A construction accident lawyer is a personal injury lawyer with experience in construction accident cases. Construction accidents can have complicated webs of liability because of the many contracts used in construction jobs, so it’s a specialty of personal injury law.
Construction accident lawyers also have to be very familiar with the workers’ compensation system. Most construction accidents are on-the-job accidents, so workers’ comp is the first step to getting payment for injuries. However, your case may also qualify for a lawsuit. Vaughan & Vaughan’s construction accident lawyers in Indianapolis can help you in either situation.
Construction Accidents and Personal Injury Law
If someone or something hurts you, the law allows victims to seek financial compensation for what happened to you. This area of law is called personal injury law. If you’re hurt by a person’s negligence or because they made a product that harmed you, a personal injury lawyer’s help is invaluable.
Construction accident lawyers are personal injury lawyers. Construction sites are full of dangers. One misstep by someone can cause a catastrophic injury to you. Victims deserve compensation for accidents that weren’t their fault and could have been prevented.
Both workers’ comp and filing third-party lawsuits have risks that could make you get less than you deserve if you face them alone. You can ensure your rights are protected and you get the most money possible by working with a construction accident lawyer as soon as you can after you’re hurt.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Special Knowledge of Construction Accident Cases
Personal injury is so broad that not every lawyer can specialize in every area. If you’ve been hurt on a construction site, you need someone with experience in construction accident law. Here are a few of the things construction accident lawyers must know.
Workers’ Compensation
Most construction accidents happen on the job, which means your only legal remedy may be the workers’ compensation system. If you were injured by your employer or by a coworker in your company, Indiana requires you to only use the workers’ compensation system, with rare exceptions.
Workers’ compensation will cover the most important economic damages, but you could miss out on significant compensation. A construction accident lawyer will know what to look for to see if you may qualify for a third-party lawsuit.
Job Site Contracts
Construction jobs are not always finished by a single company. There can be a web of contracts and subcontracts in a project. Construction accident lawyers must learn how liability is spelled out in these contracts. That way, they know who can be sued and which insurance companies to contact with a claim.
Catastrophic Injury Damages
Construction is one of the most dangerous professions. The chances of a catastrophic injury are high. Fair compensation for a catastrophic injury is much higher than many other personal injury situations.
If your injury makes you unable to work ever again, ruins the quality of your life, or disfigures you, you need someone who knows how to value the costs of catastrophic injuries, both now and in the future. Your case value may be much more than you think.
Do I Need a Construction Accident Lawyer If I’m Using Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation gets injured workers money to pay for their medical bills and some of their lost wages without going through court. It’s much faster, but you often cannot get as much as you could if you’re eligible to sue.
While it is an important benefit, insurers still fund it, and they don’t like to pay. If your workers’ compensation claim gives them room to fight you, they will. Some employers may try to break the rules and push back against your claim even though it’s illegal.
Starting with a lawyer at the beginning of your claim process will give you the best chance of getting a favorable outcome. If you filed your construction accident claim and it got rejected, you need a lawyer as soon as possible before your hearing.
Can a Construction Accident Lawyer Help Me Sue My Employer?
Indiana has strong workers’ compensation laws. Unless your employer deliberately harmed you, you cannot sue them directly. Nor can you sue a coworker. However, they can help you sue a third party who harmed you.
If we find out that the negligent party was a subcontractor on your job site, then there is an opportunity to sue for damages. Through a lawsuit, you can gain access to damages that you cannot claim under worker’s compensation, like pain and suffering.
How do Construction Accident Lawyers Get Paid?
Most construction accident lawyers work using a contingency fee system. This means they work for free until you win your claim. If you lose your claim, you owe nothing. Contingency fees make legal access fair to everyone, and they push lawyers to fight for as much as possible.
If you win, you will owe a fixed percentage of your compensation to your lawyer. Your lawyer will discuss this amount with you before you hire them at your consultation. A common range is between 30% and 40%. A good lawyer can get you more money than you would through facing the insurers alone, even with their fee.
Hire Vaughan & Vaughan to Fight for You
Vaughan & Vaughan has been representing Indianans for over 100 years in personal injury matters, including construction accidents. If you’ve been denied workers’ compensation or you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, we can help you.
Contact us now for a free consultation to learn your legal options. All consultations are free and without obligation. The sooner you call, the sooner you can receive fair compensation for your accident claim.
