St. Louis Construction Accident Lawyers – Free Consultation
Construction sites are dangerous for a number of reasons. Fortunately, there has been an increased focus on safety, leading many construction sites to pay more attention to their on-premise safety measures and making construction sites far safer environments than they were several years ago.
However, accidents still happen regardless of how many safety measures you put into place. Any time there are many people and moving parts in one concentrated area, as is the case on a construction site, there is the potential for injuries.
Construction site accidents can result in a range of injuries. Falling from a structure, getting hit with a falling object, electrocution, machinery-related injuries from vehicles or equipment, structural collapses, heat stroke and overexertion, and environmental factors leading to respiratory diseases are just the beginning of the list of things that can possibly happen on a construction site. With so much risk surrounding you, it’s important to know what to do in case you find yourself a victim in a construction site accident.
Working with a personal injury attorney is the best way to receive compensation for your medical expenses and the impact that your injury will have on the rest of your life.
The St. Louis construction accident attorneys at Niemeyer, Grebel and Kruse have represented members of labor unions throughout the Missouri and Illinois area who have been involved in construction site accidents for many years. Call us today for a free case review – (314) 350-1900.
How a personal injury attorney can help after your construction site injury
Suffering an injury on the worksite can turn your life upside down. Due to the dangerous nature of construction sites, injuries suffered at work can be quite serious.
Depending on your injury, you might be unable to return to work, which can stretch budgets and make it hard to provide for your family. Then, add medical bills, diminished quality of life and pain and suffering, and an already stressful situation can quickly become overwhelming.
The first place to start after suffering an injury at work is a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is a system that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job.
The benefits available through workers’ compensation can help you get the medical care you need and replace some of your lost income.
Many individuals who are involved in construction site accidents are typically entitled to workers’ compensation to help cover medical expenses associated with work-related injuries.
However, there are many cases in which workers’ compensation isn’t enough to pay for your medical bills and properly care for your injuries. Or, in other cases, your workers compensation claim may be denied. These are examples of when you need to get a personal injury attorney involved in your case.
Your attorney can do the heavy lifting with your workers’ compensation claim, managing your paperwork, handling communications with insurance companies and putting their experience to work with expediting your claim as quickly as possible. This will get you the compensation you deserve more quickly, while allowing you to focus on your recovery.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a construction site accident, call the attorneys at NGK Law today for a free case review – (314) 350-1900. We can review your case together and work with you to determine the best course of action.
What kind of compensation is available to construction site accident victims in Missouri?
As we mentioned above, if you were injured on the job, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes:
- Financial benefits to pay for medical bills and future care.
- Temporary partial disability (TPD). These are payments that an injured worker receives while they are recovering from their injuries. These benefits are typically a percentage of the worker’s regular salary.
- Temporary total disability (TTD). TTD payments are made to injured workers who are completely unable to work while they are recovering from their injuries.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD). These payments are made to workers who have suffered a permanent impairment as a result of their injury.
- Permanent total disability (PTD). If you are awarded PTD benefits, you will receive a monthly payment that will help you cover your costs until you die or are able to return to work.
Each benefit is capped based on the Missouri average weekly wage (AWW). However, workers’ compensation is only designed to compensate you for medical bills and lost wages. It does not cover any “non-economic” damages.
Non-economic damages are damages that are not related to your medical bills or lost wages. This can include damages for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. These damages are meant to compensate you for the impact that your injury has had on your life.
If your accident involved a negligent third party, you have the right to sue for broader damages, including:
- Lost earnings not available through workers’ comp, if your income exceeded the Missouri AWW
- Physical impairment
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Your personal injury lawyer can review the facts of your case with you and advise you on the best route to obtain compensation for your injuries.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after suffering a construction site injury?
For a workers’ compensation claim in Missouri, your injury must be reported in writing to your employer within 30 days of the accident or your discovery of the injury.
Then, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim with the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. If you wait longer than two years to file your claim, you may lose your right to receive benefits.
Worker’s compensation is a no-fault system. This means that you do not need to prove that anyone else was at fault for your injury, and you are likely able to receive compensation even if you were at fault for the accident.
However, if you’d like to pursue damages from a third party, the statute of limitations in Missouri for personal injury lawsuits is five years. This means you must make your claim within this time to recover damages from a third party.
How do I recover damages if someone else was at fault for my injury?
Collecting workers’ compensation prevents you from suing your employer after an injury on the job. However, you still have the right to seek damages from parties like:
- Coworkers
- Subcontractors
- Other construction companies
- Equipment manufacturers
In order to recover damages from these parties, you’ll have to prove negligence. In other words, they had a duty of care to protect you from injury but failed in that duty.
In the case of a coworker, this could be inattentive or malicious behavior at work leading to the accident that caused your injury. In the case of an equipment manufacturer, this could be a tool, material or piece of heavy equipment that failed during normal usage and caused your injury. In that case, you might have grounds for a product liability lawsuit.
