Personal injury law concerning construction injuries can takes a variety of different forms, depending on the victim’s role in the construction project. Innocent bystander’s cases usually involve product liability and negligence claims, while construction worker victims may also have workers compensation claims.
Both sides may involve a wrongful death claim. The scrutiny you’ll face for a claim may also differ if you’re an innocent bystander or worker. By consulting with a South Bend personal injury lawyer, you can determine if you are entitled compensation through a construct accident injury claim.
Worker’s Claim
Construction workers injured in a construction accident may have a worker’s compensation claim against the company. However, this may limit the worker’s right to sue the employer in order to recover the cost of the injuries.
A personal injury attorney may be able to discern if other parties are responsible.
The fault may lie in the equipment you used or a materials failure. This becomes a product liability case against the manufacturers, and can be heard in an Indiana courtroom. The personal injury lawyer can also help you recover the most benefits possible from your worker’s compensation claim if needed.
Bystander Claim
Injured bystanders have more latitude in their attempts to recover damages after an accident. They can sue the employer, product manufacturers, and even the worker involved in the accident. The victim’s attorney will have to prove negligence, product liability, or another deficit that led to the accident.
Wrongful Death
According to the Indiana Department of Labor, there were 19 deaths on construction sites. These deaths can be treated the same for either a bystander or a worker.
Wrongful death suits are brought in cases where a preventable accident ended the life of the victim.
The case is usually brought by the victim’s surviving family members. A South Bend wrongful death attorney can determine the best course of action for the case.
Construction accidents made up more than 6,300 accidents in 2008 across the state of Indiana. Roofing contractors had the most accidents. The single most common accident was falling, and the injury victim was more likely to have a sprain, strain or tear, which are relatively minor injuries. For all the severe injuries that occur on construction sites each year, there are attorneys in Indiana ready to help. Consult one as soon as possible after your construction accident.
