Orlando Construction Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a construction accident? You might be entitled to compensation. At Payer Personal Injury Lawyers, our Orlando construction accident attorneys fight aggressively to protect your rights and interests. We will stand up for you against the insurance companies. Call us today at (407) 648-1510.

We are not just legal professionals; we are a team that empathizes with the challenging situation you find yourself in as the victim of a construction accident. We understand the physical and emotional pain you must be enduring, and we want you to know that you are not alone in this journey.

Our unwavering commitment is to fight aggressively on your behalf. And don’t worry about money–you only pay legal fees if we win compensation for your case. Contact our law offices in Orlando, FL, today for a free consultation.

How Payer Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Construction Accident in Orlando

How Payer Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Construction Accident in Orlando

At Payer Personal Injury Lawyers, our Orlando personal injury lawyers have obtained more than $100 million in compensation for our clients. Our attorneys can help you win your claim in a variety of ways. More specifically, we can:

  • Apply our expertise in construction regulations. Our attorneys have expertise in both local and federal construction regulations.
  • Gather evidence. We can obtain critical evidence such as accident reports, photographs of the scene of the accident, witness statements, and surveillance footage from the construction site. 
  • Determine liability. We can identify responsible parties such as contractors, subcontractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers.
  • Assess your damages, including your medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and the consequences of any long-term disability you might suffer. 
  • Negotiate with insurance companies. We can handle negotiations with the insurance companies from start to finish, with only one exception–only you can decide whether to accept a settlement offer.
  • Filing timely claims for workers’ compensation or PIP benefits, and complying with applicable deadlines for filing a personal injury lawsuit.
  • Recruit expert witnesses (if you need them) and prepare them to testify on your behalf at deposition or trial. 
  • Litigate your claim in court if all efforts to settle fail. Very few of our clients’ claims go all the way to trial, but a few of them do.
     

Our construction accident lawyers are ready to fight to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today in Orlando, Florida, to get started with a free case review.

How Common Are Construction Accidents?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction accidents killed over 5,000 workers in 2021. Meanwhile, construction workers reported over 2.2 million nonfatal workplace injuries and 365,000 work-related illnesses. Construction accidents affect nearly every employer in the industry.

Common Types of Construction Site Accidents

Construction work is some of the most dangerous work available, and the rate of injury is high. Common construction site accidents include:

  • Falling from scaffolding, rooftops, or ladders;
  • Being struck by a falling object, such as a hammer falling from the top of a building;
  • Freak accidents, such as falling down a flight of stairs into a vat of corrosive liquid;
  • Truck accidents, especially involving pedestrians;
  • Accidents involving construction vehicles such as cranes and backhoes;
  • Electrocution accidents due to faulty electrical systems or exposed live wires;
  • Caught-between accidents where someone gets pinched between ‘a rock and a hard place’;
  • Falling into a trench that collapses upon a worker;
  • Slip and fall accidents due to cluttered work areas;
  • Burn injuries arising from corrosive materials, welding, or flammable materials;
  • Vehicle accidents caused by improper maintenance of bulldozers, forklifts, and more.;
  • Crushing injuries caused by the collapse of a fragile structure;
  • Respiratory problems arising from long-term exposure to asbestos, dust, and more.;
  • Repetitive stress injury arising from extensive daily repetitive tasks;
  • Heat exhaustion and heatstroke;
  • Exposure to hazardous chemicals, especially without proper protection;
  • Exposure to toxic gasses in poorly ventilated areas; and
  • Noise-induced hearing loss.

This is only a partial list of possible construction accidents. A full list could probably fill a small library.

Frequent Causes of Construction Accidents

Most construction accidents are avoidable through the application of proper planning and a bit of common sense. Following is a list of causes that are probably responsible for more than half of all construction accidents.

