Boca Raton Construction Accident Lawyer
Several thousand men worked fourteen years to complete the Brooklyn Bridge. Incidentally, after its construction, circus master P.T. Barnum paraded a line of elephants across the bridge to convince people it was safe. Today, a construction boss would expect half as many workers to complete such a project in half the time. Additionally, since the modern construction industry is so competitive, many bosses cut corners anywhere they can. A few dollars could mean the difference between profit and loss.
In contrast, the patient Boca Raton construction accident lawyers at Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather never rush projects, like personal injury cases. Instead, we take the time to do things right, from start to finish. We’re patient, but our patience has limits. If insurance companies drag their feet during the settlement process, we don’t hesitate to take things to the next level. Furthermore, we don’t primarily care about making money. Instead, we primarily care about the legal and financial rights of injury victims.
Kinds of Construction Injuries
Since construction workers must get things done quickly and with little help, trauma injuries are common. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Fatal Four is responsible for most of the deadly construction accidents in Florida:
- Falls: A fall from as little as four stories above ground is usually fatal. Even if these victims survive, they normally sustain permanent injuries. Broken bones, head injuries, and other such wounds generally never entirely heal. For example, if Michelle breaks her knee, she might permanently lose mobility in that joint and not be able to walk unassisted ever again.
- Electrocution: Live electric wires often cause falls. An arc blast often propels victims through the air. There’s no telling where they will land. Alternatively, electrocutions often cause severe temperature burns. The power surge inside an electric wire is hotter than the surface temperature of the sun.
- Struck By: A small object, like a hammer, picks up so much speed as it falls from a height that, if it hits a pedestrian below, it’s almost like a sledgehammer. Even if the victim is wearing a hard hat, the chances of survival are slim.
- Caught Between: Frequently, workers with almost no commercial driver experience get behind the wheels of concrete mixers and other huge vehicles. Construction sites are so busy that these inexperienced drivers often don’t see workers crossing behind them. These unfortunate victims are then “caught between” a large vehicle and a retaining wall or other fixed object.
Occupational diseases are also an issue. Hearing loss is a good example. Many construction sites are loud enough to permanently damage hearing, but not loud enough to trigger mandatory OSHA safety rules.
Watchdog agencies like OSHA cannot possibly keep construction workers safe. This agency only has a few thousand inspectors to keep tabs on several million workers.
A Boca Raton construction accident lawyer protects these victims and obtain the compensation they need and deserve.
Your Legal Options
Usually, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy for construction site injuries. These no-fault insurance policies replace lost wages and pay medical bills.
Insurance company lawyers may be unable to contest liability, at least in most cases. But they contest the amount of damages, at least in most cases.
Lost wages are a good example. Legally, insurance companies must generally pay two-thirds of a victim’s average weekly wage (AWW) for the duration of a temporary disability. The AWW is not based simply on prior cash wages. It also includes per diem, expense reimbursement, and other non-cash compensation.
In some cases, construction accident victims in Florida can sue outside the workers’ compensation system and obtain additional compensation. Defective product-related injuries and uninsured employers are the two most common examples.
Reach Out to a Thorough Palm Beach County Construction Accident Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced construction accident lawyer in Boca Raton, contact Smith, Ball, Baez & Prather, Florida Injury Lawyers. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
