Phoenix Construction Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries on a construction site, a Phoenix construction accident lawyer from our team can help you understand your options. You could have more than one way to recover compensation for your medical care, lost income, and other losses. You could have a workers’ compensation claim, a negligence-based case against a subcontractor, or a case against the property owner.
Your rights and options depend on what caused your injuries. At Gallagher & Kennedy, our attorneys provide free consultations for construction accident claimants. We want to discuss what happened and explain how we can seek financial justice. Contact us today to learn more.
Our Phoenix Construction Accident Attorneys Represent Injured Workers
We handle a wide range of construction accident cases. If you work for a Phoenix employer, you likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, this usually does not cover all of your damages. A third-party case against another liable party might be possible, too. This could offer compensation for damages not covered by workers’ compensation, like pain and suffering.
Our attorneys handle many high-profile cases and recover record-setting payouts for our clients. We are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with any corporation or liable party. We have the resources of a large firm, but we give each case the attention to detail it needs. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to build a strong case while keeping your needs and objectives in focus.
What You Can Expect From Our Injury Lawyers
When we handle a Phoenix construction accident case, we can:
- Assess your options for seeking compensation
- Answer your questions and provide regular updates
- Gather evidence and develop strong support for your claim
- Protect your rights and manage your case
- Pursue a payout based on your injuries
- Fight for your best interests throughout the claims process
We are a contingency-fee law firm. We represent our clients with no upfront fees. We will not ask you to pay a retainer or contribute to any costs necessary in your case until we secure a settlement or verdict. We only charge attorney’s fees as a percentage of your payout. If you do not get paid, neither do we.
Let Our Phoenix Construction Accident Lawyer Pursue Damages in Your Case
Our personal injury attorneys want to help you recover compensation for your expenses and losses. We believe injured victims should not have to pay for medical care or cover lost income when someone else’s negligence caused their injuries. We can identify the liable party (or parties) in your case and seek financial recovery.
We Build Your Case Using Evidence
The evidence in these cases often disappears quickly. After all, it’s not to the property owner’s or general contractor’s advantage to preserve any evidence on the site after an injury occurs. This makes it imperative to have your attorney, an OSHA inspector, or another party investigate the scene as soon as possible.
Supporting information in your case may comprise:
- Eyewitness statements
- Photos or videos of the accident scene (or the accident itself)
- Any official reports filed by first responders
- Relevant medical records
- OSHA inspector findings
- Records of similar incidents or injuries
- Documentation of your injury-related damages
Experts usually play a key role in construction accident cases, too. We work with experts to better understand what happened, the injuries the accident caused, and how this incident could affect your future. Our team has a network of experts we call on when necessary in these cases.
Some of our field consultants include:
- Construction industry experts
- Safety experts
- OSHA inspectors and experts
- Medical experts
- Economists
- Vocational rehabilitation experts
Once we have a strong enough case to move forward with the claim, we approach the liable parties through their insurer or legal team and demand fair compensation. This could lead to a settlement, which is the most common way we secure compensation for our clients.
We Keep Litigation an Option for Construction Accident Claimants
Under some circumstances, we need to sue one or more liable parties. There are several reasons why this could occur.
Some reasons why we might sue in a Phoenix construction accident case include:
- The deadline to sue is approaching.
- The insurer will not offer a fair payout.
- There are significant disputed facts in the case.
- Punitive damages could be available.
- There are other reasons why our attorneys recommend it.
Under state law, our attorneys usually have two years from when our client suffered injuries to begin a civil case in court. We need to file the initial paperwork and begin our lawsuit before this deadline. There are exceptions, but missing this deadline generally means losing the right to sue. We always try to meet the applicable deadlines in our clients’ cases, as this protects their right to seek fair compensation.
We Determine Liability for Your Injury-Related Losses
Some law firms shy away from construction accident cases because they’re rarely straightforward. There are often complex issues related to liability, laws protecting employers, and how construction sites operate. Many of these claims and lawsuits involve multiple companies, contractors, subcontractors, and more.
At Gallagher & Kennedy, we want our clients to recover full compensation for their losses when possible. We know workers’ compensation doesn’t offer compensation for every injury-related loss. This is why we focus on pursuing third-party claims for our clients.
Holding a third party legally responsible requires us to identify what happened, build a case against the at-fault party, and demand compensation based on the evidence we collected.
We may find one or more of these parties owes compensation for your losses:
- The property owner
- The general contractor
- A subcontractor
- An equipment manufacturer
- A supplier
- Others on the property
We Learn the Cause of Your Construction Accident and Injuries
To determine if you have a viable third-party claim for compensation, we need to determine what happened and who caused your injuries. There are many causes of construction site accidents, so identifying the exact cause is essential. It is also worth noting that state law prevents you from suing your employer in these cases. Even if your employer’s negligence caused your injuries, you can generally only seek damages through workers’ compensation.
