Construction Accident Lawyer in Charlotte

Some of the most common construction accidents in Charlotte, NC, include:

Falls

These accidents happen when workers fall off high places such as scaffolds, rooftops, and ladders while performing their duties. Statistics show that falls from high places are the leading cause of construction injuries, accounting for at least 35% of the injuries.

Electrocutions

These accidents occur due to exposure to live electrical wires, especially at unfinished construction sites. As a result, electrocution victims can suffer serious burns, paralysis, etc.

Slip and Falls

Slips and falls are also quite common at construction sites. They occur when workers walk over slippery surfaces or when extra tools, debris, or materials sit around the construction site.

Falling Debris

Falling debris can injure a worker at the construction site, and, depending on the site’s location, pedestrians might also suffer serious injuries. Pedestrian injuries caused by falling debris are usually pretty serious because pedestrians do not walk around wearing protective gear, unlike workers.

Machine Accidents

Faulty machines can cause serious accidents at construction sites. The injured individual might require several reconstructive surgeries to attain a certain level of wellness. Even so, some construction workers are never the same after machine accidents. Precisely, some never recover to the point of being able to resume working at a construction site.

Overexertion

These kinds of injuries occur when construction workers work long hours without breaks. Because the construction industry is fast-paced, many construction managers are usually under pressure to deliver results within a short period. As a result, some force their workers to work unreasonably long hours under pressure and without breaks. When that happens, the results are often devastating.

Overexertion can lead to dehydration, stroke, or even fainting.

Vehicle Accidents

Construction workers are not always safe, especially when working on public roads. According to a report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, work zone deaths in the state increased in 2022. To put things into perspective, at least 29 people died in work zone-related crashes in 2021.

Shockingly, five months into 2022, nine people had already been killed in work zone car crashes in different cities across North Carolina.

Construction Injuries

Construction injuries vary depending on the nature of the accident. That said, some of the most common injuries include

• Broken bones
• Illnesses caused due to exposure to chemicals
• Eye injuries
• Burns
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Damaged body organs
• Brain injuries
• Head injuries
• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injuries
• Knee and ankle injuries

If you or your loved one has been injured in a construction accident, Morgan and Morgan construction accident attorneys can help fight for your rights. Below is an overview of how exactly we might be able to help:

Free Case Evaluation

Morgan and Morgan construction accident attorneys will evaluate your case free of charge. You do not have to pay anything when you contact us for a case evaluation.

This is usually the first and most important step of the whole process. Then, if you have a valid case against the construction site, a third party, or both, we will walk you through the next steps.

Seeking Medical Attention

When you get injured at a construction site, the first and most important thing to do is seek medical attention. But sometimes, depending on the circumstances, you may not know where to find medical assistance for your specific injuries. While a trip to the emergency room might be a good place to start, you may also need specialized treatment.

For example, you may need physical therapy or special surgery to help you recover even faster. That is where Morgan and Morgan attorneys come in. Because we have handled these kinds of cases countless times in the past, we know the best healthcare professionals to seek help from.

One great benefit of working with an attorney is that you can always benefit from their network of professionals. For example, some hospitals might not be willing to treat you if you cannot afford the treatment or do not have some form of insurance.

On the other hand, the doctors on our network care about your health. For this reason, depending on the circumstances of your case, our attorneys might be able to negotiate a treatment plan with the doctors or healthcare professionals, ensuring you continue to receive treatment while your claim is still in progress.

Collecting Evidence

You will need strong evidence to win a construction accident claim or lawsuit. But that is not something you should be worried about when you work with our attorneys. Morgan and Morgan has powerful legal resources to fight for you. We will review existing evidence or help collect more to strengthen your case.

The exact evidence required to win the case will depend on the nature of your injuries. But with a law firm like Morgan and Morgan, you can rest assured that we will do everything within our powers to build a strong case for you.

Examples of evidence that can be used in these kinds of cases include:

• Medical reports
• Eyewitness accounts
• Surveillance footage
• Recorded statements
• Expert opinion
• Photos and videos

And so much more.

As long as you have a valid case against the other party, we will collect the most relevant evidence to prove your case and get you the compensation you need and deserve.

