Construction Accident Attorneys in Norcross, Gwinnett County

Construction is one of the world’s most dangerous industries. Every day, construction workers face serious health and safety hazards, from exposure to asbestos to collapsing scaffolds. It is largely up to construction site managers and employers to keep workers and pedestrians reasonably safe. If someone else’s negligence or wanton disregard for the safety of others resulted in your construction injury, call the Georgia construction injury lawyers at Dermer Appel Ruder. Our accident and injury attorneys can help you pursue compensation.

How Common Are Construction Injuries?

In 2016, 4,693 private industry workers died on the job in America. Of these, 991 deaths (21.1%) were in the construction industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) refers to four main causes of construction worker injuries and deaths in the U.S. as the “Fatal Four.” They are falls, struck-by object, electrocutions, and caught-in/between objects and equipment. Preventing these four accident types would save an average of 631 workers’ lives every year.

Common Causes of Construction Injuries

Construction sites pose many different threats to the health and safety of workers and passersby. Hazardous substances, falling objects, heavy machinery, electrical equipment, volatile oil and gas, and careless workers can all result in construction site accidents and serious injuries. One factor that most construction accidents have in common, however, is negligence.

Human error in construction zones is a major cause of construction injuries. Distracted drivers striking roadside workers, a distracted employee dropping a hammer from a scaffold, and a site manager failing to provide personal fall protection devices are all examples of negligence that can lead to preventable injuries and wrongful death.

Common Construction Accident Injuries

Virtually any type of personal injury can impact construction site workers, pedestrians, and drivers passing through construction sites. Some injuries, however, are more common than others. Some of the most common include:

After suffering any type of injury while on a construction site (as a worker or a passerby), consult with one of our Georgia construction accident attorneys about your rights. With our help, you could recover the costs of your accident-related medical bills, lost income, physical pain, and emotional suffering.

What to Do After Getting Injured in a Construction Accident

Construction site accidents can have devastating results. Injuries on construction sites are often catastrophic, especially when they involve heavy equipment, a fall from scaffolding or a ladder or an explosion. If you or a family member is involved in a construction accident, you should first seek medical attention and immediately report the injury to your employer. In most construction accident cases that reach our desk at Dermer Appel Ruder, LLC, victims often have severe injuries and their employer conducts an investigation of the accident. Depending on the severity of the accident and the number of people injured, OSHA may become involved in the investigation. Getting the medical attention that you or your family member needs should be your first priority.

After seeking treatment for your injuries, you should consider hiring an attorney to help investigate the cause of the accident so that the responsible party is held accountable. Job site accidents are typically preventable and often occur as a result of a failure on the part of another contractor to comply with safety practices. In order to properly investigate a construction site accident, prompt steps should be taken to preserve evidence. An attorney will be able to notify the proper persons at the job site in a timely fashion to request that evidence is preserved.

Next, you should start seeking compensation through the available platforms. The most common way construction workers seek compensation after injuries is through workers’ compensation. However, in addition to collecting worker’s compensation benefits, you may be able to recover compensation for your injury from other sources – such as another contractor who was on the job site. A Norcross construction accident attorney will gather the evidence needed to evaluate your options and determine if there are other responsible parties from whom you may pursue a full recovery.  As time goes by evidence gets lost or destroyed and witnesses become more difficult to track down.  Many construction sites have several contractors working at one time. Locating employees of contractors may be essential to gathering sufficient facts to prove your case. Therefore, you should get in touch with our dedicated Norcross construction accident attorneys as soon as possible. We will help you file your claim and fight for your compensation.

It is also helpful to collect witness statements after the construction accident. If you are unable to do this, have your Norcross construction accident lawyer handle it for you. Attorneys understand the importance of witness statements and will secure in depth information that will be necessary to prove your claim. At Dermer Appel Ruder, LLC, we have abundant resources that will ensure we get sufficient evidence to prove your case. For instance, we can send investigators to talk to your colleagues and employer and other trade’s employees. This ensures we collect all the crucial evidence for your case. If necessary, we will hire an engineer or accident reconstruction expert to gather details about how the accident occurred, whether that is someone with expertise in the operation of a crane, construction of scaffolding, ladder safety or construction site safety practices – we have those resources available to us.

