Help for Construction Accident Victims

There is no such thing as a city that can be called “finished.” No matter where you live, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of ongoing construction projects that involve building homes, commercial properties, and infrastructure projects. Those projects employ hundreds of workers who are toiling away in one of the most dangerous industries.

If you are injured in a workplace accident, you have a few options to seek compensation for your losses. However, there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to receive the full amount you are due or it will be paid in a timely manner.

When that happens, you need to get an Alexandria construction accident lawyer involved in your situation. At Curcio Law, we have years of combined experience helping clients with construction accident claims. We understand how the workers’ compensation laws work and the options you have to get what you are owed. So, if you’re hurt and you’d like to make sense of legal remedies available to you, get in touch with us for a free case evaluation.

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Alexandria Construction Accident Lawyer

Common Causes of Injury Incidents Occurring on Northern Virginia Construction Sites

At any given time, there could be dozens of workers on a construction site, and not all of them work on the same task. The crews that put up the framing and roof are not the same as the team that is doing the electrical wiring. That means a construction worker has to watch out for any potential hazard that his specific job might create in addition to all the hazards potentially created by the other crews.

Identifying how the accident occurred is a critical part of any injury claim. Here are some of the common causes of construction accidents. Which one applies to your incident?

Slip and Fall Accidents

A large number of injuries that occur on a construction site are slips and falls. These accidents can happen from slippery floors or debris causing falls. Construction workers climb ladders and scaffolding to complete their tasks. If that ladder or scaffolding isn’t properly secured, it could lead to a falling accident.

Incidents Involving Machinery

Construction sites involve power tools and heavy machinery. The equipment needs to be properly maintained to prevent injury, and it also needs to be operated by certified workers. This includes cranes, forklifts, scissor lifts, band saws, and nail guns, to name a few.

Electrical and Fire Hazards

A building is deemed finished after it passes a final inspection. During the construction process, exposed wiring and unfinished electrical systems could lead to electrocution accidents. Various solvents and other hazardous materials can trigger a fire if they aren’t properly maintained.

Trench Collapses

During deep excavation work, the trenches need to be properly shored up, or they might collapse, leading to injuries. Trenches can also cause accidents if there are no warning cones or other markings.

Struck by Falling Objects Incidents

Whether the construction site involves building a two-story home or putting up a multi-floor skyscraper, objects are likely to fall. Any tool or piece of construction material that slips through a worker’s hands. When that happens, that object can instantly become a lethal projectile. Those falling objects can injure workers, pedestrians, or motorists passing by the site.

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Injured in a construction accident? Find out more about your legal options at a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.

Injuries That Happen On or Near Building Projects in VA

A construction site injury can be painful and sometimes life-altering. The immediate aftermath could mean missing work, which contributes to your stress. How much you should be compensated for depends on your injury’s severity. That compensation should also cover how the injury has impacted your ability to return to work. The following are some of the types of injuries associated with construction accidents.

Damages an Alexandria Construction Accident Lawyer Can Help You Seek

If you cut yourself slicing a bagel or sprain your ankle when jogging, your personal health insurance should cover the medical expenses. When you get injured on the job, you will have options to pursue to reimburse you for those out-of-pocket expenses.

The following are damages you can see with help from your Alexandria construction accident lawyer:

Medical Expenses

Your medical expenses will cover immediate care for your injury. If needed, that could mean emergency room treatment, surgery, or a hospital stay. It will also cover medical supplies such as crutches or slings. Additionally, you can ask for expenses that will cover your expenses for future and ongoing care, such as physical therapy that might be prescribed by your doctor.

Lost Wages

On any job, a worker has a limited number of personal sick days. Those should not be used for a worksite accident. Instead, you are entitled to be compensated for the time that your injury keeps you away from work. If your injury keeps you from returning to work or forces you into another job at a significantly lower wage, you should also be compensated for that.

Pain and Suffering

The pain you experience because of your injury can impact your daily life. It can make sleeping a challenge, as well as other mobility challenges. All of that diminishes your quality of life. In other words, if it weren’t for the injury, you would be able to do all the things you did before the accident. These would be considered the pain and suffering damages.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are often associated with instances of gross negligence. That would be an amount that is meant to punish the liable party. A construction accident could be attributable to a company that failed to properly maintain equipment or the work site.

How To Pursue a Claim if an Incident on a Virginia Construction Site Injured You

You may have a few different recovery options, depending on your role on or near the building site and the nature of the injuries you suffered. Some of your options for pursuing a claim may be:

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim

As a general rule, a business with two or more employees is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for its staff. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission administers the program.

Workers’ comp is designed to pay for all the damages related to a construction accident. The only exception is that workers’ compensation will not pay for your pain and suffering or punitive damages.

The commission provides the format to follow in order to file a claim. That begins with the statute of limitations, which is two years. A workers’ compensation claim is an injured worker’s expected first course of action. The goal is to provide swift compensation for any of your medical costs and a fraction of your lost wages. However, not every worker’s compensation claim is automatically approved. It could be denied. You have the right to appeal against the decision, which is another area the Curcio Law team can help with.

Pursuing a Third-Party Claim

A subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or another party could cause a workplace accident. In those scenarios, your employer could deny a workers’ compensation claim. You can pursue the damages with a personal injury lawsuit if that happens. That would allow you to pursue the full amount of your lost wages and any pain and suffering that you experienced.

Get Help From Curcio Law

When you’re recovering from an injury, it can be a challenge to go through the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim for a construction accident, especially if you’re still recovering from the injury. The attorneys at Curcio Law can step in and help with the claim filing.

That process may begin with filing an official notice to your employer detailing the accident. You also need to follow all the Virginia rules and deadlines for filing a claim in order to get your claim approved.

The case is considered closed if the claim is accepted and the compensation comes through. However, we can become your advocate if there is a denial or dispute. If there is a need to pursue third-party claims, we can represent you with the appropriate insurance company.

That might also lead to a civil complaint. We have decades of combined experience representing clients in civil proceedings. We’re proud of our track record of success, which demonstrates that we have the skills and expertise to help our clients get fair compensation for their losses.

Our support begins with the first consultation, during which we will listen to what happened and review your documentation. The Alexandria construction accident lawyer you meet with will be able to provide you with the right information and guidance to help you decide the best course of action. Call to schedule that consultation today.