Tampa Contractors & Subcontractor Injury Lawyer
By their nature, construction sites are dangerous workplaces. Falling debris, heights, heavy machinery, and the sheer volume of workers present on the work site make construction an inherently hazardous job. Workers can suffer injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. While federal and state officials are responsible for investigating workplace injuries that result from construction accidents, your remedy as a victim is to file a claim through Florida’s workers’ compensation system. Still, the complexities of contractor and subcontractor relationships can make the process challenging.
The Tampa workers’ compensation lawyers at Barbas Nuñez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian are dedicated to counseling victims who suffer injuries in all types of on-the-job incidents, including construction accidents. As a contractor or subcontractor, you are in a unique situation under workers’ compensation laws, but you do have rights. Our legal team has more than 65 years of combined experience assisting clients in Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region, and we can help you, too. Please contact our office at 813-279-2686 to set up a free consultation, and take time to review some important information on workers’ compensation for contractors and subcontractors.
Understanding Liability for Tampa, FL Contractor and Subcontractor Injuries
The vast majority of employers are required to carry insurance coverage under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws. Because of hazards inherent in the construction industry and presence of multiple parties on a job site, workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory for construction contractors and subcontractors. Carrying workers’ compensation insurance coverage means employees must file through the state system as their sole remedy, so construction employers are generally immune from civil lawsuits when a worker is hurt on the job.
Your Legal Options as a Victim of a Workplace Injury
If you are an employee of a contractor or subcontractor, and you are injured on a construction site, you are a covered worker who can file a claim through the insurer that provides coverage for your employer. However, while carrying workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory, subcontractors sometimes do not realize their responsibilities; at times, they may know their legal obligations but refuse to comply with the law.
Regardless, you still have rights as the victim of construction site injuries. For purposes of Florida workers’ compensation laws, subcontractors and employees working by agreement with a general contractor are considered the same “employer.” If you are hurt in a work-related accident, your claim moves up the ladder to the general contractor.
Legal Help for Contractor and Subcontractor Injuries
Construction sites are dangerous, but victims are entitled to file a claim for medical costs, lost wages, and other benefits under Florida’s workers’ compensation program. You are protected by law even as a subcontractor, but the process is slightly more complicated under the circumstances. At Barbas Nuñez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian, our legal team can help you navigate the workers’ compensation system and provide assistance if you run into obstacles in obtaining benefits. For more information, please contact our Tampa, FL office to schedule a free consultation. You can reach our office at 813-279-2686 or visit our website to learn about our legal services in workers’ compensation cases.
