CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS NYC: Hiring Guide

It’s no secret that the construction business is one of the most dangerous in the country. Construction workers work at dangerous heights, with heavy machinery and powered equipment, and are frequently exposed to poisonous substances. Legal claims are widespread, as one might assume given the nature of the sector. But, with over 1.3 million active attorneys in the United States, how can you find the correct attorney for your construction claim? Let’s take a look at step-by-step guidance on how to hire construction accident attorneys in NYC for your case.

What OSHA Rights Can Construction Accident Attorneys Protect for Me?

In an effort to promote and maintain safe working conditions, OSHA grants workers across the country the opportunity to:

Request that OSHA inspect their workplace;
Use their legal rights without fear of retaliation or discrimination;
Receive information and training on dangers, preventative measures, and the OSHA requirements that relate to their workplace.
Receive copies of test results performed to find occupational hazards;
Examine work-related injury and sickness data; and
Get a copy of their medical records.

Workers who have been injured (or who believe they work in a risky environment that does not meet administration requirements) might seek the assistance of construction accident attorneys to submit a complaint with OSHA.

Employers are not permitted to terminate, demote, or otherwise punish an employee who files a complaint. If an employee who has filed a complaint with OSHA is retaliated against by their employer, NYC construction accident attorneys can assist in pursuing a claim against the company for retaliation.

What Are Some of the Most Common Reasons for Construction Accidents?

Construction accidents can happen for a variety of causes. To reduce workplace accidents, OSHA mandates firms to get specific permits, perform frequent inspections, and adopt occupational safety programs. Negligence, defective products, and a failure to follow safety standards and procedures can all lead to avoidable construction site accidents.

The following are some of the most common causes of construction accidents:

insufficient education;
Inadequate safety procedures and oversight;
Crane mishaps;
Hoist mishaps;
Harness mishaps;
Structures that have collapsed;
Improper use or upkeep of equipment;
Gases under compression;
Mechanical risks;
Toxic substance exposure;
Falls from great heights;
Falls and slips;
Equipment that is defective;
Explosions and fires;
Scaffolding mishaps;
Misapplication of tools;
Electrical mishaps;
Welding mishaps;
Falling Objects.

In addition to the above-mentioned common causes of construction accidents, cell tower accidents are becoming a growing issue. Cell tower-related fatalities have increased in recent years. According to OSHA, 108 accidents involving communication towers occurred between 2003 and 2013, resulting in 91 fatalities and 17 injuries.

Who Is Liable for Injuries Caused by a Construction Accident?

Employers who carry workers’ compensation insurance are usually immune from personal injury lawsuits. Workers’ compensation does not preclude lawsuits against employers if the injury was intentional or grievous; nonetheless, claims against a third party are more usual.

#1. Owner(s) of a Construction Site:

In these circumstances, liability is often based on the degree of control the owner has over the premises, as opposed to the degree of control over the work itself.

General and subcontractors: Both general contractors and subcontractors are required by OSHA to provide workers with a sufficiently safe construction site, to warn of any risks at the site or inherent in the task itself, and to ensure that the work is executed in accordance with safety requirements. When an accident happens, the failure of a contractor or subcontractor to follow these tasks may allow an injured worker to seek compensation for their losses.

#2. Prime Contractors:

Prime contractors are only accountable for work specified in their contract or work delegated to subcontractors as long as they have exclusive responsibility for such subcontractors.

#3. Architects and Engineers:

In some circumstances, architects and engineers are required to monitor development and guarantee that plans and related code rules are followed. To decide if an architect or engineer is accountable for an injury, first discover which tasks were specified in their contract with the construction business.

#4. Manufacturers:

Any person in a defective product’s distribution chain, including manufacturers, retailers, and distributors, may be held accountable if a defect in their product causes an injury.

What Should I Do If I Have Been Involved in a Construction Accident?

