Construction Accident Lawyer in Washington
Trusted Construction Worker Accident Attorney Vigorously Pursues Maximum Financial Recovery for Clients in King County, Lewis County, Pierce County, Thurston County, and Throughout WA
Construction work is one of the most dangerous professions in Washington state. According to the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, in one recent year, there were over 9,000 non-fatal construction worker injuries and 21 construction worker fatalities. Construction workers typically work in hazardous conditions, including on heights or in trenches, often surrounded by power tools, equipment, and machinery. As a result, construction workers face significant risks of being injured on the job. Fortunately, Washington state law affords injured construction workers options for obtaining financial compensation and benefits that can assist them through their injury recovery. When you need help securing financial compensation after being hurt on the job on a construction site, turn to a construction accident lawyer in Washington state from Smith Duran Law
Our construction work injury attorneys understand the physical and emotional consequences that can flow from a catastrophic injury in the workplace. We also know the obstacles that injured workers can face in getting the insurance benefits and compensation they need or accessing qualified or specialist medical and rehabilitative care. That’s why our firm will not rest until we have secured the financial compensation and justice you deserve when you have been injured on the job. Don’t let your employer or the Department of Labor and Industries try to cut off your benefits before you have made as full a recovery as possible from your construction worker accident and injuries.
If you were injured while working on a construction site, contact Smith Duran Law for a free initial case review to speak with a construction accident lawyer in Washington state about what options you have for financial benefits that can assist you through your recovery.
Common Construction Workers’ Injuries
Some of the most frequently occurring construction worker injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Muscle and tendon strains and tears
- Nerve damage
- Herniated disc injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Perforation injuries
- Crush injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Eye injuries and vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Chemical exposure or toxic substance exposure
- Burns
- Electrocution injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputation
Your Legal Rights after a Construction Worker Accident
If you were injured on the job on a construction site, you may have options to recover compensation that can assist you in getting back to work after your injuries. Most construction workers in Washington state are entitled to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, which includes financial payments that include:
- Payment of medical expenses
- Reimbursement of travel expenses for medical appointments or procedures
- Reimbursement for loss or damage of personal property in a construction site accident
- Partial wage replacement after missing sufficient time from work due to a workplace injury
- Disability benefits for sustaining permanent impairment to a body part or function
- Pension payments if permanently disabled from being able to work in any form of employment
- Vocational training to help a worker get into a different job they can perform within their physical limitations from an injury
A construction worker who suffers a work-related injury because of a third party’s fault, such as from defective tools or equipment, or due to a dangerous condition of a worksite caused by the property’s owner’s negligence, may be entitled to file a third-party claim that can recover compensation from:
- Medical bills
- Long-term care expenses if injuries result in permanent disabilities
- Past, ongoing, and future loss of income
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
What Can a Construction Accident Lawyer in Washington from Smith Duran Law Do to Help in Your Case?
When you have suffered a catastrophic construction injury due to your work, you should be able to keep your focus on your treatment and rehabilitation. Let a construction accident lawyer in Washington state go to work on your behalf by:
- Determining the circumstances of the workplace accident or incident that caused your injury
- Advising you as to options you may have for recovering compensation or other financial benefits
- Preparing and filing your formal claims for compensation
- Pursuing your rights when your workers’ comp claim is denied by protesting or appealing L&I’s decision, as well as negotiating for a settlement or going to court when you have a third party injury claim
Contact Our Firm for a Free Consultation to Go Over Your Options with a Construction Accident Lawyer in Washington
After being injured on the job on a construction site, contact Smith Duran Law for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Let our construction accident lawyer in Washington state discuss what our firm can do to guide you through the process of recovering compensation for the harm and losses that you have suffered.
Frequently Asked Questions about Construction Worker Accidents in Washington State
If you were injured in a construction site accident, you may receive workers’ compensation benefits through the Washington Department of Labor & Industries if your employer is insured through L&I. If your employer is self-insured for workers’ compensation, your benefits will be paid from your employer. Your employer is typically the company that directly controls your work, pays your wages, and has hiring/firing authority over you. Thus, if you work for a subcontractor on a construction site, that subcontractor will be responsible for your workers’ comp benefits, rather than a general contractor that retained the subcontractor you work for.
Typically, independent contractors are ineligible for workers’ compensation benefits, unless they have set up their own business entity that is insured by L&I. However, if your employer has misclassified you as an independent contractor when you should be classified as an employee, you may be entitled to benefits. A construction accident lawyer in Washington state can help you better understand your eligibility for workers’ compensation.
Third-party claims are personal injury lawsuits brought against an individual or a business (outside of an employer) who was at fault for your work injuries. Some examples of third-party claims in construction accidents include:
— When a normal driver causes an accident and subsequent injuries to a worker driving a construction vehicle on the job. In a situation like this, the injured construction worker could sue that driver for compensation;
— When a part of heavy equipment that a construction worker is operating is faulty and causes an error that leads to serious injuries. In this case, a third-party injury claim could be made against the manufacturer of the equipment;
— When a worker is injured due to a general contractor’s negligence while they are working under the employment of a subcontractor. In these instances, workers could file a claim against the general contractor.
All of these injury claims are against a third party who is not the immediate employer but who is responsible for the construction worker’s injuries.
Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
The Department of Labor and Industries manages claims for injuries at work. You are entitled to money for lost wages, medical treatment, vocational retraining, loss of body function, and in some cases a pension.
LEARN MOREPersonal Injury Attorney
If your injury was caused by someone other than a co‑worker, an auto accident, or defective equipment, you may be entitled to additional compensation. Our personal injury attorney in Tacoma will evaluate your case.
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