Construction Accident Lawyer in Palm Harbor

The inherent dangers present at a construction site or in a construction zone make working in the construction industry one of the most injury-prone occupations. Although general and independent contractors receive safety support from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers still face a wide variety of threats that can cause them harm.

One of the first items on the agenda during a free case evaluation with one of the Palm Harbor construction accident lawyers from Morgan and Morgan involves determining the cause of your injuries.

Failure to Operate a Forklift Properly

Construction sites buzz with the movement of forklifts. Lifting heavy materials for transporting to another location on site requires an extensive amount of training. However, not every forklift operator receives the required training and thus, becomes vulnerable to causing an accident that leaves behind both physical and emotional scars. Sustaining injuries caused by a forklift accident can be considered either a workers’ compensation case or a personal injury case if the manufacturer of the forklift constructed an inferior machine. Your employer also might be held legally liable for failing to train you properly to operate a forklift.

Slip and Fall

OSHA released a study that demonstrated that slips and falls are one of the most common reasons why construction workers file workers’ compensation claims. You can include trips and falls in the slip and fall category of construction injuries. Electrical cords, lack of lighting, and wet floor surfaces all contribute to the high incident rate of slips and falls at construction sites and in construction zones. Although most slip and fall cases are considered accidents, you might have a strong enough case to file a civil lawsuit for sustaining one or more injuries.

Prolonged Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Construction workers frequently have to handle dangerous chemicals as part of their jobs. OSHA requires general and independent contractors to provide detailed training to prevent the injuries caused by prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals. However, some general and independent contractors cut financial corners when providing safety training for their employees. Even if your employer implements every measure required to prevent prolonged exposure to dangerous chemicals, you might sustain a serious injury because of an accident.

Repetitive Stress

Many construction jobs demand the same movements over an extended period. For example, let’s say you have to operate a power drill every day as part of your job description. After a few months of operating a power drill, you might start to feel pain in the wrists and forearms because of the repetitive motions required to operate a power drill correctly. Proving the presence of a repetitive stress injury can be difficult to do unless you hire one of the Palm Harbor construction accident attorneys from Morgan and Morgan.

Elevated Fall

One of the most serious types of construction accidents regards falling from an elevated height. Despite modern machines that protect construction workers from lengthy falls, the fact remains that this type of accident remains a problem for general and independent contractors. Data recently released show that 42 percent of all construction-related deaths stemmed from a ledge, ladder, or scaffold fall.

The steps you take after a construction accident or a construction incident caused by the negligence of another party determine the likelihood of you receiving compensation to cover your financial losses.

Seek Medical Attention

The first step in handling a workplace accident properly involves getting medical care. Even if you do not feel any pain or the common symptoms associated with a particular injury, you should have a healthcare provider perform a thorough physical examination. Some types of injuries, such as whiplash, head trauma, and internal bleeding, do not develop symptoms until a few hours after a victim sustains an injury.

Inform Your Employer

Informing your employer about a construction accident that caused injuries is an essential step in filing a workers’ compensation claim. After you tell your employer, you should receive paperwork that initiates the workers’ compensation claim process. If you believe your injuries resulted from the negligence committed by your employer, you should contact one of the Palm Harbor construction accident lawyers at Morgan and Morgan to schedule a free case evaluation.

Collect and Organize Evidence

Whether you plan to file a workers’ compensation claim or a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages, presenting convincing physical evidence is the key to receiving compensation. When you meet with a Morgan and Morgan attorney for a free case evaluation, you should bring a copy of the incident report, copies of medical bills, photographs of your injuries, and the contact information for witnesses.

Hire a Construction Attorney

One of the experienced construction accident lawyers at Morgan and Morgan determines whether you have a strong enough case to file a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. Your attorney has to prove your employer or the manufacturer of construction equipment committed at least one act of negligence. Both filing a civil lawsuit and workers’ compensation claim require you to submit the correct paperwork before the expiration of the statute of limitations. The Palm Harbor construction accident lawyer you hire from Morgan and Morgan helps you file a claim or lawsuit before the deadline.

