Construction workers in Lafayette, Louisiana have certain legal protections when injured on the job. They can receive compensation from one or more sources depending on the circumstances of their construction accident and injury. However, it can be difficult to receive the benefits you are entitled to by law.
Our Lafayette construction accident lawyer at Kenny Habetz Injury Law is here to help. We’re not afraid to take on insurance companies and large defense firms to protect your right to fair compensation for injuries on a construction site. Attorney Kenny Habetz has won millions for our deserving clients.
Call Kenny Habetz Injury Law at (337) 399-9000 for a free consultation with a construction accident attorney in Lafayette, LA.
How Our Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You With a Construction Accident Case
Were you hurt on a construction site in Lafayette, LA? If so, our award-winning personal injury attorneys at Kenny Habetz Injury Law can help you maximize your recovery.
Kenny Habetz Injury Law is a top-rated, awarding-winning Lafayette personal injury law firm. We use our experience, skills, and knowledge to get you the compensation you deserve. Attorney Habetz has been recognized by numerous professional organizations in the legal field, including Expertise.com, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you choose us to handle your case, we will:
- Investigate your workplace accident to determine how you were injured
- Analyze the evidence and applicable laws to determine all legal options to recover money for damages
- Explain your legal options, including the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim and personal injury claim
- Work with expert witnesses to gather additional evidence to strengthen your case
- Document your damages to calculate how much your damages are worth
- Prepare and file claims and lawsuits
- Aggressively negotiate settlements and pursue jury verdicts for the total value of your injury claim
Construction sites can be dangerous for workers and bystanders. An industrial accident can cause catastrophic injuries with life-altering consequences. We can help you navigate the process of receiving compensation for your construction injuries.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case analysis with an experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyer.
Construction Site Injuries Are Common and Often Fatal
The construction industry is consistently ranked as the most dangerous industry for worker fatalities. It ranks in the top 10 for nonfatal injuries. In 2020 and 2021, the construction industry had the highest number of preventable work injuries based on sector.
Common injuries sustained by construction workers include, but are not limited to:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Loss of limbs and amputations
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injury
- Eye injuries and vision loss
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Neck and back injuries
- Nerve damage and soft tissue injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Hearing loss
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Shoulder injury
- Severe burns
Construction accidents account for thousands of worker deaths and injuries each year. Many workers sustain permanent impairments that can prevent them from returning to work or earning the same income they did before the construction accident.
How Much Is My Lafayette Construction Accident Case Worth?
The factors in your case determine how much money you could receive for a construction accident claim. Considerations that play a role in the value of your injury claim include, but are not limited to:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Whether you are eligible for workers’ comp benefits
- Being able to return to work or perform another type of work
- Sustaining a permanent impairment, disability, scarring, or disfigurement
- Having the grounds for a personal injury claim or third-party claim
- Your out-of-pocket costs for medical bills and other expenses
- How your injuries impacted your quality of life
Typically, the value of damages increases as the severity of the injuries increases. However, other factors could impact how much money you receive.
The best way to know how much your construction accident claim is worth is to call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free appointment with a Lafayette construction accident attorney.
Our Lafayette Personal Injury Law Firm Handles All Types of Construction Accident Cases
Construction accidents involve numerous situations and circumstances. Our Lafayette injury lawyers represent clients who have been injured in construction accidents involving:
- Falling debris or objects
- Scaffolding accidents
- Trenching accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Building collapse
- Hoist and crane accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Injuries caused by defective tools or equipment
- Electrocutions and electrical accidents
- Explosions and fires
- Exposure to toxic or hazardous substances
- Struck-by accidents
- Caught-in/between accidents
Report construction accidents and injuries to your employer immediately. Seek prompt medical treatment. Timely medical care helps prove the accident caused your injuries, which is essential to receive benefits and compensation.
Common Causes of Construction Accidents in Louisiana
Sadly, most of the injuries on construction sites are preventable. Negligence, carelessness, and intentional acts cause most work-related injuries on job sites.
