Brooklyn Construction Accident Lawyer
Unfortunately, construction accidents are a common cause of injuries and resulting damages in Brooklyn. Both the workers on a site, as well as any visitors are vulnerable to a variety of hazards that may affect their financial, personal, and professional livelihood. A Brooklyn construction accident lawyer could help if you were injured on a construction site.
However, the legal process to seek recovery of damage depends on whether you were an employee or visitor at the time of the incident. Instead of trying to understand how to seek recovery, a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney could help you to understand your specific legal standing and discuss the avenues available to you for seeking compensation.
Common Causes of Construction Site Injuries
Construction sites are dangerous places which combine many of the hazards of factories with the added hazards posed by heavy machinery and outdoor conditions. Therefore, when accidents happen, the resulting injuries could be severe or even life-threatening.
A Brooklyn construction accident attorney could work with an injured individual to investigate the cause of their injuries, as well as to establish who may be deemed liable. Common causes of injuries in construction areas include:
- Falling tools
- Trip and falls on wet or otherwise hazardous surfaces
- Falling into potholes or pits
- Collisions with construction vehicles and machinery
- Ear injuries from explosions or loud equipment
The Legal Difference Between a Pedestrian and Worker Injury
As mentioned above, an individual’s options for legal recourse after an injury depends on whether they were an employee of or visitor on the construction site. For example, most injured employees must pursue any requests for compensation through the workers’ compensation insurance system. These policies are designed to pay for the medical costs needed to treat an injury and may also provide income for the duration of an employee’s missed work.
Any construction site injury that affects non-employees, on the other hand, are usually matters for liability claims. Premises liability laws state that property owners have a duty to protect invited visitors on their land and, if they fail in this duty and cause a visitor to be injured, that landowner may have an obligation to provide them with compensation.
However, claims built on liability must adhere to New York’s statute of limitations. This means that an injured pedestrian or visitor seeking compensation should take legal action within three years of suffering their injury, according to New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules §214.
Seek the Guidance of a Brooklyn Construction Accident Attorney
Accidents on construction sites are unfortunately common. Even a cautious employee or visitor may suffer injuries due to an unfortunate incident or the negligence of others. If you were injured on a construction site, you might have the right to seek reimbursement for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, depending on your circumstances.
A Brooklyn construction accident lawyer may be able to help. Whether you need to request benefits under the workers’ compensation system or through a civil lawsuit, a skilled attorney could guide you through each step of the process. To discuss filing a claim and how to proceed, call a legal professional today.
