Workers’ Compensation for Construction Accident Claims in New Jersey

Assertive Construction Site Accident Attorneys

Were you the victim of a construction site accident in New Jersey? If so, it’s important that you understand your rights and know how to pursue compensation for injuries, lost wages, and other damages. At Gelman, Gelman, Wiskow & McCarthy, LLC, we are dedicated to ferociously protecting our clients’ rights after construction site accidents. We have decades of experience representing the hard-working people who construct, repair, and improve our state’s buildings, homes, roads, bridges, and other key infrastructures.

Common Causes of Construction Site Accidents

Construction sites are dangerous places, which is why those working in the industry undergo years of training and extensive education on properly using construction equipment and tools. Unfortunately, some site managers and companies put costs and timelines ahead of worker safety, and making workers rush can increase the risk of construction site accidents. The most common causes of construction site accidents include:

• Entrapment
• Slip and falls
• Lack of training
• Tripping hazards
• Vehicle accidents
• Unsafe site conditions
• Inadequate protection
• Ground or trench collapses
• Scaffold or ladder malfunctions
• Unmitigated electrical problems
• Unsafe or faulty equipment or tools
• Inadequate or missing safety equipment or gear
• Delayed maintenance or inspection of equipment, tools, or worksites

Workers’ Compensation Claims for Construction Accidents

If you have a construction site accident, even if you aren’t injured, you must file a report with your site manager and/or supervisor. If you are injured, you should file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is insurance paid for by employers and protects employees from out-of-pocket medical expenses if they are injured while on the clock and on the job. It doesn’t cover after-hours injuries or injuries caused by negligence on the part of the employee. Workers’ compensation offers reimbursement or coverage of medical and rehabilitation expenses. It sometimes also offers reimbursement of lost wages due to a workplace injury. In most cases, an injured employee waives the right to sue their employer over the accident in exchange for workers’ compensation benefits, so you shouldn’t accept benefits or file a claim without consulting an accident attorney.

Process for Filing Suit After a Construction Site Accident

As an employee, you have the right and responsibility to report unsafe conditions to your site manager, supervisor, and/or OSHA without fear of retribution or termination. If you do file a complaint with OSHA, they may do an independent investigation, during which they will do a site evaluation, conduct interviews, and more. If you are injured in a construction site accident, you have the right to hire an injury attorney. The accident attorney will help you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other monetary or non-monetary damages.

Hire a Construction Site Accident Attorney for Compensation

A construction accident attorney can fight for your rights and give you the best chance of success in court or negotiations. An injury attorney will determine the responsible parties and name them as defendants in a lawsuit. These defendants might include the property owner, construction company, supervisor, other workers, machine manufacturers, architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, or a city or government agency.

Your accident attorney will also determine what basis on which to state your construction site accident claim: negligence, premises liability, vicarious liability, or product defects. They will also request compensation for damages, which might include medical bills, physical therapy, long-term care, medication, medical supplies, lost wages, lost future wages, and future medical bills. They will also ask for non-monetary compensation for consortium loss, reputation injury, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.

Schedule a Consultation With Our Accident Attorneys

If you want to pursue legal action after a construction site accident in New Jersey, call our team at Gelman, Gelman, Wiskow & McCarthy, LLC. We are dedicated to protecting our clients’ rights and securing compensation for damages sustained in construction site accidents. Our accident attorneys have decades of experience helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal system and ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve. Call or contact us online to schedule a free, one-hour consultation and find out how we can help you after a construction site accident.