Formulating a Legal Strategy

Construction site accidents are always complicated. For this reason, you need a legal strategy to even stand a chance of winning the claim or lawsuit. One of the benefits of working with a Morgan and Morgan construction site attorney is that they can always create a legal strategy to increase your chances of winning.

Here is an example of a scenario that requires a legal strategy:

If you get injured at a construction site, you may be able to file a worker’s compensation claim with your employer. This is because construction companies must have some form of worker’s compensation insurance. The goal of this insurance is to protect construction workers against these kinds of injuries.

However, there is a catch; when you file a worker’s compensation claim with your employer’s insurance company, you cannot sue your employer for the injury. Rather, you might be able to receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other eligible damages. The only problem with filing a worker’s compensation claim is that it might not truly cover the full extent of your injuries.

For example, workers’ compensation insurance does not usually cover damages such as pain and suffering. Therefore, the only way you may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering is by filing a lawsuit.

But when is it right to file a lawsuit? The answer depends on the circumstances of your injury.

For example, let’s say you got injured while operating equipment at the construction site. You did everything you could to protect yourself, including wearing protective gear. But despite that, you still got injured.

In that case, the product manufacturer could be liable for your injuries. All your attorneys need to prove is that you got injured due to the defective condition of the tool or machine you used at the construction site. In other words, you may still be able to file a worker’s compensation claim with your employer and also pursue a product liability lawsuit against the product manufacturer.

This kind of legal strategy comes from working with an experienced attorney. Without the help of an attorney, you might never know that you can file multiple claims. And that is not all—you may not have the resources to prove your case.

That brings us to the next point.

Financing Your Case

At Morgan and Morgan, we do not charge our clients any upfront costs to handle their case. Rather, we provide our legal representation on a contingency basis. This means that when we take on your case, you do not owe us anything unless we win.

This is beneficial because you have nothing to lose but a lot to gain. The biggest gain is that you do not have to worry about spending money from your own pocket to pursue compensation for your injuries. Just because you got injured at a construction site does not mean that the insurance company will compensate you for your injuries. Instead, you will need to build a strong case, leaving them with no choice but to compensate you.

It should be noted that insurance companies will always try to come up with various reasons to avoid liability. So when you present them with a weak case, they will likely dismiss it or even dare you to go to court. This is also because these companies make millions of dollars every year. As a result, they can afford some of the best defense attorneys in North Carolina.

However, hiring Morgan and Morgan construction accident attorneys is a game changer. We have access to powerful legal resources to build a strong case against the other party. As mentioned earlier, you might be able to file a worker’s compensation claim and a product liability lawsuit simultaneously. Of course, this requires powerful legal resources, something our attorneys have access to.

Filing a Claim

Filing a claim is not as easy as it seems on paper. To put things into perspective, the timing of when to file the claim can influence the amount of compensation you may be able to recover.

For instance, say you suffered several injuries requiring surgery. In that case, delaying the claim would make more sense to ensure you receive the treatment you need and deserve. Your attorney will have a more accurate estimate of the compensation you may be entitled to after receiving treatment for your injuries.

And in cases where you are not expected to recover beyond a particular point, an experienced attorney can help determine the amount of compensation you may be entitled to. This, of course, is after considering future medical expenses.

It is also important to note that the claims process usually involves a lot of paperwork and strict deadlines. Failure to adhere to these deadlines could jeopardize the entire claim.

Remember, insurance companies and their legal team will watch out for these mistakes. If they cannot avoid liability, they will hope you make mistakes that will jeopardize the claim or ruin your chances of recovering the full amount you are entitled to. You can count on our experienced attorneys to protect you and fight for your best interests even as you continue to recover.

Negotiating a Settlement

Lastly, our attorneys might be able to negotiate a reasonable settlement on your behalf. Negotiating a settlement requires a lot of skill and understanding of how insurance companies (and their claims adjusters) work. However, because our attorneys have handled these kinds of cases many times in the past, they can help negotiate a reasonable settlement for you, keeping your best interests at heart. And if the other party is unwilling to negotiate, the attorney will explore other legal options available to you.

The bottom line is that construction accident cases are complicated. You need a skilled Charlotte, NC, construction accident lawyer to fight for you. At Morgan and Morgan, we understand your pain and might be able to help you secure the compensation you need and deserve.

Ready to get started? Tell us about your case by filling out our free case evaluation form.