To file a civil lawsuit for a construction incident that caused injuries, your attorney must prove the presence of the four elements of negligence. Duty of care establishes the legal responsibilities of other parties to protect you against sustaining injuries. Breaching the duty of care doctrine means another party committed an act it should not have committed. The act must have caused your injuries and your injuries must produce financial losses.

Not all construction incidents that involve negligence are the fault of just one party. This principle also applies to construction projects where more than one party must assume legal liability for causing a worker harm. When more than one party committed an act of negligence. Florida law requires judges hearing civil lawsuits to follow the legal principle called comparative negligence. This legal principle assigns a percentage of blame to each of the parties involved in a construction site incident that caused injuries.

For example, let’s say you sustained injuries because of a slip and fall. Although your employer assumes most of the blame for causing you harm, you have to assume some of the fault for careless behavior while working in a danger zone. If the judge hearing your case assigns you 25 percent of the blame and you receive monetary damages worth $40,000, you receive compensation of just $30,000.

When you search for the best litigator to handle your construction accident case, you should consider several factors that determine which lawyer you should hire. The construction accident lawyers at Morgan and Morgan fulfill every one of the following criteria for choosing the best construction accident lawyer.

Proven Record of Success

Many attorneys promote their years of experience when meeting with potential clients during a free case evaluation. At Morgan and Morgan, we have helped clients receive just compensation for construction-related injuries for more than 30 years. We have recovered more than $14 billion in monetary damages for personal injury cases. Our proven record of success is unmatched by any other construction accident law firm.

Handles Both Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Cases

When you meet with a Morgan and Morgan attorney to discuss your case, the attorney you meet with determines whether you should hire a workers’ comp or personal injury lawyer. For example, let’s assume you meet with a workers’ compensation attorney from Morgan and Morgan. If the lawyer determines you should work with a personal injury attorney, you will meet with the personal injury lawyer for the remainder of the free case evaluation.

Responsive Communication

You cannot afford to hire a construction attorney who fails to return emails, phone calls, and text messages in a timely manner. Morgan and Morgan provides legal support 24 hours a day by offering clients access to a toll-free phone number. The Palm Harbor construction accident lawyer you work with from Morgan and Morgan will return emails, phone calls, and text messages preferably within the same business day, but no more than 24 hours after receiving communication from you.

Partnership From Start to Finish

Some construction accident attorneys meet with potential clients for a free case evaluation only to disappear for the rest of the legal process. At Morgan and Morgan, the Palm Harbor construction accident lawyer that you hire works with you during each step of the legal process, from gathering evidence for a workers’ compensation claim to appealing an unfavorable legal judgment issued by a civil court judge. Working with an attorney who delegates tasks to a paralegal and/or a less experienced lawyer is a recipe for failure.

Negotiates Settlements

At Morgan and Morgan, our construction attorneys try to reach a financial agreement with the other party before pursuing legal action by filing a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. Your legal counsel first submits a reasonable offer the other party can either accept, reject, or make a counteroffer. Negotiating a favorable settlement helps you avoid a costly and time-consuming trial. Although we try to negotiate settlements, our lawyers do not hesitate to litigate a case in front of a judge.

Whether you have a workers’ compensation or personal injury case, one of the Palm Harbor construction lawyers at Morgan and Morgan can help you receive the compensation you deserve to recover from financial losses. We recommend that you read the positive reviews our clients have left for us on sites such as Yelp and Google. Our clients emphasize our commitment to meeting their legal goals, as well as operating with a level of transparency that develops a strong bond of trust. We also have received the highest reputation rating of A+ from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Schedule a free case evaluation today with one of the highly-skilled construction attorneys at Morgan and Morgan. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not have to pay upfront legal fees. You pay our law firm after you receive compensation for your injuries.