Tacoma Construction Accident Lawyers

Fighting to Help Injured Workers Obtain the Fair Compensation They Deserve

As the Tacoma, WA, area grows, more construction sites pop up daily. However, with the steady rise in growth in our area, there also comes a greater risk of construction workers being injured in on-the-job accidents.

Unlike other injuries caused by accidents, injured construction workers cannot file a personal injury accident against their employers. Instead, Washington state law dictates that anyone who has suffered a work-related injury must file a workers’ compensation claim to cover medical expenses and lost wages.

However, an employer or their insurance company often tries to deny a workers’ compensation claim, leaving the injured worker scrambling to support themselves and deal with expensive medical bills.

South Sound Law Group of Tacoma, WA, is a law firm that has extensive experience helping construction workers obtain workers’ comp benefits or, depending on the circumstances, file a third-party lawsuit. Contact our law offices and ask to schedule a free initial consultation with a knowledgeable construction accident lawyer who will gladly review your case.

What are the Main Causes of Tacoma Construction Accidents?

Construction sites have a well-known reputation for being dangerous, as numerous pieces of heavy equipment often pose hazards, and many employees engage in activities that overlap, leading to accidents.

Nevertheless, there are several common factors frequently cited in accident reports, which include:

• Falls: The leading cause of construction site accidents is falling. Any type of fall, but especially those from heights, can result in severe or spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries
• Falling objects: Falling objects pose considerable danger to workers. Everyday falling objects include construction materials, tools, or heavy equipment parts
• Power tools: Often, workers are not professionally trained in the use of power tools, which can lead to them, or others being severely injured
• Hazardous materials: Exposure to hazardous or toxic substances can lead to physical issues that develop over time and cause chronic health conditions
• Slip and fall accidents: Uneven surfaces, scattered debris, and slippery surfaces can easily lead to accidents
• Caught-in-between accidents: Caught-in-between accidents occur when workers are trapped by collapsing walls or squeezed by heavy equipment

Other common accidents include overexertion brought on by job duties, work-related vehicle accidents, or electrocution.

Regardless of how you were injured, it is always wise to hire a skilled construction accident lawyer to assist you with filing a workers’ compensation claim.

What are the Most Common Injuries Sustained on Construction Sites?

The type of injuries sustained by construction workers may range from minor scrapes and bruises to serious injuries such as spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries.

Other common construction accidents include:

• Fractured or broken bones
• Eye injuries
• Facial trauma
• Burn injuries
• Head, neck, and back injuries

However, one of the most dangerous aspects of any accident on a construction site is the potential to suffer catastrophic injuries. Unfortunately, construction workers are more likely than any others in the workforce to sustain life-changing injuries while on the job. Injuries that stem from falls from heights, working with heavy equipment, and the potential to be trapped in caught-between accidents heighten the daily risks for workers.

Permanent or catastrophic injuries affect workers for the rest of their lives or prevent them from working. In most instances, an injured construction worker will require extensive medical treatment. Catastrophic injuries include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Amputations

If you are an injured construction worker, you must have skilled legal representation to help you recover compensation for your injuries. Contact our law office today to make an appointment to speak with a Tacoma construction accident lawyer who will professionally analyze your case and determine what legal strategies work best for your needs.

Can I File a Personal Injury Claim Against My Employer if I Have Been Injured in a Construction Accident?

One of the most frequently asked questions by injured workers is whether they can file personal injury claims against their employers. State law mandates that construction workers injured on the job cannot file personal injury claims to try and recover compensation. Instead, injured employees must file claims to try and recover workers’ compensation benefits to pay medical bills and lost income.

Workers’ compensation is a program that allows injured employees to receive essential financial and medical benefits without suing their employers. However, suppose your on-the-job-related injuries occurred due to a third party, such as an independent contractor. In that case, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible entity to try and recover additional financial compensation.

Nevertheless, filing a third-party lawsuit after being injured in a construction accident can be extraordinarily complex. Suppose a subcontractor or other negligent entity has injured you on the job site. In that case, it is always best to hire an experienced attorney to determine if your case warrants a third-party lawsuit.

Contact the personal injury lawyers of South Sound Law Group today to learn more about the benefits you may be entitled to receive and what we can do to help.

What Type of Compensation Can I Recover After Suffering Serious Injuries in a Construction Accident?

Workers injured on a construction site must first file a claim for workers’ compensation to try and recover benefits for their lost wages and to pay for medical expenses. Often, injured workers need to undergo medical treatments such as physical therapy or rehabilitation. 

Wage compensation, called “time-loss benefits,” pays between 60% to 75% of your monthly gross income during the accident. Monthly gross income includes your wages and health insurance benefits. Time loss benefits are also calculated based on your marital status and number of dependents.

However, if the factors in your case allow you to file a third-party lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering. For example, although an employer’s insurance company often pays workers’ comp benefits for PTSD that were directly caused by your injuries, including counseling and medication used to treat anxiety, it will not pay for the emotional distress you suffered.

Finally, filing a third-party lawsuit can also help you potentially recover financial compensation for physical pain, property damage, or personal property damaged in the course of an accident, if applicable to your case.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer to Help Me File an Injury Claim?

If you have been injured in a construction site accident, you should never try to file an injury claim without the help of a lawyer. Construction companies face numerous injury lawsuits annually and are concerned about decreasing costs. As a result, the construction company most likely has highly trained lawyers who know how to find loopholes to deny claims.

Some of the most frequent tactics that construction companies and their insurance providers use to get around paying claims include:

• Accuse you of causing the injury
• Allege that the injury is not work-related or the result of on-the-job horseplay
• The injury is the result of a pre-existing conditions not related to job duties
• Wrongfully terminate you so they can deny your workers comp claim

Because workers’ comp insurance providers face numerous yearly lawsuits, they try to do everything they can to deny or reduce claims. Therefore, obtaining qualified legal representation to help you with a construction accident case is always wise.

Allow our Tacoma construction accident lawyers to thoroughly review your case so that we may determine how best to serve your legal needs.

Why Should I Hire Your Tacoma Construction Accident Lawyers to Help Me Seek Compensation for My Injuries?

Workers’ compensation and construction accident cases are notoriously complex due to multiple liability aspects, and insurance companies are looking for ways to deny claims. When you come to South Sound Law Group for help, our personal injury lawyers will act as your legal advocate with the insurance provider to ensure you are treated fairly.

Our experienced attorneys recognize that injured workers need fair compensation to assist with their lost wages, medical bills, and resources to pay for injuries that require extensive medical treatment.

Suppose you have suffered catastrophic injuries that leave you with a permanent disability or require a significant recovery period. In that case, our lawyers will fight to help you seek maximum financial compensation to give you the peace of mind you deserve. Furthermore, if your case qualifies, we may be able to work to obtain compensation from independent contractors who may also have contributed to your injuries.

Our dedicated legal team has a proven track record of recovering client compensation and will provide aggressive legal representation to help you receive a fair settlement.

Contact South Sound Law Group at 253-465-2722 to schedule a free consultation with a construction accident lawyer who will gladly review your case.