Stockton Construction Accident Lawyer
Anyone who has ever worked at a construction site in California understands the inherent safety risks. Construction is a dangerous business and workers often suffer serious, life-threatening injuries on the job. If you are one of those injured workers, the Stockton construction accident lawyers at Venardi Zurada LLP can advise you on how to receive full and just compensation for your losses.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Construction Accidents in Stockton?
According to the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are four major types of hazards that cause most construction accidents. These “Fatal Four” are:
- Falls: Construction workers often need to perform their jobs at altitude. This means relying on standing on ladders, scaffolding, and roofs for hours on end. Without property safety equipment and sturdy walking surfaces, a construction worker can fall and sustain severe injuries.
- Struck-By Hazards: It is not just people that can fall at a construction site. There are also falling objects that can strike workers and other persons from above. For example, a worker may drop a tool while working on scaffolding, striking a co-worker below in the head.
- Caught-Between Hazards: Another common construction accident scenario involves a worker trapped between two or more objects. For instance, a worker may get their hand or foot caught in a piece of machinery. These types of accidents often lead to amputation and other crush-related injuries.
- Electrocution: The typical construction site has a large number of live, exposed wires and other electrical components. It is far too easy for a worker to get electrocuted, which can lead to severe burn injuries or death.
There are a number of additional accident risks that fall outside the Fatal Four, such as motor vehicle accidents, fires and explosions, and even harmful exposure to hazardous chemicals and other substances.
Will Workers’ Compensation Be Enough?
Just about every construction worker in Stockton is covered–or should be covered–by California workers’ compensation. Under workers’ comp, an employer is responsible for providing medical and wage replacement benefits to any worker injured on the job. These are “no-fault” benefits, so the injured worker does not have to prove their employer was negligent as a condition of receiving compensation.
So long as a construction employer complies with its workers’ compensation obligations, the injured employee usually cannot file a separate personal injury lawsuit against that employer. However, workers’ comp does not cover potential third-party liability for a construction accident. For instance, if a reckless driver causes an accident at a job site, or a manufacturer sells a defective piece of construction equipment, an injured worker can file a personal injury claim against these (and potentially other) parties.
Reach Out to Our Stockton Construction Accident Lawyers
Construction accidents are often life-changing affairs. An injured worker may require months–and potentially years–of treatment and rehabilitation. And depending on the nature of the accident, there may be multiple parties with legal liability.
That is why it is essential to work with a Stockton construction accident attorney who knows the law in this area. If you, or someone in your family, has been injured at a construction site, call Venardi Zurada LLP today at (833) VZ FOR ME to schedule a free confidential consultation.