ARENDSEN BRADDOCK LAW | EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Every year, thousands of construction accidents happen in the San Diego area. When you go to work each morning, you never think that a piece of equipment could fail, something may fall from the construction zone, or you get injured by a third party helping on the site. If you’ve been injured while working in a construction zone, you could be eligible for financial compensation. Let the team at Arendsen Braddock walk you through your settlement options for personal injury today!

Common Construction Injuries

There are many construction injuries, ranging from small injuries to more serious injuries. In California, there’s a shortage of people willing to work in the trades, which can oftentimes lead to rushed work with looming deadlines. Even when work isn’t being rushed, there are a number of accidents that commonly injure San Diego construction workers. According to the U.S. OSHA website, the most caused injuries and fatalities in construction are:

• Electrocutions – This is a shock-related injury usually caused by contact with power lines, faulty outlets or extensions and improper equipment.
• Falls – Serious falls from rooftops, bannisters, unstable platforms and suspension platforms are some of the most common construction claims in California.
• Caught in Between – These injuries most commonly result in death as it refers to the worker being caught in between two crushing objects.
• Struck by Objects – Materials, machines, flying debris and more can cause this injury.

Construction accidents are extremely complex cases because they involve expensive hospital bills, time off work and usually a third party. Like many serious cases, people try to project blame to avoid a major settlement. When you’re involved in a construction accident and pursue damages, the worker typically claims negligence against many parties involved; this is because most construction zones have many parties working in one area at once.

Very rarely do you see a single company finishing all the work for a project in San Diego. There are usually heavy machine operators, electricians, painters, engineers, suppliers and more on the scene. When you pursue a legal settlement after a construction accident, it’s important to note what caused the accident and any negligence involved as well as have documentation about any unsafe conditions or recounts of reports on dangerous work practices

Victims of construction accidents can pay for construction accident injuries in a couple ways. The first, and most common, is through workers’ compensation. Most employees should be covered by workers’ compensation as it is required by law in California for employer-sponsored coverage. When you’ve been injured on the job, you must immediately report the injury to your employer and fill out a DWC1 form. Workers’ comp entitles you to medical reimbursement, time off work, death benefits and more.

If you’re a business owner or have been injured by a third party, you’re likely not entitled to workers’ compensation, which means you need to pay out of pocket then collect insurance from the party that caused your accident. If the third party or insurance company is uncooperative in reimbursing for your injury, you should seek a lawyer immediately to help document and fight for any compensation—which includes out of pocket costs and long-term suffering.

CONTACT ARENDSEN BRADDOCK LLP

If you’re unsure where your construction injury falls in the world of third-party negligence, employer error or if your insurance refuses coverage, contact the team at Arendsen Braddock today! Our San Diego and Solana Beach construction accident attorneys are here to answer your questions and provide legal guidance  for your injuries. We can’t wait to help you.