Sarasota Construction Injuries Lawyer
Construction sites have many injury risks, and construction workers often suffer serious and fatal injuries on the job. In most cases, construction injuries in Sarasota and across Florida are preventable with proper safety equipment and policies. Yet accidents continue to occur on construction worksites, and construction workers suffer harm. In most cases, and injured construction worker will seek compensation by filing a workers’ compensation claim through the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). In some cases, an injured construction worker in Sarasota may be eligible to file a third-party lawsuit against a negligent party.
If you or someone you love sustained injuries on a construction site, you should discuss your options with a Sarasota construction injuries lawyer as soon as you can.
Common Types of Construction Accidents in Sarasota, FL
Many different types of accidents can occur on construction sites, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA). Examples of common injuries include but are not limited to:
- Falls;
- Slip and fall accidents;
- Being struck by falling debris;
- Crane accidents;
- Forklift accidents;
- Elevator shaft accidents;
- Scaffold accidents;
- Vehicle collisions;
- Trench collapses;
- Repetition motion or overexertion injuries;
- Electrocutions;
- Explosions;
- Gas leaks;
- Burn injuries;
- Machinery accidents; and
- Getting stuck in or between equipment or machinery.
Some of these kinds of accidents and injuries result in fatalities more frequently than others. According to OSHA, more than 21 percent of all workplace fatalities occur in the construction industry, and the majority of those accidents are caused by what OSHA describes as the “Fatal Four.” To be clear, four types of injuries are much deadlier in numbers than others:
- Falls (more than 33 percent of all construction injury deaths);
- Struck-by object (more than 11 percent of all fatalities on construction sites);
- Electrocutions (more than 8 percent of all construction fatalities); and
- Caught-in, or caught-between accidents (more than 5 percent of all reported construction deaths).
Workers’ Compensation and Sarasota Construction Injuries
If you sustained a construction injury, you should speak with a Sarasota construction accident lawyer about filing a workers’ compensation claim. In Florida, the workers’ compensation system requires an injured worker to report an injury within 30 days of the date the accident occurred. When an injured worker reports the accident, she or he must also provide information to the employer about how the accident happened and the consequences of the accident.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means that an injured construction worker cannot hold an employer accountable beyond workers’ comp for injuries caused by the employer’s negligence. At the same time, an injured construction worker can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits regardless of whether or not that worker’s own negligence caused his or her injuries.
In some situations, when a third party’s negligence causes a construction accident, the injured construction worker may be eligible to file a lawsuit against that at-fault party. However, you should speak with a construction accident lawyer in Sarasota about whether this is an option.
Seek Advice from a Sarasota Construction Injury Attorney
Were you injured in a construction accident? You may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim or, in certain situations, to file a lawsuit. One of the experienced Sarasota construction accident lawyers at our firm can assist you. Contact Barbas Nuñez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian today for more information.