Speak with your attorney about the details of your case, and they can advise on the best route for seeking damages from a negligent third party. Call the construction site accident attorneys at NGK Law today for a free case review – P:S.
What makes construction sites so dangerous?
Job sites can be extremely dangerous places. There are a variety of dangers that construction workers face on a daily basis, including:
- Falling from heights. Falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers. In fact, more construction workers die from falls than any other type of accident. Falls can occur from any height, but are most common when working on scaffolding, ladders, or roofs.
- Being hit by falling objects. Construction workers can be injured or killed when they are hit by a falling object. Some common objects that can cause injuries include tools, materials, and debris.
- Electrocution. Electrocution is one of the leading causes of death in construction workers. It can occur when workers come into contact with live wires, and it often happens when workers are working on or near power lines.
- Machinery accidents. Some common types of machinery accidents include: Being hit by a moving vehicle or equipment, getting trapped in between moving parts, fingers being crushed in between gears and arms being caught in between moving belts.
- Structural collapses. This is a very real danger at construction sites. This can occur when the support beams or columns give way, when the roof or walls cave in or when the foundation cracks and sinks.
- Heat stroke and overexertion. This can also occur when workers are overexerted from working in high temperatures or being given inadequate access to shade and water.
- Respiratory diseases from environmental factors. This typically takes the form of Mesothelioma, a cancer that develops as a result of exposure to asbestos.
Above all, one of the biggest dangers at a construction site is the sheer number of people working at once. With so many people in one area, it’s easy for something to go wrong.
There are also a lot of moving parts, and it’s easy to get injured.
Work with a union strong team that gets results
When interviewing attorneys to represent you in your construction injury case, it’s important to select a team that has a proven track record of success in cases like yours and inspires confidence.
Because of NGK Law’s long standing relationship with various labor unions, our attorneys have garnered extensive experience with handling construction site accidents and representing injured individuals. As a team, NGK Law boasts a 98% success rate, having recovered more than $700 million for clients we have represented.
With two 2022 Best Lawyers honorees and a Top 50 honoree in the category of plaintiff’s personal injury by Super Lawyers, you know you’ll have experience and expertise on your side.
If you or a loved one was injured in a construction site accident, contact the construction site accident attorneys at NGK Law today at (314) 350-1900.
Have Questions?
WE HAVE ANSWERS
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How common are construction site injuries in Missouri?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction workers are one of the most at-risk groups for work-related injuries. In fact, construction workers have a fatality rate that is more than four times higher than the national average.
It’s important to be aware of the many minor injuries that can occur at a construction site. Some of these injuries include:
- Cuts from sharp objects
- Burns from hot materials
- Injuries from falling objects
- Strains and sprains from lifting heavy objects
If not promptly addressed and treated, these injuries can worsen or become chronic over time. Then, the BLS cites the below as some of the most common serious injuries sustained at construction sites:
- Fractured bones
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
These catastrophic injuries can result in long-term health problems, and in some cases, they can be fatal.
If you have suffered a construction accident injury, it is important to seek legal assistance right away. The attorneys at NGK Law have years of experience representing injured construction workers, and we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free case evaluation – (314) 350-1900">(314) 350-1900.
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Can I sue another construction company’s employee for their negligence in causing my construction site injuries?Yes, if another construction company’s employee had a duty to act in a safe or reasonable manner on the site and their negligence was responsible for your injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation from them.
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Is there anything that can be obtained for my injuries in a construction site accident other than workers compensation?
Yes, in addition to worker’s compensation, you may also be eligible to obtain compensation from a construction injury through a negligence or product liability claim.
A negligence claim can arise when someone else had a duty to act in a reasonable or safe manner towards you, they failed to perform that duty and you were injured as a result. If you were injured as a result of a poorly designed or manufactured piece of equipment, you may be eligible to file a product liability claim.
What Our Clients Are Saying
NGK Has A National Reputation for Helping the Injured Obtain the Compensation They Deserve
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David Grebel has handled several cases for me, always professionally and with a positive outcome. I always felt in the loop. I felt like a person not a number.- Susie W.
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I really appreciated Dave's kindness and thoughtfulness and especially his patience with me throughout my lawsuit.- Gladys R.
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Very responsive and they help you in any way they can. Michael Kruse has handled many cases for me and he is very professional and will fight for you every time.- Matthew G.
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Initially, I was reluctant to bring a lawsuit, but Dave answered all my questions and helped me through the process. I really appreciate all he did to get me what I deserved.- Lou P.
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Absolute professionals of the highest caliber. There's no one else I would recommend to friends or family!- Robert K.
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Dave Grebel is the go-to guy. He has handled cases for my friends and family, always with a positive outcome!- Bryan H.
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Second time using NGK. Took care of me both times! Will use and recommend again! 5 stars!!- Tony B.
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Dawn Schneithorst definitely worked hard for me and my siblings. She deserves a raise. They have me for a lifetime if we ever need them again.- Paige B.