Who is Responsible for Construction Site Injuries?

Friday, August 30, 2013

Who is Responsible for Construction Site Injuries?

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

In construction site accidents that cause injuries, it’s often not just one party that can be held responsible for what caused the accident. It is for this reason that it’s usually beneficial to the victim to hire a personal injury attorney to seek compensation for the injury—an attorney has experience dealing with complicated cases such as construction accidents, where more than one person or entity can be held liable. So who can be held liable for injuries that happen at construction sites, and how can a personal injury lawyer help?

Construction Site Owners& Insurers

When an accident at a construction site happens, one of the first things to look at is whether the site owner is aware that they may be held liable for injuries that happen on their land. Insurance policies are generally required on major construction project sites, and if the landowner does not have premises or property liability insurance, they can be held accountable. Even if an insurance policy is in place, conditions at the site still need to be a safe place for people to work. Insurance companies are known for being difficult when dealing with claims, payouts and cases of injury, which is why getting a personal injury attorney involved is to your benefit if you have been injured while working at a construction site.

Construction Equipment Manufacturers

If an injury is caused by faulty equipment or defective supplies, the manufacturer or suppliers can be held responsible. Maintaining the equipment sometimes also falls on the manufacturers, so depending on the nature of the injury, the company may be held to product liability standards.

Contractors

Contractors are also required to maintain safe workplaces for workers. Hazards need to be correctly labeled, and OSHA standards must be upheld. If compliance with safety regulations is not maintained and someone gets hurt because of that, the contractors (general, sub-, and prime) can be held responsible for injuries. Personal injury attorneys have experience dealing with all types of construction site injuries, including ones that involve contractor liability, so it’s in your best interest to seek help if you’ve been hurt.

How Can Attorneys Help?

When you get hurt while working on a construction site, it can be difficult to figure out who to pinpoint as responsible for the injury happening. Personal injury attorneys will review all of the details of the incident and advise you the best course of action, as well as provide quality legal representation to do so.