  • Inadequate training: Failure to effectively institute a system for teaching employees how to perform their job duties or how to safely operate equipment.
  • Assigning inexperienced workers to perform tasks that are too difficult for them to safely execute. Inexperienced workers are likely to be less aware of potential risks, and they might lack the skills to perform tasks safely.
  • Ineffective communication between workers, supervisors, and contractors.
  • Failure to implement or enforce safety measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and fall protection systems.
  • Attempting to implement poorly planned construction projects that lack proper safety protocols, leading to hazards on the site.
  • Overworking employees. Fatigue can impair a worker’s ability to focus and make safe decisions.
  • Mechanical failures or malfunctions of construction equipment and machinery. Such accidents are often the fault of equipment manufacturers.
  • Working outside during adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, or high winds.
  • Pressure to meet tight deadlines, leading to rushed work.
  • Improper handling or disposal of hazardous materials.
  • Building structures that are not properly supported or secured.
  • Failing to maintain equipment and machinery in good working condition.
  • Skipping regular safety inspections.
  • Unsecured tools, materials, or debris.
  • Human error such as misjudging distances or failing to secure loads.

Most of these causes can be eliminated by cultivating a work culture that stresses frequent safety training and rejects the complacency that so often leads to completely unnecessary accidents.

What To Do After a Construction Accident in Orlando, FL

After a construction accident, take the following steps to ensure the viability of your legal claim:

  • Evaluate your injury. How serious is it?  Err on the side of caution, because some accidents result in internal injuries that do not manifest symptoms for hours or even days.
  • Take photos of the scene of the accident, if your injuries allow you to do it. Be particularly careful to photograph any hazardous conditions and the lack of any warning signs.
  • Seek prompt medical treatment. That means call an ambulance to take you directly to the hospital. The doctor might perform an X-ray or MRI that reveals injuries that you didn’t realize you had. Medical records are some of the most credible forms of evidence supporting a legal claim.
  • File a formal written report of your injury with your employer. Do this as soon as you can. If your injuries prevent you from doing it yourself, have a friend or a relative do it for you.
  • Keep a daily journal where you detail your medical treatment, your pain, and how your injury has affected your daily life. This journal might serve as useful evidence.
  • Contact a lawyer. Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations.
  • Document your loss of income.
  • Avoid talking about your case on social media. 
  • File a claim by the appropriate deadline. The statute of limitations governs personal injury claims, while workers’ compensation and PIP claims apply their own deadlines. Workers’ compensation and PIP deadlines are particularly stringent. 

If an insurance adjuster becomes involved in your case, they will probably tell you that you don’t need a lawyer. Don’t listen to them.

In the event of a construction accident, carefully consider each of the following three options.

File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

If an accident occurred at the job site, the resulting injury probably falls within the jurisdiction of the workers’ compensation insurance system. Workers’ compensation compensates employees, contractors, and subcontractors for work-related injuries.

Since workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, you don’t need to worry about whose fault the accident was, unless someone caused an accident intentionally or maliciously. The main problem with the workers’ compensation system is that compensation is limited to a portion of the injured worker’s economic damages–medical expenses and two-thirds of weekly wages up to $1,197. 

File a PIP Claim (Vehicle Accidents Only)

Just like workers’ compensation claims, PIP claims pay only economic damages. They do not pay non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering) or punitive damages. If your crash was especially serious, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver for additional compensation.

File a Personal Injury Claim Against a Third Party

For accidents other than vehicle accidents on public roads, you can file an ordinary personal injury lawsuit demanding non-economic damages if you can identify a third party who is responsible for the injuries you suffered. This third party might be, for example, the owner of the construction site or a general contractor – anybody but you or your employer. 

Personal injury claims are generally not no-fault. Whether you file a third-party claim against the defendant’s liability insurance carrier or you simply file a personal injury lawsuit against the third party, you will have to prove fault to win. 

The standard of proof is “a preponderance of the evidence,” which is a much easier standard to meet than the “beyond a reasonable donut” standard that applies to criminal prosecutions.

Contact an Orlando Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Review

If you suffered a construction accident, you need to take prompt action, and you need to get an Orlando construction accident lawyer involved quickly. Every day of delay weakens your claim. On the other hand, taking decisive action can set in motion a chain of events that could result in a generous settlement.   

Here at Payer Personal Injury Lawyers, we are available 24/7 for home, office, or even hospital consultations. From our office in Orlando, we are well-positioned to serve injured victims throughout Central Florida. To schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation initial consultation, contact us today. The clock is ticking on your claim.

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office In Orlando, FL

Payer Personal Injury Lawyers
6735 Conroy Rd STE 332, Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 648-1510

Open 24 hours

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