North Louisiana Construction Accident Attorney
Practice Areas
Construction Injury Law Firm Gordon and Gordon in Shreveport, Bossier City, and Mansfield Louisiana
Helping those who have construction injuries at the workplace and are seeking workers’ compensation.
Construction sites can be rife with dangerous conditions and failure to meet safety regulations. Even though only 6% of workers are in this industry, construction accidents make up 20% of work fatalities. Knowledge and safety regulations can prevent a significant amount of these accidents, but not everyone follows proper protocols.
Being injured due to someone else’s mistakes can lead to devastating injuries. If you are injured on the job at a construction site due to someone else’s negligence, you have a legal right to seek compensation. However, worker’s compensation laws are often complex and can be very difficult to understand, especially when you are hurt and trying to recover from a workplace injury. The last thing you need is added stress and worry over your claim. This is where an experienced Louisiana construction accident lawyer can help you.
The legal team at Gordon & Gordon Law Firm is ready to assist you. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can support you through every step of this process and provide all the legal assistance you need. We can help you determine if you have a valid Louisiana workers’ compensation claim, a personal injury claim, or both. Contact a North Louisiana construction accident attorney at Gordon & Gordon Law Firm for a free case evaluation today. You can reach us at (318) 716-HELP. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we can even come to you.
Types of Construction Accidents
There are four major types of construction injury accidents that cause the majority of personal injury cases and fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) refers to them as the “Fatal Four.” The majority of construction deaths and injuries stem from falls (36%), electrocutions (9%), getting struck by objects (10%), and getting caught in or between machinery (2%). Employers have a responsibility to follow OSHA standards to ensure workplace safety. Failure to adhere to safety regulations can endanger everyone.
Falls and Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and falls are the leading cause of death and serious injury on construction sites. Fall protection regulations should be used anytime construction workers are working 6 feet or more above a lower or ground level.
Construction sites also often have hazardous walking conditions that can lead to scaffolding accidents. In fact, scaffolding accidents are among the most common construction injuries in Louisiana. These types of accidents can cause head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and even death.
Defective Machinery Accidents
Construction machinery can help get the job done much quicker and with less manpower, but these massive machines can cause severe injuries when they have defects or are used improperly. Defective machinery can cause accidental amputations and serious degloving accidents.
Falling Debris
Construction job sites have many moving parts, all working together to get the job done. These moving parts can fail at any time and cause a domino effect of falling debris. Falling debris or getting struck by objects accounts for 10% of construction fatalities.
Electrocutions
Faulty wiring can cause fires, burns, shocks, and even death. Electrocutions are one of the most common fatal injuries on construction sites. Half-finished buildings can have exposed wiring and cause major injuries.
Respiratory Injuries
Toxic substances can cause serious respiratory problems and even cancer after repeated exposure. Gasses, excess dust, smoke, and debris like sawdust can cause problems with breathing. Respirators should be used any time construction workers are working in an environment that has respiratory hazards.
Vehicle Accidents
Construction-related vehicle accidents can include crane accidents, bulldozer accidents, front loader accidents, and more. These are large vehicles designed specifically for the construction industry, but any type of accident can cause life-altering injuries. Not only this, but regular car or truck accidents that occur while performing job duties also make up a number of workers’ compensation cases. Plus, if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident while in a company vehicle or performing one of your job duties, the other driver can be held financially responsible for your injuries. Regardless, vehicle accidents of any kind can cause severe injuries that have a life-long impact, and an injured worker should always seek the help of a qualified Shreveport car accident attorney in these cases.
Repetitive Motion/Overexertion Injuries
Overexertion injuries are the most common construction injury. These injuries stem from pulling, lifting, pushing, and throwing heavy objects at work. Repetitive motion injuries are similar to overexertion injuries, as using the same muscles repeatedly can cause strains and severe pain.
What Should I Do After a Construction Site Injury?
If you have been injured on a construction site, alert your employer and seek medical attention immediately. Some injuries can manifest days or weeks after the accident, so it’s important to get a full medical examination. Your doctor can check for any underlying construction injuries. Always report any injury if you believe it is work-related. Having the proper documentation can save you time and headaches later on, as well as protect your legal rights. Finally, contact the construction accidents attorneys at Gordon & Gordon Law Firm right away to explore your options.
