Albuquerque Construction Site Accident Attorney
Construction sites are busy places, with subcontractors and vendors working together in a single area. When one party’s negligence leads to your injury, you may be able to file a third-party claim for negligence to compensate for any damages that may result. If the accident occurs during the course of your work duties, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim to pay for your medical bills and other expenses. Contact the Albuquerque workplace accident attorneys at the Fine Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation and discuss your legal options.
Why Choose Us?
The Fine Law Firm represents victims of personal injury, including construction site accidents, throughout the greater Albuquerque area. Families choose us to represent them for many reasons.
- We put our client’s interests first. We will even reduce our fees to ensure that our clients receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries, pain, and suffering.
- We work on a contingency-fee basis. This means we will only collect attorney’s fees when we win a settlement or court judgment on your behalf.
- Trial experience. We are trial lawyers with a long history of confronting large corporations in the courtroom. We won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if it means maximum compensation for you and your family.
Why Do You Need a Construction Site Accident Lawyer?
Construction accidents involve serious matters of state and, on occasion, federal laws. Moreover, many parties may be involved in a construction accident, necessitating claims against multiple defendants. Construction accident claims often involve matters of workers’ compensation law, but may also involve premises liability, product liability, and traditional negligence laws. An attorney can examine all the factors involved in a construction accident and pursue the avenues that will lead to maximum compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering.
While you focus on healing from your injuries, your construction accident attorney can investigate, determine the liable parties, collect evidence and take over negotiations with an insurance company on your behalf.
What Types of Construction Accidents Do We Handle?
At The Fine Law Firm, our team of personal injury lawyers has years of experience handling various construction site accident claims and lawsuits. We have successfully recovered compensation for many construction accident victims, including a $2 million settlement for a construction defect.
Our lawyers handle all of the following types of construction site accident cases in Albuquerque, among others:
- Crane collapses
- Defective products and equipment
- Exposure to asbestos and toxic substances
- Falls from heights
- Fires and explosions
- Forklift accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Ladder accidents
- Power tool accidents
- Scaffold accidents
- Slip, trip and fall accidents
- Struck-by falling objects
- Structural collapses
- Vehicle and transportation accidents
We can represent clients who have suffered all types of serious injuries in construction accidents, including catastrophic and life-changing injuries. We also represent families in wrongful death claims after fatal construction accidents in Albuquerque. No matter what your circumstances are, if you’ve been injured in a construction site accident, contact us to find out how we can help.
The Severity of Construction Accidents
Construction accidents can be devastating and often lead to serious or permanently disabling injury. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics named construction one of America’s most dangerous professions. Workers and pedestrians alike are vulnerable to injury because of heavy machinery, falling hazards, negligent supervision, and negligent hiring of employees.
Common injuries suffered in construction site accidents include:
- Asbestos-related illnesses
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Chemical exposure
- Electrocutions
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic amputations
The severity of a construction accident victim’s injuries will depend on the circumstances. After any type of injury, major or minor, a construction worker should always see a doctor. Professional medical care can ensure a prompt diagnosis and the proper treatment to mitigate the severity of the victim’s symptoms.
Causes of Construction Accidents
Construction accidents in Albuquerque are often traced back to human error. Employers, site supervisors, contractors and construction workers could all be to blame for an accident. Various acts of negligence, such as careless or reckless behaviors on the job, increase the risks that are already inherent to the construction industry.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration outlines four main causes of construction-related injuries, dubbed the Fatal Four:
- Falls. These are responsible for the majority of construction-related injury and death. Accidents like these may occur from lack of proper safety equipment, negligent hiring or supervision, or third-party negligence.
- Being struck by an object. At number two, these accidents arise from the negligent operation of heavy machinery, product liability issues, and more.
- Being caught in between two objects. Getting caught in trenches or pinned between machinery and a wall are common causes of these accidents.
- Electrocutions. Finally, improper wiring or negligent electrical work contributes to the fourth leading type of construction accident.
