Tampa Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction workers construct all sorts of buildings, from houses to schools to stores to office buildings to medical facilities. While construction is essential, it is also dangerous. Many workers are injured or killed every year while working on construction sites in Florida.
These injuries can be life-threatening and long-term in nature, ranging from bruises to broken bones to spinal cord injuries to head trauma. These injuries can result in hundreds of thousands of even millions of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Construction accidents are costly and can affect you for the rest of your life. Don’t leave money on the table. A Tampa construction accident lawyer from Franco Law Firm can help you understand your legal options.
Common Construction Accidents
There are four main causes of construction accidents:
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Falls. Falls make up approximately one-third of construction accidents. This number should be a lot less, as contractors are required to provide fall protection equipment to workers. Many falls still occur when workers fall from ladders, scaffolding, chimneys, and roofs.
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Electrocutions. Construction work often involves electricity. It’s not uncommon for an employee or equipment to accidentally hit power lines or power sources, causing electrocution.
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Caught-In/Between. These accidents refer to situations where employees get caught in or between something. For example, a worker may get stuck in a trench with no way of escape. Workers can also get caught in between machinery, causing serious injuries.
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Struck-Bys. An employee can get struck by moving or fixed objects. This typically happens when another worker is operating heavy equipment and does not see a nearby co-worker, hitting them or even running them over.
While these are the most common types of accidents, they are by far not the only ones. A person can also get injured by heavy equipment, welding, power tools, fires, explosions, chemical exposure, and slips and falls.
Determining Liability
While employees are often liable for their own construction accident injuries, there are situations in which someone else’s negligence contributes to the accident. When this happens, they may be able to forego a workers’ compensation claim and file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Liable parties may include the following:
- Contractors or subcontractors
- Equipment manufacturers
- Property or building owners
- Third parties, such as drivers or site visitors
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is very strict when it comes to construction site safety. The agency can order severe penalties on construction companies that fail to enact safety standards. The penalties can range from hefty fines to business closure. In addition, a construction company may be sued by a victim and forced to pay thousands of dollars in compensation for damages caused by a workplace injury.
Contact Franco Law Firm Today
Construction accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries and even death. Construction is a dangerous industry, which means it is important that contractors and foremen properly train workers on safety and accident prevention.
The team at Franco Law Firm can help you get full and fair compensation for all your injuries. To schedule a consultation, call a Tampa construction accidents lawyer at (813) 872-0929 or fill out the online form.