Construction Injuries Can Be Devastating
The construction industry can be a dangerous place to work. We often hear of accidents that could have been prevented if better safety measures had been in place. The injuries from these devastating incidents can be severe and even fatal, leading to financial hardship for workers and their families. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help to alleviate at least some of the emotional strain for a family who doesn’t know what steps to take to find compensation.
Companies Don’t Always Provide a Safe Workplace
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created to set a precedence for safety for companies to follow. It stipulates that companies are required provide a safe environment for workers who are regularly exposed to injury and death on a daily basis. Companies are bound by law to follow these regulations, but there are still companies who continue to expose their employees to unnecessary risks. Construction workers in particular may still face are the following hazards:
- Poor training on use of safety equipment
- Faulty safety equipment
- Scaffolding that is not assembled correctly or is defective
- Improperly maintained heavy equipment
- Lack of training or unsafe operation of heavy equipment
There is Legal Protection Construction Workers
Along with OSHA regulations, construction workers in Oregon are protected by Oregon’s Employer Liability Law. Often times, however, job sites have multiple construction companies involved in the project. This fact adds a level of complexity to a construction injury case that makes it very difficult for someone with no legal background to navigate.
Workers compensation should cover expenses for injured workers on any job site from government funded road work to new home construction defects that lead to injury. Therefore, it’s not just employers can be held liable, but also external vendors or manufacturers who have provided defective equipment or materials.
An example of multiple entities being liable for a construction accident would be in a recent case where two construction workers died when scaffolding collapsed on the seventh floor or a 16-story hotel that was under construction. Often times in the hotel industry the building is not actually owned by the hotel itself, but by a development or private investment company. In this particular situation, the investment company was the one responsible for the development of the building. With a project this large, it is safe to assume that there are multiple subcontractors involved as well. This may include a scaffolding company, who would also be a responsible party if the equipment they provided was found to be faulty.
The key point to understand is that when accidents like this occur, the law creates a chain of responsibility. It is the job of project managers and lead contractors to ensure that the subcontractors they hire are operating in a safe and legal manner. This would include the previously mentioned scaffolding company, even if all they supply are materials. It would be a serious legal matter if they failed to provide this due diligence. An experienced personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle these situations as they understand the importance of acting quickly to interview witnesses and preserve important evidence in order to determine the responsible party. They will also help you recuperate damages such as lost wages, lost earning potential, medical bills, or compensation for your pain and suffering.
How Will a Personal Injury Attorney Process My Case?
Most attorneys will offer you a free consultation to determine whether or not you have a viable case. Some common construction accidents include falls, being struck by large objects, accidents with machinery or tools or electrocution and all deserve compensation. They will start an investigation to collect evidence as well as help you to determine your expenses in order to build a strong case.
A lawyer’s most important obligation is helping families navigate these complex legal situations. It is rarely easy to determine, where responsibility and negligence truly lie, but our court system is designed to help struggling families find the answers they are seeking.
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Construction Accidents in McMinnville?
There are different factors that define a statute of limitations for a construction accident. These can include jurisdiction and defendants and if a government body is involved, the statute of limitations is even shorter. A personal injury attorney will know all of the logistics associated with the deadline for filing a case such as this.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due negligence on a construction job site, Lakepoint Law Firm’s team of experienced litigators is standing by to provide elite legal representation in McMinnville. We know what it takes to turn a valid legal claim into appropriate compensation.