Construction Accident Lawyer
Serving West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Lake Worth and the Port St. Lucie, Florida area
Construction Accident Questions
Who is “OSHA”?
OSHA, an acronym for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a government agency charged with creating and implementing a wide variety of workplace health and safety rules to minimize or prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers' Compensation is a type of employer-paid insurance, mandated by the state, that provides medical care and cash compensation for work-related accidents such as construction injuries that cause temporary or permanent disability.
Workers‘ Compensation Law covers most types of employees. Death benefits are paid to the surviving spouse and/or dependents as the law requires. The Florida State Insurance Fund requires an accident report from your employer and a physician’s medical report proving your injury is work-related prior to paying benefits.
What should I do if I am injured in a construction accident?
- The first and most important thing is your health and safety. Seek immediate first aid or other medical treatment. Be sure to inform your medical provider that your injuries are work-related. After you have seen the medical provider required by your company, you may choose your own medical provider for further treatment. Failing to initially see the company’s mandated medical provider may invalidate your claim.
- Call the toll-free phone number your company has provided to initiate your claim.
- Notify your supervisor of your injury verbally and in writing within 30 days. Follow all other reporting procedures correctly to ensure you will be entitled to all Workers’ Compensation benefits. Generally speaking, you have 2 years from the date of your accident or your first knowledge of your injury to file a Workers Compensation claim.
- For many construction workers faced with injuries due to unsafe conditions, the assistance of a qualified Workers’ Compensation attorney is crucial in fighting for your rights.
Must every employer maintain work-related injury records?
Yes. In 1970, the OSH (Occupational Safety & Health) Act was passed. In part, the act states it is the employer’s responsibility to maintain injury, illness and death records each year for the workplace. OSHA uses these statistics to track workplace safety issues and bases new laws or changes to existing laws on this information. While records may not contain simple first-aid injuries, other injuries that require involving lost work time or death are included.
What are some common types of construction site injuries?
The most common construction site injuries, according to OSHA, are:
- Excavation cave-ins
- Power tool accidents
- Falls
- Electrical hazards
- Exposure to asbestos, lead, benzene, vinyl chloride and other volatile materials
How many constructions accidents occur each year?
These 2003 statistics from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics tell the story:
- More than 155,000 construction workers were seriously injured on-the-job
- 10% of all workers in the construction field were injured
- Falls accounted for most injuries
- 25% off construction accidents injure the back. Legs, arms and hands are also commonly injured
- 31 workdays were missed, on average, after an injury
What should I do if my workplace is unsafe?
If you believe your workplace is unsafe, immediately inform your supervisor verbally and in writing. In most cases, the safety hazard will be corrected. You can also file a complaint with your nearest OSHA office.
In West Palm Beach, Florida, The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, our construction accident lawyer in Palm Beach County has assisted many individuals dealing with hazardous working conditions. Don’t wait for an accident to happen. Please contact construction accident attorney in Florida, Craig Goldenfarb today to schedule a no-cost, confidential consultation.
OFFICE LOCATION: 2090 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Suite 402
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
1-800-GOLD-LAW
Call Toll Free 1-800-GOLD-LAW (465-3529)
The reader’s understanding of the information on this website about personal injury law does not constitute a formal legal relationship with the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. Please do not assume this content to be formal legal advice. If you would like to know if you have a valid personal injury case, please contact our construction accident lawyers in Palm Beach County at the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. today for a complimentary consultation regarding personal injury law in Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Port St. Lucie and Palm Beach County, Florida.
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