Together, these accident risks account for a high percentage of construction worker deaths annually. Yet these risks are all avoidable with proper care taken by construction companies and their workers. If all federal safety rules and regulations were followed at a construction site, this would greatly reduce the number of serious and fatal accidents each year.
What Should You Do After a Construction Accident?
It is important to know the appropriate steps to take immediately after a construction accident in Albuquerque to protect yourself and your legal rights. While each victim’s experience is different, the following are general steps that you should take when establishing a claim:
- Address your injuries without delay. Go to a licensed health care provider close to the construction site for professional medical care right away.
- Report the accident. Tell your employer or the construction site manager about your accident. Request a copy of the incident report for your records.
- Do not admit fault. Do not apologize for the construction accident or accept any blame when speaking to your employer or an insurance company.
- Document the scene. Take photographs of where your construction accident took place. If there were any witnesses, write down their information to collect statements later.
- Keep detailed records. Obtain copies of your medical records, employment documentation, the accident report and any expenses related to your accident.
- File an insurance claim. If you qualify for workers’ compensation insurance, work with your employer to file a claim before the deadline passes.
- Do not rush into a fast settlement. Once you resolve your construction accident case, you typically cannot reopen the claim or negotiate for greater compensation, even if you settled for less than you deserve.
- Contact a construction accident lawyer in Albuquerque. Discuss options such as a third-party claim or lawsuit against a construction company with a lawyer during a free consultation.
Throughout your case, follow your doctor’s medical advice and avoid speaking freely to insurance companies. Before resolving your claim through an insurance settlement, consult with an attorney for an honest overview of your case and legal options. Safeguard your rights as much as possible by contacting an attorney early on in your case.
Who Is Liable?
Liability in a construction accident can be difficult to determine. At times, a supervisor or general contractor at a construction site might be to blame; at others, a subcontractor’s negligence may lead to injury.
Determining liability after a construction accident is one of the most important steps in pursuing a case. Filing a claim against the wrong party could result in the dismissal of a case. An Albuquerque construction site accident attorney from the Fine Law Firm can conduct a thorough investigation into your case, determine the responsible party or parties, and demand maximum compensation for your injuries, pain, and suffering.
When Can a Third Party Be Liable?
Construction companies can be held liable for many accidents that occur at construction sites. It may be possible for an injured worker or his or her family to pursue a workers’ compensation claim or file a lawsuit against an employer for negligence. However, the construction company is not the only potentially liable party.
A third party could also be held accountable if it caused or contributed to the accident in a significant way. A third party refers to an individual or entity who was not at the scene of the construction accident or directly involved, but contributed in some regard. Examples include contractors, product manufacturers and property owners.
If an investigation finds evidence that one or more third parties contributed to a construction accident, a claim can be filed against these parties in addition to or instead of the worker’s employer. If the injured worker is eligible for workers’ comp, it is possible for the worker to receive this coverage as well as additional compensation through a lawsuit against a third party that is not the employer.
What Types of Recoverable Damages Can You Receive?
Recovering from a construction accident can be even more of a challenge when you are dealing with financial stress caused by expenses such as medical bills and lost wages. A successful insurance claim or lawsuit in Albuquerque can give you peace of mind by providing financial compensation to you and your family.
Recoverable types of damages may include:
- Past and future health care costs
- Short-term or long-term disability
- Lost income and ability to earn
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages
- Punitive damages, in some cases
You should always discuss your specific case and available damages with a knowledgeable attorney in Albuquerque before accepting a settlement offered to you by an insurance company. While an insurer may try to devalue your claim to save itself money, an attorney will work hard to maximize your financial recovery after a construction accident.
Contact Us Today
For over forty years the people of Albuquerque have relied on the personal injury lawyers in Albuquerque at the Fine Law Firm for personal injury legal services. If you sustained an injury in a construction accident and believe that someone else is legally responsible, contact us to schedule a free initial consultation today.