WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Cathedral City Construction Accident Attorney

With more than 30 years of experience, our accomplished attorneys are here to guide you through these difficult times and get the compensation you deserve.

Representing Cathedral City Clients in Construction Accident Claims

The construction industry is crucial to keep the United States’ economy moving forward. Unfortunately, construction workers have some of the most dangerous jobs in the country. In fact, according to data from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the construction industry records the highest rate of accidental injuries and deaths, year over year. Worse, there are many types of construction accidents that can injure both construction industry employees and bystanders. For that reason, if you or a loved one suffered an injury while working in the construction industry or sustained injuries due to the negligence of nearby construction workers, it is essential to know your options for legal recourse.

The attorneys at English, Lloyd & Armenta provide comprehensive and compassionate legal counsel to construction accident victims in the Cathedral City, CA area. We understand how devastating a construction accident can be, especially when it comes to the significant financial strain an injury can cause for the victim and their family. If you have been injured in a construction accident, we can help you determine the most expedient path toward financial recovery. As your Cathedral City construction accident lawyers, we can investigate the full scope of your case and help you pursue the full extent of your damages.

Why Should I Hire a Lawyer?

When you sustain a construction accident injury that occurred due to another party’s negligence, you have the right to hold them accountable for your damages through a personal injury claim. If you suffered your injury while working on a construction site, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation may provide some measure of relief after your injury. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your workers’ compensation benefits will be enough to fully cover the entire extent of your losses.

If your accident took place on your jobsite, English, Lloyd & Armenta can not only assist you in filing your workers’ compensation claim after a construction accident, but help you explore other available options for legal recourse. However, it should be noted that attempting this process without professional legal counsel is not a wise decision. Even slight inconsistencies with your court paperwork or other elements of your workers’ compensation claim can lead to significant delays or even jeopardize your ability to recover.

Additionally, pursuing any type of civil action against another party is a complex process and very difficult to handle yourself while also dealing with the personal aftermath of your injury. A Cathedral City construction accident lawyer can expedite healing by handling your legal affairs on your behalf while you recover from your injuries. Your lawyer can also guide you through each stage of your case so you can approach the situation with greater confidence.

Common Types of Construction Accidents

Construction is dangerous work for many reasons. Construction workers must handle heavy equipment, dangerous machinery, and hazardous tools, and they often work in unfinished buildings that do not have the safety features of completed buildings. Some of the most common types of construction accidents that can lead to workers’ compensation or personal injury claims include:

Falls. Falling from a height can cause severe or even fatal injuries. Falls may result in broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and many other types of wounds.
“Struck by” object injuries. A construction worker or even a passerby walking by a construction site could suffer a severe injury if a tool, piece of building material, or construction debris falls and strikes them. Most construction workers must wear hardhats while working on job sites, but other people who happen to pass by construction sites often do not have any protection from falling objects.
Crushing injuries. These injuries are possible when construction workers become trapped by equipment, construction materials, or vehicles and other surfaces. These incidents can easily cause severe bone fractures, internal organ damage, and more.

Vehicle accidents. The construction industry relies on many types of vehicles, both commercial and specialized. Backhoes, dump trucks, forklifts, front-end loaders, and other construction vehicles sometimes do not have the same safety features as other commercial vehicles and can easily cause devastating injuries. Construction workers may also suffer injuries while delivering tools, equipment, and materials to job sites.
Electrocutions. OSHA counts electrocutions as one of the leading causes of fatal injuries in the construction industry. Working on unfinished buildings often means working near live electrical structures that may not be fully sealed for safety until the building’s completion. An electrocution can cause severe injuries, including burns and cardiovascular interruptions.
Dangerous and defective product injuries. Construction workers rely on various tools, materials, and equipment to do their work. If a product manufacturer released an unreasonably dangerous or defective product that results in a construction accident, the manufacturer is liable for the resulting damages under product liability laws.

These are just a few examples of construction accidents that can lead to complex legal proceedings between the injured party and the party responsible for causing the incident. It is vital to consult a Cathedral City construction accident lawyer as soon as possible after any construction accident.

What to Do After a Construction Accident

If you are injured in any type of construction accident, your first concern should be your personal health and safety. After your injury, seek medical treatment immediately. In an emergency, call 911 and wait for paramedics to arrive. Alternatively, ask another individual to take you to seek medical help. Once you receive medical treatment, the doctor who treated you should provide you with a complete report detailing your injuries and prognosis. This will be an essential document if you wish to pursue legal action for your injury.

If your injury occurred at work, the workers’ compensation system will be your first stage of recovery. Your employer must provide you with the claim forms and other materials you will need to submit a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, and you will need to see an approved workers’ compensation doctor who can examine you and assign you a disability rating. This step is crucial for obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. While you can see any available doctor if you need emergency care, you must also see an approved workers’ compensation doctor as soon as possible if you want to file a claim.

A Cathedral City construction accident attorney can be instrumental in obtaining the recovery you need after a construction accident at work. Your legal team can help you file your workers’ compensation claim and determine if you have additional options for legal recourse. In most cases, the workers’ compensation system shields employers from liability for their employees’ injuries, but there are some situations in which an injured employee may have grounds for a personal injury claim against their employer. For example, if your employer intentionally caused your injury, if the injury occurred due to a dangerous situation the employer fraudulently concealed, or if the employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance. Your attorney can help you determine whether your situation meets any of these criteria before pursuing legal action against your employer.

It is also possible to pursue legal action against a third party after a construction accident. For example, if your injury occurred due to a defective product, your Cathedral City construction accident attorney can help you file a product liability claim against the manufacturer in question. Similarly, if you were working in the construction industry and driving for work when another motorist hit you, you could file a third-party personal injury claim against the negligent driver in addition to your workers’ compensation claim.

Damages and Compensation for a Construction Accident

When you or a loved one sustain an injury while working in construction, the workers’ compensation system can provide some financial relief by covering your medical expenses and weekly benefits while you recover. These benefits are usually about two-thirds of your average weekly wages and will continue until you reach maximum medical improvement—up to 104 weeks. In some cases, an injured worker may qualify for permanent workers’ compensation benefits, but this only happens if the worker is left permanently disabled and unable to work at all in the future.

A construction accident can easily cause devastating financial losses for any family. The injury itself can require expensive medical treatment, and the victim may be unable to work for a significant amount of time. Medical bills and lost income can quickly compound one another and leave the family unable to pay their regular bills. If you wish to avoid this scenario and secure as much compensation as possible for your recent construction accident, it is vital to consult a Cathedral City construction accident lawyer.

Find Your Legal Team Now

English, Lloyd & Armenta provides comprehensive legal counsel to construction accident victims in the Cathedral City, CA area. Our team has years of experience helping clients navigate the most complex cases, and we can put our experience to work for you. If you or a loved one recently sustained a construction accident injury that you believe occurred due to the negligence of an employer or another party, contact English, Lloyd & Armenta today. We can help you schedule a consultation and learn more about how our firm can assist in your recovery.