If a construction worker is hurt in an accident, he or she should:

Seek medical assistance for the injuries as soon as possible.
Report the injuries to your employer or management, and keep track of who you told.
Obtain statements and information from any witnesses;
Photograph the injuries, the injury scene, and any equipment involved; and
To understand more about their legal alternatives, they should speak with an attorney.

What Damages Can NYC Construction Accident Attorneys Help Me Recover?

Victims and their families can suffer serious physical, financial, and psychological harm as a result of construction accidents. Expensive medical expenditures, the shock of a catastrophic injury, and lasting injuries can all have a substantial influence on a person’s life. An attorney may be able to assist an injured employee in recovering by initiating a lawsuit against a negligent party:

Wage reduction;
Medical costs;
Counseling fees;
Physiotherapy;
Damage to property;
Ongoing living costs;
Rent and mortgage;
Suffering and pain;
Widows and widowers who have lost their consortium.

How Can an NYC Construction Accident Attorneys Assist You?

Experienced construction accident attorneys will assist you in understanding how to file a civil suit and under what legal theories to launch the action, as well as assisting you with a workers’ compensation claim, if appropriate. A skilled construction accident attorney can assist you in recovering losses as a result of your workplace accident while also reducing the amount of paperwork and hassle involved with your potential insurance and legal claims. Hiring a lawyer can be the difference between a justly handled case and losing money to care for your accident-related ailments.

An experienced construction accident lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation for any losses sustained as a result of the accident, such as medical expenditures, missed wages, and future medical demands. Furthermore, an attorney may be able to assist you and your family in recovering if a loved one is killed on a construction site in a wrongful death case.

When Should You Hire NYC Construction Accident Attorneys?

To minimize costly mistakes, it is advisable to hire a construction accident lawyer early in the process. The deadline for filing an accident claim varies by state. Because you may be required to pay medical fees and cover missed wages, the sooner you contact an attorney, the better. In general, an injured worker should contact an attorney within one to two weeks of the accident.

If a representative from your employer or an insurance company approaches you with a settlement offer, do not sign anything until you have spoken with an attorney. The settlement may not be in your best interests, especially if you have additional ailments or financial losses not covered by the offer.

What to Ask a Construction Accident attorney

Many attorneys offer free, brief consultations to see if they can take your case. Before meeting with a potential lawyer, you should have as much specific information and facts regarding the construction accident as possible, as well as all of your injuries and financial losses. You should include your employment contract or other papers, as well as any images of the scene or your injuries, medical records, and a record of days lost from work, among other things. These will assist your lawyer in determining the viability of your case and the best first measures to pursue.

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You want to find experienced construction accident attorneys who are well-versed in the relevant state and national workplace safety, transportation, negligence, or product liability laws, understands how to deal with workers’ compensation, insurance, and health care companies, and knows how to effectively prepare and settle a case. During this appointment, you should ask the attorney some basic questions to get to know him or her and his or her experience, such as:

How long have you been a lawyer? How long does it take to resolve construction accident cases?
What is the average settlement range in instances like mine?
How much of your practice do you assign to construction accident cases? How many construction accident cases have you handled? So, how many times have they agreed? Have you gone through litigation?
What is your charge schedule? What out-of-pocket costs am I liable for? These lawsuits can be taken on contingency, which means that if you lose, your lawyer receives nothing, but if you win, you owe a specified amount, such as 30% to 40%, to your lawyer.
Do you have any recommendations?
Whether the lawyer’s office is inconvenient for you, ask if your lawyer may meet you at your home or somewhere nearby, such as a satellite office. This is especially critical if you are still in the hospital or rehabilitation center when you decide to hire an attorney.

How to Select the Best Construction Accident AttorneyS

Here are the five stages to selecting the best construction accident attorneys:

Step #1: Determine the nature of the problem.

Understanding your legal issue is the first step in hiring the correct attorney. Consider the following questions:

Are you a construction worker who has been wounded on the job?
Was your injuries caused by a faulty product?
Were you turned down for workers’ compensation?
Have you been assaulted on a construction site?

Step #2: Identify a few construction accident attorneys with relevant experience.

