Each year, thousands of construction workers are injured in preventable accidents that take place while they at work. Construction sites can be extremely dangerous places, with hazards at every turn. At many construction sites, there are open heights, unfinished structures, heavy machinery, deep ditches, and exposed electrical wiring, as well as other dangers that could easily cause serious injury. In many cases, people who are injured in construction site accidents are limited to making claims for their medical expenses and other losses through Florida’s workers’ compensation program, which is generally intended to be the exclusive remedy that is available to workers who are injured on the job.
In some cases, however, people who are injured by the negligence of a third party at a construction site may be able to recover by filing a Florida personal injury lawsuit. The recovery that a victim can obtain through a lawsuit is often much greater than that available through workers’ compensation, so anyone injured in a construction site accident caused by a third party should consult with a Boca Raton personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Examples of Third Party Negligence
Construction sites are often extremely busy places with hundreds of people engaging in various tasks. As a result, there are many ways that the negligence of someone other than your employer could result in an accident that causes serious injury. Some of the most common are detailed below.
Accidents involving defective equipment – People who work in the construction industry use a wide variety of tools, vehicles, safety equipment, and materials on a daily basis. When these products cause injury due to some type of defect, Florida products liability law allows victims to recover for their injuries and other losses. These types of claims arise from several types of defects, including design, manufacturing, and even marketing defects, which generally consist of the failure to warn a consumer about some non-obvious danger associated with the use of a product.
Accidents involving the negligence of independent contractors – Many construction projects involve the use of independent contractors to perform certain specialized tasks. Because no employer-employee relationship exists between construction workers and independent contractors who work at the same site, injured victims of independent contractors’ negligence are not prohibited from filing a lawsuit under the workers’ compensation law.
Accidents caused by people who are visiting the construction site – There are number of reasons that people who are not working at a particular construction site would visit, including checking the progress of a particular project or discussing business matters with people at the site. Like situations involving independent contractor negligence, people who are injured in accidents caused by construction site visitors may be able to sustain a personal injury action against the responsible party.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Boca Raton for Help Today
If you have suffered an accident at a construction site due to the negligent actions of a third party, you are likely facing extensive losses including medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. At the law office of Lavalle Brown & Ronan in Boca Raton, we work to ensure our injured clients receive the compensation they deserve from any responsible parties. Please do not hesitate to call us today at 855-BOCALAW for a free consultation.
