Every person on a construction site is entitled to a safe working environment. Therefore, if you are an independent subcontractor and you have been hurt while working on a building site, you can file a lawsuit against the person who caused your injuries.
Parties an injured subcontractor can sue
You have the right to sue several parties like the owner of the property, the general contractor, careless or inattentive site visitors, suppliers who deliver construction materials to the building site and manufacturers of construction equipment. Since every construction site accident is different, the facts of your particular case will determine whether you can rightfully sue for compensation. An experienced construction accident lawyer can help you by analyzing those facts and determining the best legal action to take.
Can you sue if you’re receiving workers’ comp benefits?
If you are receiving workers’ benefits, you may not be able to sue your direct employer. However, you could sue third parties if their negligence contributed to your accident and recover damages like pain and suffering and other expenses that are not covered by workers’ comp benefits. According to the knowledgeable construction accident lawyers at Friedman Levy in New York City, to recover damages you will have to prove that the third-party’s negligence caused your accident, and you were injured as a result.
What accidents are most likely to cause injuries?
Workers on a construction site are often exposed to accident risks and injuries from being hit by falling objects, falling on slippery work surfaces or from elevated workspaces, electrocution, exposure to poisonous chemicals and being caught between moving pieces of construction equipment or machines.
Some workers may be tempted to ignore their injuries. However, slight or insignificant pain can get worse if it is ignored, which can result in very high medical bills. Thus, the best option to take after being hurt is to pursue recovery for current and future expenses from negligent parties.
What damages can you receive?
If your personal injury case is successful, you will receive some compensation. However, the compensation amount you get will depend on your injuries and how it affected your life. The compensation you can receive includes reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, reduction in quality of life and loss of earning potential.
What is the statute of limitations for filing your suit?
In most states, the legal deadline for filing a suit is 2 years from the date of the accident. Therefore, if you don’t file a claim within the legal deadline, your claim will be rendered null and void and you will lose the right to recover damages for the injuries you have sustained. However, there are exceptions to the deadline, like when the victim is mentally, physically or emotionally unable to stand trial or offer a reliable account of events.
Conclusion
If you’re considering filing a lawsuit, you should not hesitate to hire a qualified and experienced lawyer who can preserve all your information and facts of your case and use them to prove the other party’s negligence. This is because information and facts can quickly dissipate after the accident.
