Las Vegas and Henderson are among the fastest-growing cities in the country. With increased construction, worksite accidents have become much more common. Hiring a construction accident attorney in Las Vegas to work on your behalf will give you the best chance at compensation for your injury.
Construction sites are among the most dangerous places for workers. Workers are often put in precarious situations in which they are working high above the ground or in some cases underground, with heavy equipment above them. Construction sites are also dangerous due to the use of heavy equipment, power tools, and large construction vehicles. Working construction is also physically demanding, leaving workers more vulnerable to injury as they get tired. Serious worksite accidents are not unusual; the injuries that result from construction accidents are often severe.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the construction accident, the victim or surviving relatives may have reason to file a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer of defective equipment. Claims can potentially be filed against a general contractor who erected a dangerous scaffold or against a subcontractor whose negligent violations of state or OSHA regulations caused an injury.
When handling a construction accident injury or wrongful death claim, our lawyers, assisted by scientific and safety experts, perform a thorough investigation in order to build a strong case. Our settlements and verdicts page documents successful verdicts and significant settlements our attorneys have recovered on behalf of clients. We’re focused on helping our clients recover the resources necessary to rebuild their lives following a debilitating job site injury.
The Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) coined the following four most common causes of construction accidents, the “fatal four:”
Other common causes of construction accidents that result in severe injuries or deaths, include ladder or scaffolding accidents, repetitive motion injuries, forklift accidents, missing guards or protections on power tools, tripping hazards, and more.
In general, Nevada workers are not able to sue their employers, but in certain circumstances a third party liability lawsuit can be filed in conjunction with a workers’ compensation claim. Property owners, contractors, product manufacturers, maintenance companies and/or architects, for example, can be liable if their negligence contributes to a construction accident resulting in an injury. The following damages may be recoverable in a third party liability claim:
Nevada does not have laws in place that limit the amount of compensation a worker can recover in a third party liability claim. Unless the defendant is a government agency or employee. In some situations, there may be a cap on punitive damages. A Las Vegas construction accident lawyer can assess your case and advise you of which damages are available to you.
Every construction accident case is different, which means they will vary in worth. Generally, the more serious your injuries and the greater your loss, the more compensation you will receive. When estimating the value of your claim, your attorney will consider the following factors:
In a third party liability claim, you will be responsible for proving the other party was negligent. Whereas, workers’ compensation claims do not require evidence of fault. Proving negligence will require demonstrating the following:
A duty of care must have existed between you and the defendant (responsible party). For example: the driver of a construction vehicle has a duty to operate it carefully; the manufacturer of a product has a duty to ensure a product is safe for use; the owner of a property has a duty to maintain his or her property in a safe condition.
The defendant acted in a manner that was unreasonable when compared to what a normal person in the same circumstance would do; therefore, violating their duty of care. For instance: operating a construction vehicle while talking on the phone or intoxicated; designing a defective product; failing to repair a known hazard on a construction site.
The defendant’s violation of their duty of care (negligence) directly resulted in your accident, and would not have occurred otherwise. Even if you can prove negligence, your claim will not be successful if you cannot prove causation.
The final component is damages, or financial losses. You must have suffered actual damages for there to be a case for compensation, such as medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.
Third-party liability claims can be complex, so it is useful to have the assistance of a skilled construction accident lawyer who is familiar with these issues. They will work with you to gather the evidence necessary to prove and support your claim. Workers’ compensation benefits can still be collected while also pursuing compensation for the full extent of your damages against a third party.
Due to the extreme danger posed by construction sites in Las Vegas, workers involved in accidents can suffer catastrophic – and even fatal – injuries. In the event that a construction worker falls from scaffolding and suffers a brain injury, full compensation is necessary to provide lifelong care for the injury. Brain injuries are one type of injury that often requires around the clock medical supervision. If a loved one was a victim in a construction accident that led to a brain injury, speak with our Las Vegas brain injury lawyer about your rights in Nevada. If a worker is injured in the workplace, their compensation should cover all their damages.
Workers’ compensation can cover lost wages and medical expenses, but it’s rarely sufficient for serious injuries such as amputation, spine, back, neck or brain injuries. To learn more about workers’ compensation, speak with a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer in Las Vegas.
In the event of a fatal accident, the relatives of the deceased deserve compensation for their loss in addition to the medical expenses and lost wages. Our construction accident lawyers will fight for the compensation of construction workers and their families. When you contact our workplace accident attorneys to discuss a construction or worksite injury, they will investigate all possible sources of compensation such as equipment manufacturers, building designers or suppliers and they will fight for you.
If you have been involved in a construction accident, our experienced construction accident lawyers in Las Vegas can help you navigate through the legal process and get what you deserve. The Harris & Harris Las Vegas personal injury attorneys will fight vigorously to get the settlement you deserve.
Call Harris & Harris Lawyers in Las Vegas: (702) 384-1414 or toll-free 1 (800) 393-2350. You can also fill out our online contact form.