Did you get hurt while working on a construction site in Morgantown, West Virginia? Did someone else’s negligence contribute to the accident? If so, you should contact Robinette Legal Group, PLLC, right away. We can help you pursue a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury case to demand money for your losses.
Our Morgantown construction accident lawyers have more than 30 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured construction workers in West Virginia. Call or contact us online today for a free consultation with a construction site injury lawyer to learn more about how we can help you.
Construction Site Injury Statistics in West Virginia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, West Virginia construction and extraction workers had the second-highest number of fatal job-related injuries in one recent year. In total, 11 percent of workplace deaths in West Virginia occurred in the construction industry that year. Many more construction workers suffered severe injuries.
Occupational transportation accidents, many of which occur on construction sites, contributed to 42 percent of fatal occupational injuries statewide. Contact with equipment and objects came in second, representing 33 percent of fatal injuries that year.
Common Construction Site Injuries in Morgantown, WV
Since construction workers constantly encounter hazards on the job, they are at risk for severe occupational injuries. Construction site injuries can occur due to many types of accidents, including scaffolding collapses, machinery defects, and vehicle collisions.
Some examples of the most common construction injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Electric shocks
- Respiratory illnesses and other diseases from toxic exposure
- Loss of limbs
- Repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Blindness, vision impairments, and other eye injuries
- Burn injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including damage that results in paralysis
- Nerve and soft tissue injuries
What to Do After a Construction Injury
A construction accident can lead to devastating injuries that alter the course of your life. You might be unable to return to work or live independently during your recovery. Although you might feel overwhelmed by the traumatic experience, seeking immediate medical care is critical.
After you leave the construction site, you should go to the doctor for a thorough medical exam as soon as possible. Your doctor can diagnose your injuries and determine the types of treatment you need to heal. Your doctor can also document your initial visit in your medical records, which can help you link your injuries to the construction site accident.
If your doctor recommends follow-up care, you should follow their recommendations as closely as you can, including by attending all necessary medical appointments. Skipping appointments, allowing significant time between check-ups, or deviating from your care plan could hurt your workers’ compensation claim.
You’ll also need to notify your employer of your work-related injury immediately. If you have a workers’ comp claim, you should provide written notice within two working days of your injury. Waiting to inform your employer of an occupational injury could lead to unnecessary delays in your benefit payments or even the denial of your workers’ comp claim.
It’s also a good idea to keep copies of every medical record, bill, and other document related to your injury. Hold on to every record that proves the nature and severity of your injuries and any expenses you incur as a result. You can also start a journal to document your symptoms, indicate whether specific activities worsen your pain, and describe any physical limitations, such as an inability to walk or get dressed without assistance.
You should also avoid social media while your construction site injury claim is pending. It’s normal to want to share big life events with friends and family online, but your online activity could negatively affect your claim. The insurance carrier might review your public accounts for information to twist and use against you, so the best option is to stay offline until you get full compensation for your claim.
You should hire a construction site injury lawyer from Robinette Legal Group, PLLC. Pursuing compensation without an experienced legal team could mean walking away with far less than you deserve. Since insurance companies aim to save money, they often look for ways to deny or reduce the value of injury claims. At Robinette Legal Group, PLLC, we know the tactics insurers often use to avoid fair payouts. We can protect your rights and obtain strong evidence to prove you deserve compensation for your injury.
Compensation Available in West Virginia Construction Accident Claims
Construction site injuries are often severe and require ongoing medical treatment. If your employer participates in the system, you can file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer’s insurer to receive payments for your medical expenses and a portion of your income losses. Eligibility for benefits does not depend on fault.
Workers’ compensation law generally prohibits employees from suing their employers. Still, you might have grounds for a lawsuit against your employer if you got hurt because of your employer’s deliberate actions. In other words, you could sue if your employer acted deliberately, consciously, and intentionally to harm you.
You could also file a third-party claim or lawsuit against someone else if their negligence contributed to the accident. For example, a contractor outside your chain of employment might be liable for a slip-and-fall accident if they left tools in the middle of a walkway. Our attorneys can review your unique situation and identify all possible sources of compensation for your losses.
You could get compensation for the following types of losses from a construction third-party personal injury claim:
- Past and future medical costs
- Full payment of lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Liability in Construction Site Accidents
Your employer isn’t the only person responsible for your safety on a construction site. Multiple other parties could be liable in a construction accident claim, such as:
- Architects
- Safety managers
- Manufacturers and suppliers of machinery, tools, or materials
- Engineers
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Construction site managers and supervisors
- Property owners
Talk to an Experienced Construction Site Injury Attorney in Morgantown Today
If you got hurt in a Morgantown construction site accident, reach out to Robinette Legal Group, PLLC, so we can start working on your case immediately. We are ready to fight for the best possible outcome while you heal from your construction accident injuries. Contact us now for a free consultation with our dedicated construction site injury lawyers. We’re available 24/7 to take your call.
Call us today to find out how we can help you.
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