Palm Beach Gardens Construction Accident Lawyer

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Your health comes first. Even if you feel okay, some injuries may not show symptoms right away. A prompt medical exam not only protects your well-being but also provides essential documentation for your workers’ compensation or personal injury claim. Be sure to save all medical records, bills, and discharge summaries.

2. Report the Accident: Let your employer or job site supervisor know what happened as soon as possible. This creates an official record of the incident and helps launch any required internal investigations. For serious injuries, the incident must also be reported to OSHA—within 24 hours for hospitalizations or within 8 hours in the event of a fatality.

3. Document Everything: Solid evidence strengthens your case. Take photos or videos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any hazardous conditions. If possible, collect witness contact info and ask for a copy of the workplace accident report. Medical records, safety violation notices, or equipment logs can also be helpful.

4. Contact a Construction Accident Attorney: Speaking with experienced Palm Beach Gardens construction injury attorneys early on can help you understand your rights, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure your claim is filed correctly. They can help you pursue workers’ comp, a personal injury claim, or both, depending on your situation. Remember, too, not to give a recorded statement to an insurance company without legal guidance.

Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has clear guidelines about safety protocols on construction sites, employers frequently ignore these or fall short of their obligations to workers. This can lead to significant accidents and injuries.

Some of the most common safety violations associated with construction accidents include:

• Inappropriate protection from hazards
• Lack of training
• Failing to maintain a safe job site
• Failing to warn about hazards
• Improper use of safety equipment

Common Construction Accidents

These forms of negligence often lead to some of the most common types of accidents, including:

• Defective equipment
• Forklift accidents
• Collapsed structures
• Falls
• Electrocutions
• Crane accidents
• Fires
• Explosions
• Falling objects
• Heavy machinery accidents

Unfortunately, many of the men and women who make their living in the construction industry in Palm Beach Gardens may be subject to significant or even fatal injuries as a result of a construction accident.

Your legal options following a construction accident depend on whether you were working as an employee or as a third party.

• If You’re an Employee: Injured employees are typically eligible for workers’ compensation, which covers medical bills, lost income, and other related costs. Since Florida follows a no-fault system for construction injuries, you don’t need to prove your employer was negligent to file a claim successfully.
• If You’re a Non-Employee: Independent contractors and other non-employee workers have fewer protections but may still be eligible for compensation through a third-party liability or personal injury claim, depending on the circumstances.

Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury Claims

Florida law (Chapter 440, Section 38) mandates that construction employers and subcontractors with at least one employee carry workers’ compensation insurance. This no-fault insurance covers medical costs, wage loss, and death benefits, and does not require any showing of employer negligence.

On the other hand, personal injury claims can be filed against third parties (but not your employer) when negligence is involved. These claims require proof that another party’s carelessness directly led to your injury.

Employer Negligence and OSHA Violations

In cases involving unsafe job conditions or OSHA violations, injured workers may be eligible to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Negligence can include failures in training, equipment maintenance, or general job site safety. While OSHA violations can strongly support your claim, they are not strictly necessary to prove negligence.

Construction Wrongful Death Claims

The construction industry in Florida sees the highest number of worker fatalities statewide, with 92 deaths reported in 2023 alone. Surviving family members may be able to file for workers’ comp death benefits to cover medical bills, lost income, and funeral expenses. In some cases, a wrongful death lawsuit may also be appropriate for pursuing further damages. An experienced attorney can guide your family through this process.

Do you have a valid case?

The best way to determine if you have a valid claim is to consult with a Palm Beach Gardens construction accident attorney. Before your consultation, try to gather the following:

• Your employer’s name
• Contact info for the site supervisor
• Date and location of the incident
• Equipment or tools involved
• Any signs of malfunction
• Conditions at the worksite
• Safety procedures in place at the time
• Any history of violations or citations

Providing this information will help a lawyer evaluate whether your injury resulted from a breached duty of care and if compensation is likely.

Having a knowledgeable lawyer on your side will ensure you have all of your questions answered promptly and that you have someone advocating for your best interests. As soon as possible after the accident, you need to relay your version of events to your attorney so that he or she can begin to evaluate the accident and develop a strategy for your case.

Given that there may be multiple parties responsible for your injuries, you need a lawyer who will work hard to explore all possible resolution avenues. They may do this by:

• Evaluating witness statements, video, or photos from the scene of the accident
• Reviewing your medical records and preparing medical expert witnesses to speak about the accident
• Preparing your case for settlement hearings or for trial
• Keeping you advised as your case unfolds in the courts
• Helping you determine whether or not a proposed settlement offer is fair

With vast knowledge and resources available to help investigate and prepare your claim, we work hard on behalf of injured employees at construction sites in Palm Beach Gardens. Do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with our team today. You may be able to recover compensation with the help of our experienced and dedicated Palm Beach Gardens construction injury attorneys.