Bossier City Construction Accident Attorneys
Take Your Injury Claim Seriously
Were you injured while working on a construction site in Bossier City? Construction accidents are somewhat common because the industry involves so many inherently dangerous aspects like heavy equipment, busy workspaces, and hazardous materials. But that does not mean that getting fair compensation to help you recover after a construction accident is going to be easy.
If you are worried that your construction accident claim won’t be taken seriously by your employer or the insurance company handling it, then you should contact Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers in Bossier City. Our attorneys can help you understand the full legal process ahead of you and even act on your behalf if you would rather leave things to our professionals. With us leading the way, you can be confident that your case will be managed correctly, the damages you are owed will be maximized, and the opposition will face a difficult challenge.
Empower your construction accident claim today. Dial (888) 492-5532 and let us know how we can help.
OSHA Fatal Four
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) keeps track of all reported construction accidents in Louisiana and across the United States. Using its research, we can see what accidents are not only the most common but also the most dangerous.
The deadliest construction accidents (or OSHA’s Fatal Four) include:
- Falls from heights: The average construction site has significant verticality to it. Even single-story structures require scaffolding to complete various projects. Falls from heights or scaffolding are the number one cause of severe or fatal injuries on construction sites.
- Struck-by objects: Approximately 15% of all fatal construction accidents involve struck-by incidents, such as if a tool or piece of debris falls from a height and hits a worker. Struck-by-construction vehicle accidents are also part of this category.
- Caught-in/between: When a construction worker is caught partially inside a piece of heavy equipment, it usually causes catastrophic or fatal injuries, such as an amputation. Caught-between accidents occur when a worker is caught between a wall or floor and a moving object.
- Electrical exposure: Contact with a live electrical wire or source can cause fatal electrocution in an instant. Electrical systems on construction sites tend to carry power of extreme amperages, too, which is the aspect of an electrical current that is the most dangerous.
Liability for Construction Accidents
Figuring out who is liable for your damages after a construction accident is complicated. Not only will the answer involve the details of your accident and how it happened, but it will also concern the details of your employment. Construction workers who are classified as independent contractors might have a much different approach to getting deserved compensation.
Essentially, there are two approaches to getting compensation after a construction accident:
- Workers’ compensation: If you are considered an employee of a construction company in Bossier City, then you should be provided workers’ compensation by your employer. After a job-related accident, no matter who caused it, you can use workers’ compensation insurance to seek benefits that pay for medical treatment costs, lost wages, and so on. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, so even if you made a mistake that caused you to get injured, you can still be eligible for benefits.
- Third-party injury claim: If you are an independent contractor, then you likely do not have workers’ compensation insurance to cover your damages after a construction accident. At that point, you would have to see if you could file a personal injury claim against your employer if their negligence contributed to your injuries. You might also be able to file an injury claim and use workers’ compensation as an injured construction employee if your accident was caused by a third party’s negligence. For example, if you were working roadside and a driver hit you, then you can get workers’ comp from your employer and file against the driver’s auto insurance policy for any remaining unpaid damages.