From Christian’s interview for the Masters of Workers’ Compensation series on ReelLawyers.com.
The economy in Charlotte is booming, and people are flocking from all over the country to relocate to Charlotte and take advantage of all the opportunities it offers. Along with the growth and prosperity of Charlotte comes a rise in construction projects to build homes, office buildings, shopping centers, and other structures to keep up with the high demand. While all the new construction projects provide more jobs and economic stimulus for local workers, it also means that thousands of construction workers are out on the job every day in risky work environments.
For Charlotte workers who have beenseriously hurt in a construction accident that was not their fault, the legal team at the Law Offices of Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler has helped countless injured workers pursue just compensation from negligent property owners who have neglected to implement proper safety measures. Our Charlotte construction accident attorneys are well versed in personal injury law, and we know exactly what it takes to win these cases. Our firm has been helping North Carolina workers get the money they deserve for their severe injuries for years, and we’re ready to do the same for you.
Construction sites often prove to be inherently dangerous places to work. Construction workers face a higher risk of injury and death at work than any other career in the workforce. Falls are one of the most common causes of fatal construction accidents, but many other serious injuries can occur as a result of an accident on a construction site. Some of the many accidents construction workers must protect themselves from are:
These common accidents and many others can result in extremely painful injuries and can cause major setbacks in a worker’s personal and professional life. Broken bones, back injuries, head trauma, internal bleeding, and organ damage are just some of the many dangerous possibilities when accidents occur on construction sites.
It is the responsibility of every property owner and construction company to provide a safe work environment that protects their workers from preventable accidents. Unfortunately, it is all too common for construction accident injuries and fatalities to occur because employers turn a blind eye to the safety concerns of their employees.
Themost common construction injuries include:
It’s not just the big accidents that cause serious injuries. Even small accidents can result in debilitating injuries if they happen all the time, which is why employers need to provide a safe work environment that reduces the risk of injury for their workers.
If you have been injured on the job site, you should take two very important steps immediately. First, you should seek medical treatment immediately following your accident. Second, ask your employer for a copy of your accident report. If you are not allowed to do this, it is best to ask a witness for their contact information so that you can request a copy of the accident report later. Once your injuries have been properly assessed and you know your employer’s take on the incident, you will have a much better idea of your legal options.
The most important factor in bringing a construction injury lawsuit is proving that the property owner or construction company’s negligence caused your injuries. Many factors can result in a construction accident. For instance, poor project planning could result in serious injury or death if it results in workers operating heavy machinery with low clearance or if it results in employees being asked to work on unstable structures. Alternatively, the property owner or construction company could be aware of a dangerous condition and fail to take the proper precautions.
When someone willingly or ignorantly puts their employees at risk of injury, they should be held accountable. Without legal action, property owners and construction companies may continue to put workers in dangerous situations because it is not their safety that’s on the line.
There are three elements to any personal injury claim. You must prove that the property owner or construction company had a duty to provide you with a safe work environment, they breached this duty, and your injuries directly result from their negligence.
For example, if you are an employee who was injured when a ladder collapsed under you, you would need to show that the owner or construction company provided the ladder, and they knew or should have known that the ladder was faulty and dangerous and that your injuries were caused as a direct result of the ladder collapsing.
If you have the burden of proof the property owner or construction company was aware of a dangerous condition and failed to take any precautions, you would still need to show that the property owner or construction company had a duty to provide you with a safe work environment, they breached this duty, and your injuries are the direct result of their negligence.
You may be entitled toworkers’ compensation benefits if you were injured on the job and suffered an injury. You would then qualify to receive weekly payments and medical benefits while you’re unable to work. However, discuss your situation with an attorney first. It’s possible that your injury was the fault of your employer or due to faulty equipment. If this is the case, you might be owed more compensation than what you will be offered through benefits. North Carolina law does require all cases to go through a workers’ comp claim, but there are some reasons that would allow you to pursue a claim despite this.
The cost of hiring a personal injury attorney varies depending on the case. Unfortunately, the stigma of lawyer’s being a high-cost luxury service has caused many people to suffer because they did not want to hire a lawyer. However, going it alone or talking to an insurance company about your injuries can be a very costly mistake.
If you want to get the most out of your case and speed up the process, you need to hire an attorney who knows how to handle North Carolina workplace injury cases. The quality of the work and experience will be reflected in the fees. It’s imperative that you find a qualified personal injury attorney who has the experience to give you the best chance of winning your claim. When you win a case, the juice is always worth the squeeze.
When you are injured on the job, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance works for you to provide coverage for medical care and financial benefits. However, these benefits may not be enough to cover all your expenses, especially if you have a long-term or permanent injury.
If you were hurt on the job and need additional financial support, you may be able to get this through a personal injury claim. However, North Carolina has strict regulations about filing a personal injury claim against an employer. To determine whether your case would meet these criteria, discuss the situation with our firm.
A personal injury claim is filed against the negligent party, which could be your employer, another employee, or a manufacturer creating faulty equipment. It can result in compensation for:
If you have been injured on the job, it’s important to protect your rights and speak with a qualified attorney as soon as possible. An experienced personal injury lawyer can investigate your claim and advise you of what you are entitled to receive for your injuries.
The North Carolina personal injury lawyers of the Law Offices of Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler have provided trusted and dependable attorney representation for injured workers just like you for decades. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a construction accident,contact the Law Offices of Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler today. We can help you get the money you deserve for your injuries, in addition to the many other benefits you are entitled to, so call today to begin your road to recovery.