Determining Fault After Your Construction Accident

Our Pittsburgh accident lawyers are aware of the fact that if you work in the construction trades, there is a high likelihood that you’ll be faced with a workplace injury at some point in your career. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics places construction sites near the top of the list when it comes to the most dangerous places to work.

After such an accident in Pittsburgh, construction workers can face serious pressure to accept a low insurance settlement, and may not even have sufficient workers’ compensation coverage.

If you are in need of an experienced construction accident lawyer in the Pittsburgh area, please contact Hal Waldman & Associates to learn more about your rights.

Construction Accident Liability

One of the most critical components of a successful construction accident lawsuit is the ability to determine who is at fault.

Finding out who is responsible for a construction accident can be a complicated task. The circumstances of every construction accident are unique, and may be the result of multiple factors. Without the aid of construction accident lawyers who know the laws and understand the common factors that often lead to these injuries, your chances of a successful case may be limited.

In order to determine who is responsible for a construction accident, the insurance adjuster and legal professionals will seek answers to some common questions:

• Accident location:  Because construction workers perform job duties in various locations, including the job site, vehicles and offices, the location of the incident is the first question to be answered.
• Conditions of the accident site:  If the conditions at the job site posed a known danger, the party responsible for keeping up with legal safety requirements can be held liable for the accident and any injuries that occurred.
• Equipment:  Equipment failures are a common cause of catastrophic injury on the job. Improperly maintained tools, defective parts, consumer fraud, or operator errors or misuse can all point to different responsible parties.
• Site security:  There are requirements for job sites to be kept safe and secure. If security measures are not taken, the responsible party could be the property owner, a negligent security company, or the premises manager.
• Employer:  Contractors and sub contractors may have complex contracts with the builder or owner. Your direct employer may be ultimately responsible for your injuries, or the responsible party could be another independent contractor, or the owner of the property. In some cases, responsibility may fall to more than one party.

The multitude of possible factors that can contribute to a construction accident, as well as the complex nature of the construction business, can make these cases difficult to untangle and pursue. Even if you are approved for worker’s compensation, it is wise to seek the advice of an experienced construction accident lawyer before filing your claim to make sure you are taking all of the steps necessary to protect your and your family’s best interests.

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in construction accident, please contact the Pittsburgh construction accident lawyers at Hal Waldman and Associates online or call (412) 338-1000 for a free consultation.