Common causes of injuries on a construction site include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to follow safety regulations and procedures
- Inadequate training and/or supervision
- Inexperience working on a construction site
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Distractions and failure to keep a proper lookout
- Working on unsecured structures
- Defective equipment and tools
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals and substances
- Lack of fall protection for workers
- Exposed wiring and damaged cords
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Improperly secured cranes, ladders, and scaffolding
- Entrapment between or under materials or heavy equipment
- Dangerous property conditions
Determining the factors that led to your construction accident is crucial. It determines whether you are limited to filing a worker’s compensation claim or pursuing a personal injury claim for negligence or intentional torts.
What Compensation Can I Receive For a Construction Accident in Lafayette, LA?
The compensation you receive for a Lafayette construction accident depends on the type of workplace injury you sustain. It also depends on the circumstances that led to your accident.
Workers’ Compensation for Construction Accidents
Most employers are required by law to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Workers’ comp covers work-related injuries that occur during the ordinary course of employment.
Workers’ compensation benefits can include the following:
- Medical treatment at no cost to the employee.
- Mileage to and from medical appointments.
- Wage replacement if you cannot work because of your injuries. You do not receive reimbursement for all loss of income. Wage benefits equal approximately two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to the state-approved maximum amount.
- Supplemental earnings benefits if you can return to work on light duty. The benefits equal two-thirds of the difference between what you earned before and after the accident.
- Vocational rehabilitation and retraining programs.
- Disability payments if you sustain a permanent impairment or disabling condition.
- Death benefits for surviving family members of a worker who dies because of a construction accident.
Workers’ comp does not compensate an injured construction worker for pain and suffering or all lost wages. Generally, employees cannot sue their employer for a work-related injury covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, in some cases there may be another option to receive full compensation.
Personal Injury Lawsuits for Construction Accidents
Suppose a third party caused or contributed to your construction site injuries. In that case, you might have a claim under one or more personal injury laws, including negligence, product liability, premises liability, or strict liability. Examples of parties who could be liable for a construction injury include equipment manufacturers, motorists, contractors, and property owners.
A third-party claim for a construction accident can result in substantial compensation. Personal injury claims can include awards for full compensation of economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Loss of quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Nursing and personal care
- Diminished earning capacity
- Physical pain
- Loss of consortium claims
- Rehabilitation therapies
- Impairments and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Unlike a workers’ comp claim, you must prove the legal elements of a personal injury claim. You have the burden of proving the other party caused your injury and that you sustained damages because of the party’s conduct. Furthermore, you must prove the value of your damages.
In addition, Louisiana’s comparative fault laws apply in a personal injury case. If you are partially to blame for causing your injury, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Therefore, if you were 40% to blame for the construction accident, you would only receive 60% of the value of your damages.
What Is the Deadline for Filing Claims for Construction Accidents in Lafayette, LA?
You have 30 days to report an injury to your employer. However, it is best to report the injury or accident as soon as possible to avoid problems with your benefits.
Louisiana has one of the shortest statutes of limitation for personal injury claims. Most third-party claims must also be filed within two years of the injury date (effective as of July 1, 2024). Construction accidents prior to July 1, 2024 are subject to a one-year statute of limitations.
Failing to file a claim before the deadline means you lose the right to pursue legal action. The best way to avoid missing a filing deadline is to contact our Lafayette construction accident lawyer as soon as possible after an injury or accident at work.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Lafayette Construction Accident Lawyer
We help you recover the benefits and compensation you are entitled to receive after an on-the-job injury. Call our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with our experienced Lafayette accident attorney. Our legal team stands with injured workers to help them recover fair compensation after a job site injury.
Our Lafayette, LA personal injury law office also provides:
- Car Accident Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Boating Accident Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Brain Injury Lawyer in Lafayette, LA
- Maritime Injury Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Premises Liability Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Truck Accident Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Workplace Accident Lawyer in Lafayette, LA
- Wrongful Death Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Product Liability Attorney in Lafayette, LA