Who Can You Sue for a Construction Site Injury?
Worker’s compensation is a major help to injured workers, but it only covers part of your lost wages. Having a competent legal team by your side can be extremely helpful in determining any other potentially liable parties. If you and your legal team can prove your serious injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, you can file a personal injury claim against a third party. Liable parties can include equipment manufacturers, defective product manufacturers, other drivers and their insurance company, negligent construction site owners, and even the site architects/engineers.
Did Your Employer Offer You a Settlement?
Many people are under the impression that if you accept a settlement offer from workers’ compensation, you cannot pursue a personal injury lawsuit, too. Fortunately, this is not the case. You can file a personal injury lawsuit and a worker’s compensation claim at the same time. Your employer is protected from a lawsuit unless their actions caused an intentional injury, but an experienced Louisiana construction accident lawyer can explore all other liable parties and work to hold them accountable.
Am I Covered by Workers’ Compensation?
On-the-job injuries, meaning any injuries occurring from an accident while you were on the job and/or performing in the scope of your employment, should be covered under Louisiana worker’s compensation law.
Construction Accident Wrongful Death
As you can tell, construction is a dangerous industry. To put it into perspective, there are 15 on-the-job deaths every DAY in the United States, and 20% of those deaths happen in the construction industry. If a loved one was fatally injured on the job due to someone else’s negligence, you and your family have the right to pursue compensation. Money won’t help bring them back, but it can at the very least give your family a financial safety net and hold the responsible parties accountable.
- Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits – A percentage of the injured worker’s weekly pay is paid out to surviving spouses and dependents. The benefits for the spouse last until death or remarriage, and the benefits for children are paid out until 18 (or 23 if they are a student). These benefits cannot exceed 65% of the deceased worker’s weekly wage.
- Wrongful Death for Negligence – Accidents caused by a coworker or employer are almost always covered by workers’ compensation as opposed to personal injury lawsuits. If the accident occurred due to negligence or misconduct, the surviving family can file a wrongful death claim. You and your legal team must prove that the death was caused by negligence or misconduct and that the surviving family suffered financially as a result. Negligence can include inattention and carelessness.
- Wrongful Death for Gross Negligence – Gross negligence is a severe form of negligence that is often deliberate. Many courts will often award punitive damages for deliberate acts of gross negligence in an attempt to prevent that behavior in the future.
How an NWLA Construction Accident Lawyer Can Help
After an injury, your attention should be on recovering and following your doctor’s orders. The last thing on your mind should be paperwork and gathering evidence. This is where the Shreveport construction accident lawyers at Gordon & Gordon Law Firm can step in to help. You can rest easy knowing your case is in capable hands and that we are fighting to obtain maximum compensation and damages on your behalf.
Construction Injury Damages
Coupled with extensive medical bills and time off work, a construction site accident can be an expensive recovery. Unfortunately, these aren’t the only costs of construction site accidents. Financial damages can be devastating, but your emotional and mental health can suffer after severe personal injuries as well. At Gordon & Gordon, we fight for every penny that you deserve. This includes:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of potential future income due to catastrophic injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Funeral expenses
- Property damage
- And more
Experienced North Louisiana Construction Accident Attorneys
Construction accidents can cause lasting damage to you and your family. Physical injuries can have an extensive recovery and rack up thousands in medical debt. If you or a loved one was injured on a work site, you need a legal team familiar with Northwest Louisiana construction injury accidents.
There’s no need to wait for a full recovery or even until the next business day to contact the dedicated attorneys at Gordon & Gordon. Our construction accidents attorneys are available 24/7 and can meet you at your home, office, or even in your hospital room. Plus, we offer a free, no-obligation case review to go over all your options. We only work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you don’t have to pay us a cent unless we recover compensation for you.
If you or a loved one was involved in a construction accident and would like to find out your options, or if you would like to know more about our practice areas and legal issues we take on, contact the Shreveport, Bossier, and Mansfield personal injury attorneys at Gordon & Gordon Law Firm today. You can call us at 318-716-HELP or complete our online intake form to get started on your case.