We cannot know your options until we dig into the cause of your injuries, though.
We often find that injuries occur because of:
- Another party’s lack of training or experience
- Someone else’s disregard for safety
- Defective tools or equipment
- Negligence
Many assume they cannot take legal action if they receive workers’ compensation, but this is untrue. We can often take civil action against a liable third party. Our attorneys are very familiar with how liability works in these cases. We can look into what happened and identify all the potentially liable parties. This allows us to determine if you have the option to file a civil claim on top of pursuing workers’ compensation benefits.
Damages Recoverable in a Phoenix Construction Accident Case
The recoverable damages in these cases depend greatly on the facts and circumstances. In many cases, workers employed by construction companies have access to workers’ compensation. However, state law allows you to pursue a third-party case against another liable party regardless of your access to these benefits.
This could allow you to seek compensation in your construction accident case that pays for:
- Your related medical treatment, medications, and equipment
- Any necessary ongoing or future care and support
- Lost income while your injuries keep you out of work
- Diminished earning capacity if you cannot return to your career
- Miscellaneous-related expenses, such as childcare arrangements
- Pain and suffering
A third-party claim is the only way to get compensation for the pain and suffering you endured because of your accident and injuries. This non-economic damage could be worth as much—or several times more—than your financial expenses and losses.
State law also supports filing a wrongful death action if your loved one passed away from their injuries, and the case supports a third-party claim. Our attorneys represent families in wrongful death claims and can review your options during a free case review. Contact us as soon as possible to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Accidents
Many clients come to us and ask:
How Do Construction Accidents Happen?
Most construction accidents occur because of someone’s careless or reckless behavior. An individual or company acts negligently, leading to injuries, expenses, and possibly loss of life for another. Many types of construction jobs require intense focus and keeping safety as the top priority. When one person makes a seemingly minor mistake, the consequences could be profound for those affected.
Some ways negligence causes construction site injuries include:
- Scaffolding and ladder accidents
- Electrical hazards
- Falling materials or tools
- Forklift accidents
- Crane collapses
- Trip and falls
- Nail gun injuries
- Defective power tools, machines, or equipment
- Exposure to hazardous materials
- Ditch and excavation collapse injuries
- Welding and cutting accidents
- Traffic accidents onsite, such as pedestrian collisions
Our team can determine how your accident happened and then pursue damages from the responsible party. We can seek damages even if you don’t see your specific situation listed above.
What Is OSHA? How Does It Apply to My Situation?
If you work on construction sites, you’re likely familiar with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Created in 1970 by federal law, OSHA protects workers in dangerous industries, including construction. OSHA standards provide guidelines for ensuring construction workers have a safe working environment.
In many cases, we can identify how property owners, the general contractor, or others violated OSHA standards, which contributed to our client’s injuries. This is not necessary to hold the liable party legally responsible, but it can support our client’s case and financial recovery. When OSHA investigates an incident, we can benefit from the evidence it uncovers, too.
What Are Some Common Types of Injuries on Construction Sites?
Our attorneys at Gallagher & Kennedy know how dangerous construction work can be. We have represented clients who suffered catastrophic injuries in falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolding, and other elevated areas. We have experience with cases involving live electrical wires, falling materials, and heavy equipment. We know how often these injuries can change someone’s life in an instant.
Some common construction site injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Joint injuries, including to the knees and ankles
- Wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries
- Burns
- Electrocution
- Lung injuries from exposure to chemicals
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries, including severe concussions
- Concussions
- Eye injuries
- Lacerations and abrasions
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Construction Accident Case?
How long it’ll take to resolve your case depends on your situation. We hope to resolve your case as soon as possible by presenting compelling evidence and outlining your injuries’ cause. Still, the liable insurer or construction company may contest certain aspects of your case, hoping to save money and deny liability.
We do everything possible to keep your case moving forward. We prevent any unnecessary complications from delaying your case.
Discuss Your Phoenix Construction Accident Case With Our Team
Robert W. Boatman, Phoenix Construction Accident Attorney
Gallagher & Kennedy provides free consultations for those who have suffered injuries on Phoenix construction sites. We can explain your options, including workers’ compensation and third-party claims. We might sue a liable third party on your behalf, holding them legally responsible for your injuries and damages. Your options ultimately depend on your situation.
Contact us now by dialing (602) 530-8400. We offer free case assessments and have someone available to discuss your case 24/7.
Client Testimonial
“I am very happy that Matt Boatman was my attorney. Was there to answer any questions also his staff was fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a better attorney.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Amy Tracey
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Galleger & Kennedy – Phoenix Office
2575 E Camelback Rd, Suite 1100
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Tel: (602) 530-8400