San Francisco Construction Accident Lawyer

Since the Great Recession of 2009, the construction industry has been booming. Still, today demand is outpacing the number of construction crews available, making the industry very attractive and lucrative to workers. At the same time, however, safety standards have declined and every day, construction workers face hazardous situations due to budgets, time limits, and a lack of oversight.

Just one accident on a construction site can forever change a number of lives. The injuries construction workers suffer are usually some of the most serious. Our San Francisco construction accident lawyer can help you file a workers’ compensation claim or file a claim against a third party.

Common Causes of Injury in Construction

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are some causes of injury and death in the construction industry that are more common than others. These include:

• Falling
• Struck-by incidents
• Electrocution
• Caught-in/between incidents

The above are referred to as the ‘Fatal Four’ by the OSHA because they play a continuing role in construction industry deaths. A failure to observe safety standards such as using fall protection, respiratory protection, and fall protection are just a few other of the most common causes of injury in construction.

Workers’ Compensation After a Construction Injury

The most common route for claiming compensation after a construction injury is workers’ compensation. All employers in California are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, even if they have just one employee. The California Division of Workers Compensation (DWC) makes it easy to follow a claim with just a few steps. If you are successful with your claim, you can obtain benefits for the following:

• All necessary and reasonable medical treatment
• Future medical care
• Temporary disability benefits
• Permanent disability benefits
• Supplemental job displacement benefits
• Death benefits for surviving family members

While filing a workers’ comp claim is fairly easy, you should always still work with a San Francisco construction accident lawyer. The insurer or your employer may deny your claim, and you may need to appeal the decision.

Personal Injury Claims After a Construction Accident

In certain instances, you may have to file a personal injury claim rather than a workers’ compensation claim. This is often the case when someone not related to your employer caused your injury. For example, if you were injured by a piece of construction equipment that was defective, you may have to file a personal injury claim against the manufacturer rather than a workers’ compensation claim.

While the personal injury process can be more complex than the workers’ compensation system, you can also obtain more in compensation. For example, while a personal injury claim can provide damages for your pain and suffering, a workers’ compensation claim will not.

Our Construction Accident Lawyer in San Francisco Can Explain Your Legal Options

After a construction accident, you may have many legal options but it is not always easy to determine which one is right for you. At Venardi Zurada, our San Francisco construction accident lawyer can advise on the facts of your case and help you through the appropriate process. Call us today at (833) 893-6763 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal help you need.

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