Types of Claims You Can File After a Construction Accident

Most of our clients will file a worker’s compensation claims after a construction accident. This does not mean that there are no other claims you can file. Some of the claims you can file after a construction accident are:

• Worker’s compensation claim: Any employee can file this claim. If you have sustained injuries while working as a construction worker, you are eligible for a worker’s compensation claim. In Georgia, there is no requirement that you prove your employer was at fault for the injury. This means that whether it was you or your employer responsible for the accident, you can still file for worker’s compensation. The employer’s insurance company will cover your wages and medical bills until you are able to work again.
• Personal injury claim: You may also file a personal injury claim after being injured in a construction site accident. In this type of claim, there must be a party at-fault. You must identify the party responsible for the accident or whose actions caused the accident. The at-fault party is the one who you file the lawsuit against. While you cannot sue your employer outside of a worker’s compensation claim, you can sue a third party and hold them responsible for your injuries. Some of the damages in a personal injury claim include loss of earning potential, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and lost quality of life. Our dedicated Norcross construction accident lawyers at Dermer Appel Ruder, LLC will fight to ensure you get compensation for all damages.
• Product liability claim: Construction accident victims can also file product liability claims. If a defective product results in a construction accident, you can file this claim. Remember that product liability claims are filed against manufacturers or retailers. Manufacturing companies have the responsibility of providing safe products to consumers and workers. Investigating the cause of the product failure is important and the product must be preserved for such an inspection.
• Wrongful death claim: As mentioned earlier, construction accidents are often catastrophic. Losing a loved one in a construction accident can be overwhelming. If the deceased was the breadwinner, it could be challenging for the surviving loved ones. A wrongful death claim provides compensation for loved ones.

Determining Liability in Georgia

Liability can be a tricky subject in construction accident lawsuits. The party the courts will hold liable for someone’s injury or death will depend upon who was involved in the incident. Construction companies are often responsible for these accidents for failing to maintain a reasonably safe workspace for employees and passersby. Dangerous property hazards, toxic chemicals, poor employee training, no safety gear, poorly maintained construction equipment, and other common risks all can come back to the construction site owner, general contractor, or subcontractor’s negligence.

Contact our Georgia construction accident attorneys for professional assistance in determining liability. We’ve represented numerous clients with construction-related injuries throughout the state of Georgia including but not limited to Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties. We recognize the most common defendants in these types of cases and know how to prove their fault for accidents and injuries. Whether a careless coworker or negligent product manufacturer caused your damages, we can help you identify the liable party and pursue damage recovery in the various Georgia civil courts.

Workers’ Comp vs Filing a Lawsuit

Don’t say yes to a Georgia workers’ compensation settlement without first speaking to one of our attorneys. Workers’ compensation might be easier to acquire, but it will only reimburse you for medical bills and two-thirds of your lost wages. A personal injury lawsuit, on the other hand, could result in compensation for your full lost wages, lost earning capacity, disabilities, past and future medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and possibly even punitive damages. A conversation with one of our knowledgeable Georgia construction accident lawyers can help you get a clear idea of what a personal injury lawsuit could be worth to you and your family.

Our Attorney Also Represent the Following Practice Areas:-

• Bicycle Accident
• Boat Accident
• Burn Injury
• Car Accident
• Dog Bite
• Foodborne Illness
• Food Poisoning
• Bone Fracture
• Motorcycle Accident
• Neck Injury
• Negligent Security
• Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
• Pedestrian Accident
• Pharmaceutical Injury
• Catastrophic Injury
• Slip & Fall Accident
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Truck Accident
• Wrongful Death

Experienced and Aggressive Attorneys for Construction Accidents

At Dermer Appel Ruder, LLC, we understand how challenging it can be to recover from injuries sustained in a construction accident. If you are in this situation, you should get in touch with us today. Our experienced Norcross construction accident lawyers will help you sort through the red tape and get the compensation you deserve. Call 404-892-8884 today to get started.

Serving Atlanta and all surrounding areas including but not limited to Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Duluth, Dunwoody, Roswell & Peachtree Corners.