Huntsville Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction Accident Attorney In Huntsville
Huntsville, Decatur, and Athens are three of the fastest growing cities in the country. If you live in Madison County, Morgan County, or Limestone County then you have noticed new office buildings, neighborhoods, and other development projects. All these new projects are made possible by hardworking construction workers.
Construction workers trust that their contractors and employers will keep them safe. Unfortunately, some companies put profits before worker safety and treat the construction workers as disposable. Construction workers are left to work in unsafe environments for long hours, and this often results in serious accidents.
Everyone living in North Alabama knows that we have a major shortage of skilled and qualified workers. Because of the worker shortage, many construction companies are hiring unqualified workers. This makes construction sites even more dangerous.
Scaffolding Accidents
When construction crews are working on tall buildings, scaffolding comes in handy and helps repair the building or carry on the construction. Unfortunately, some of these structures are poorly constructed and are not as safe and secure as they should be. This causes the scaffolding to tilt, shake or collapse, causing scaffolding accidents and serious harm to the workers on or around scaffolding.
It is important to keep vehicles and heavy equipment clear of scaffolding, regularly inspect the scaffolding, and pay attention to the specific load bearing capabilities of the scaffolding.
Huntsville Accident Lawyers Who Answer Questions
Because we care, we have created informational guides to answer all your legal questions after an accident
Fatal Falls
According to the CDC, falls are the top cause of work-related deaths in the construction industry. Construction sites usually have raised structures and are full of dangerous debris that can cause slip-and-fall accidents. For instance, when a construction worker slips and falls, they can land on machinery, dangerous debris, and nearby tools.
Crush Injuries
Most construction sites are elevated, and the company must build structures up to give workers access to the higher levels. When the crew is working above ground, there’s an increased risk of dropping tools, small machines, or construction materials, causing devastating injuries to the workers below or bystanders.
Dangerous Equipment
Construction machinery is often complex, which is why it should only be operated by experienced equipment operators. Unfortunately, construction companies often allow uncertified and unqualified employees to handle the equipment without any prior training.
Trench Cave-Ins
Trenches within the construction site sometimes collapse, and workers inside it could be trapped inside or sustain serious injuries due to the falling debris. Every trench cave-in accident is preventable. Trench cave-ins can be prevented by taking proper safety precautions.
Who Is Responsible for a Construction Accident?
If you work with a construction company that has workers’ compensation insurance, you’re entitled to receive benefits without having to prove fault. Unfortunately, in Alabama, many employers are not required to carry worker’s comp if they classify workers as independent contractors and pay them with a 1099 tax form. However, even if your employer calls you an independent contractor, you may still be entitled to worker’s comp benefits.
There are other possible sources of recovery in construction accident cases. Some of the responsible parties in construction site accidents include:
- Contractors or relevant third parties: most construction jobs are collaborative, and it’s not uncommon for your employer to use other contractors. If this third party is responsible for the accident, they should be held liable and pay for injuries.
- Your employer: employer negligence is common in construction sites and usually results in serious accidents. Negligence, in this case, could be in the form of failure to provide workers with the necessary training, lack of proper supervision, improper maintenance of the machines, etc.
- Product manufacturers: this is mostly for situations where your injuries are a result of toxic chemicals in their products or due to defective tools. This type of case is called product liability.
- Property owners: if they created hazardous working conditions due to negligence, you could file a claim a premises liability case against the property owner.
- Construction accidents are often complex, which is why you should hire a Huntsville construction accident lawyer to help you with your case. Call Garnett Patterson Injury Lawyers at 256-539-8686 to speak to us as you decide on the right construction accident lawyer for your case.