynamic environment, even the most veteran construction workers can be harmed on the job. 

If you are a construction worker and you were injured while on the job, then you can benefit from knowing your legal options. Depending on how your workplace accident happened, you may be able to secure compensation through a third-party claim or workers’ compensation.

What to Do After a Construction Site Accident

Working high up on scaffolding or operating heavy machinery, there are hazards and perils around every corner of a construction site. Construction site accidents can result in severe injuries to workers and even death. Individuals who are hurt on a construction site must know about legal remedies that exist to help them get the financial support necessary to deal with their losses.

Some avenues that could be available to injured construction workers include:

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Businesses have workers’ compensation insurance coverage so that workers will have their medical needs paid for when an injury accident happens at work. Workers’ compensation benefits also may cover a portion of a worker’s missed wages if they have to take time off of work to heal from their injuries. Additionally, when a work-related injury leads to temporary or permanent disability, disability benefits could help ease the financial burdens of a worker who has lost the ability to earn an income due to their disability.

Third-Party Claims

When a third party, not an employer, is negligent and causes a worker’s injury accident, then a third-party liability claim can be filed by an injured worker. Typically, the financial compensation that comes from a third-party claim is much more than what an injured worker would obtain from workers’ compensation. The reason for this is third-party liability claims include compensation for non-economic damages that workers’ compensation benefits do not cover. Noneconomic damages could include pain and suffering and emotional distress. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded to a claimant.

Sometimes, workers’ compensation benefits may be warranted, but an injured worker may still be able to file a third-party liability claim. In some workplace injury accidents, there are multiple avenues for injured workers to recover financial compensation. When this happens, an injured worker has the best potential for a full and fair recovery.

Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today

Construction site injury accidents can leave workers with considerable physical bodily harm and an inability to go back to work and earn a living. As a result, obtaining compensation is necessary to make up for the losses injured workers sustain. Each workplace accident is different, and in some cases, a worker may have several avenues to pursue compensation.

If you would like help after an Oklahoma workplace accident, please call an Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer at the Putnam Law Office to schedule a free consultation at (405) 849-9149 with an experienced attorney.