Once you’ve discovered your specific legal concern, you’ll want to find a few attorneys that have represented clients in cases similar to yours.

Construction accident claims are similar to personal injury claims, but they present distinct obstacles. A construction accident, for example, may involve a number of possible parties who are not involved in most other personal injury lawsuits.

So, how can you find construction accident attorneys with the necessary experience? Here are three good places to start:

Personal recommendations Nothing beats a recommendation from a friend or family member. Has a coworker or colleague faced a similar legal problem? How did they feel about their attorney? Seek advice from friends and family.
Directories on the internet There are several internet directories that can find you in locating an attorney in your area. Of course, this includes the Enjuris online directory. In addition, several state bar associations keep a list of attorneys who are certified specialists in a specific subject. The Arizona State Bar, for example, has a list of attorneys certified in the field of workers’ compensation in that state.
Services for referring people. A lot of services are available that will refer you to a competent attorney in your region. When considering employing a referral service, you should keep a healthy level of skepticism. When in doubt, contact your local state bar organization and request a recommendation to their lawyer referral service.

Step #3: Schedule preliminary consultations.

The vast majority of attorneys provide free initial consultations. You can use these free initial consultations to find whether or not the construction accident attorneys are a good fit for you. Remember that picking construction accident attorneys isn’t only about finding the most qualified; it’s also about finding someone you like and who works well with you. Consider the initial consultation to be a job interview.

Step #4: Research the attorneys you’re thinking about hiring.

In order to correctly evaluate your attorney, you must first determine whether or not the attorney has ever been disciplined.

Every state has a disciplinary institution that accepts and reviews complaints to determine if an attorney acted improperly. An attorney might be reprimanded for a variety of reasons, ranging from failing to pay their bar dues to steal money from a client.

The rationale for NYC construction accident attorneys disciplinary action is made public once he or she has been disciplined. If you don’t know how to contact the disciplinary organization to find out if the attorney you’re considering has been disciplined, contact your local state bar association.

Step #5: Collaborate with your attorney.

The attorney-client relationship is, well, a relationship. That is, success requires the efforts of both the construction accident attorneys and the client. A lawyer must be aware of every element of your case, just as a doctor must be aware of every detail of your health in order to treat you.

Nothing should be hidden from your attorney. If there are any embarrassing facts or circumstances that you believe make your case appear weaker, it is best for your attorney to learn about them from you now rather than from the opposing party during the trial. Remember, your attorney is on your side, but they must be aware of the flaws in your case in order to devise strategies to mitigate the impact of those flaws.

What Are The Most Common Construction Accidents?

Falls are the most prevalent type of construction site injury, accounting for around 35% of all construction accidents. These frequently occur when a worker falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, or chimneys, among other things. The severity of the fall is determined by how far the worker was from the ground when they fell and the conditions of the incident.

Should I Seek Legal Help After A Construction Accident?

You should contact a construction accident lawyer soon away, regardless of the degree or type of injuries you incurred. The sooner you consult a construction accident attorney, whether it’s for workers’ compensation or a lawsuit against an at-fault party, the better.

Construction Attorneys FAQ’s

How are injury settlements calculated?

In cases where the injuries are minimal, the adjuster will multiply the amount of special damages by one and a half to three to estimate the settlement offer amount for pain and suffering, emotional damages, and permanent disability (general damages).

What is a fair settlement for pain and suffering?

For example, if a plaintiff incurs $3,000 in medical expenditures as a result of a broken arm, he may multiply that figure by three and argue that $9,000 is a reasonable amount for pain and suffering.

What are the 4 main causes of construction accidents?

Falls, electrocutions, being struck by things, and becoming entangled in or between objects are four of the most common causes of construction worker fatalities. OSHA refers to these as the “Fatal Four,” because they account for more than half of all construction worker deaths each year.

CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS NYC: Hiring Guide

What OSHA Rights Can Construction Accident Attorneys Protect for Me?

What Are Some of the Most Common Reasons for Construction Accidents?