Catastrophic Injuries In Construction Accidents. 

Accidents happen in every line of work, but working in construction can be more hazardous. The construction industry involves the most dangerous jobs in the country. 

Over seventy-five thousand construction site accidents occur every year in the country. 

Whether due to negligence, unsafe conditions, or unforeseen circumstances, the impact of catastrophic injuries at construction sites can be life-altering. 

Catastrophic Injuries In Construction

Catastrophic injuries result in long-term or lifelong pain, disability, impairment, and permanent disfigurement.

Catastrophic injuries exceed the expected recovery period and cause a permanent loss of function or a physical impairment that was not present before the accident.

In the immediate aftermath of a construction site accident, victims may face intensive medical treatment, surgeries, and rehabilitation. 

The emotional consequences of coping with the sudden and significant changes in their lives can be overwhelming for both victims and their families. 

Causes Of Catastrophic Injuries In Construction 

Falls from elevated surfaces, struck-by falling objects or debris accidents, electrocution, and caught-in or-between objects or vehicle accidents cause the majority of deaths and catastrophic injuries to construction workers. Known as the “Fatal Four,” these accidents lead to severe and often debilitating injuries.

Welding accidents, fires and explosions, repetitive motion injuries, and toxic chemicals exposure are other top injury causes on construction sites. Individuals walking near construction sites and bystanders could also suffer harm in various ways. 

Common Injuries in Construction Accidents

The risk of a catastrophic injury is ever-present on a construction site. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces strict regulations to limit injury risks across the construction industry. 

Catastrophic injuries include: 

· Spinal Cord Injuries

· Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

· Permanent disfigurement

· Leukemia and other cancers due to toxic substances in the workplace

· Infectious blood diseases

· Loss of hearing or sight

· Burn injuries, which can cause severe, lifelong pain and disfigurement

· Amputations, and

· Internal organ damage

Compensation For Construction Site Injuries

Federal and Louisiana state laws strictly monitor the working conditions in the construction industry. 

Employers have a legal responsibility to provide proper equipment and a safe working environment on construction sites for their workers. 

There is a set of laws that protect injured construction workers because of the dangerous nature of construction-related activities. 

Louisiana injured workers have two legal options: 

Workers’ Compensation Claim

In a workers’ compensation claim, you don’t have to prove negligence. You only have to demonstrate that your injuries or illness are a direct outcome of your job duties. 

Workers’ Compensation follows the no-fault system. An injured employee receives Compensation regardless of the employer’s failure to provide the appropriate safe working conditions. Workers’ Compensation is less than personal injury lawsuit awards. Compensation is unavailable for pain, suffering, or emotional distress in these claims.

Personal Injury Lawsuit 

You cannot sue your employer for injuries on a construction site while working. 

Workers’ compensation benefits only cover a worker’s income losses and injury costs. 

If a worker can prove that a third party other than a direct employer is liable for their injury, they can step outside the compensation system and receive more money. Third parties include material and equipment suppliers, engineers and architects, subcontractors, property owners, and general contractors. 

An experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyer can help you prove that it was the Defendant’s duty to ensure workers’ safety and guarantee safe working conditions. The Defendant’s wrong actions or failure to take required actions led to a construction accident. 

Types of damages in construction injury cases include:

· Past and present medical costs

· Future medical and rehabilitation expenses

· Lost wages and business income

· Loss of future earning capacity

· Disfigurement and disability

· Pain and suffering 

· Emotional distress 

· Loss of consortium

· Loss of enjoyment of life

When defective construction materials or equipment injures workers, manufacturers, designers, or sellers face lawsuits for product liability. 

If you suffer injuries at a construction site as a visitor or a bystander, you can file a lawsuit against those responsible for the harm. 

Bart Bernard Injury Lawyer: Louisiana Attorneys Navigating Every Compensation Avenue For Clients

At Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers, our Louisiana construction accident injury lawyers will identify every untapped financial resource avenue that will provide you relief from accident-related financial and emotional struggles. 

Louisiana personal injury attorney Bart Bernard has over twenty-five years of experience evaluating cases involving severe construction site injuries. He will assess project contracts, incident reports, photographs, video footage, and applicable industry safety standards to determine if a personal injury claim is worth pursuing. 

The catastrophic injury lawyers at our Louisiana personal injury law firm are skilled negotiators and dynamic litigators who effectively deal with attorneys and insurers of the Defendant who try to deny the plaintiff’s claim or reduce the claim value significantly.

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries on a construction site due to the carelessness, recklessness, or negligence of another person or entity anywhere in Louisiana, you deserve fair and just Compensation for your injuries. Call an experienced Louisiana catastrophic injuries lawyer at Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers immediately for a free case evaluation.