Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer
Philadelphia’s vibrancy is due in large part to the construction industry, its workers erecting homes, offices, schools, museums, and churches. Unfortunately, construction remains one of the deadliest employment sectors. Injuries on the job may render you incapacitated because they are generally severe.
If you are an employee of the construction company, you are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. If you are a lone sub-contractor, you can carry your own insurance or rely on the company that hired you. You may also be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, depending on the circumstances. For an assessment of your claim, consult a Philadelphia construction accident lawyer now. Our personal injury attorneys are ready to support your claim while you focus on recovery.
Employment Status and Construction Accidents
Construction workers are either employees of a business or hired by a contractor for a particular job as an independent subcontractor. Pennsylvania requires all businesses with employees to cover them under workers’ compensation, which provides benefits when they are injured, including medical care and a portion of their wages while they are recuperating.
Subcontractors who work alone can acquire coverage for themselves as sole proprietors through the Pennsylvania State Workers Insurance Fund, although the state does not require it. However, lone subcontractors injured on a job can still file a claim against the workers’ comp policy held by the company that hired them, even if they signed a waiver, which usually does not hold up in court. Our Philadelphia attorneys can determine a worker’s status and fight for deserved compensation after a construction accident.
Negligence and Construction Accidents
Construction accidents do not just affect workers but may occur to passersby who are struck by fallen debris or trip and fall over debris, wires, or electric cables. Construction workers may also have standing to file negligence suits if a defendant performs below a safe standard, causing their injuries. Some negligence scenarios include:
- Unlawfully uninsured contractors who do not maintain a safe site for sub-contractors, causing an accident
- Employers who misclassify a construction worker as an independent contractor and fail to train, supervise, or maintain equipment prior to an accident
- Manufacturers of defective products, including tools and hazardous chemicals
- Property owners who fail to secure a construction site and post warnings, causing an accident when equipment falls from a top-story
Workers’ compensation actions and injury lawsuits require a tenacious lawyer who will not back down during tense negotiations with insurers or companies that do not want to compensate Philadelphia construction workers for their losses after an accident. These losses are physical, such as disfigurement from chemical burns or spine, back, and neck injuries from a fall. They are also emotional and psychological. We do not back down when fighting for our client’s well-being. We will never under settle a case because it is the easiest route for us. Our clients are family, and winning the most money we can in an injury lawsuit is our objective.
A Philadelphia Construction Accident Attorney is Ready to Fight for You
Working construction is a storied tradition that is the foundation of America’s growth. It is a difficult and dangerous job, and accidents are common and usually catastrophic, causing injuries that can sideline you from work for a long time, sometimes, forever if a disability is permanent. You deserve a safety net through workers’ compensation or the ability to sue for your damages.
The path forward is complicated, depending on your employment status and who the defendant is. Pushback from insurers or business owners takes a skilled attorney to push back harder and win. For competent and caring advice from a Philadelphia construction accident lawyer who has a track record of winning high-value cases and claims, call now for a free consultation.