There’s always a risk of getting hurt on the job. The risk of injury is even greater when you work on a dangerous construction site.
If you or a loved one were injured in a construction accident in Escondido, CA, Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers knows how to protect your right to compensation. With an experienced Escondido construction accident lawyer on your team, you’re much more likely to recover full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our lawyers have over 20 years of experience protecting clients like you. We’ve already recovered over $40 million in settlements and verdicts. Contact our personal injury law firm serving Escondido, California, at (619) 344-0360 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help with your case.
How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Construction Accident in Escondido
Getting full compensation after a construction injury can be tough. Who was responsible for your injuries? What are your rights under workers’ comp laws? Are the benefits you’re receiving fair?
Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to help you navigate the entire process.
When you hire our Escondido personal injury attorneys, you’ll gain a strong advocate to:
- Determine who is liable for your injuries
- File your initial workers’ compensation claim
- Determine the types of workers’ comp benefits you should be receiving
- Calculate the value of your workers’ compensation claim
- Defend against any challenges to your workers’ comp benefits
- Hire experts and specialists to back up your claims
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full settlement
- Advocate for your rights in court and in any workers’ comp hearings
We know that one simple mistake in the paperwork can jeopardize your right to compensation. Contact our Escondido personal injury lawyers to schedule a free case review to learn more.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in California?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private industry employers in California reported about 419,300 workplace injuries in 2022. Overall, 26,300 of those injuries happened in the construction industry.
Unfortunately, many construction injuries are catastrophic or fatal. The construction and extraction occupation had the second-highest number of workplace fatalities in 2022, with 80 reported deaths.
In fact, research shows that construction workers are about 5.57 times more likely to die in a work-related accident than non-construction workers.
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how dangerous the construction industry can be. We handle all types of construction injury cases, including those involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Scaffolding accidents
- Building collapse
- Falls from roofs, ladders, and other heights
- Trucking and motor vehicle accidents
- Electrocution and electrical shock
- Fires and explosions
- Heavy machinery accidents, including crane and forklift accidents
- Defective tools and equipment
- Trenching accidents
- Falling objects
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Welding accidents
- Contractor negligence
If you were injured on the job in Escondido, we’re here to help you understand your legal options. We know how to get the most compensation possible after a workplace injury. Just call our law offices and set up a free consultation today.
What Is My Escondido Construction Accident Case Worth?
The value of your claim for compensation depends on multiple factors, including:
- The nature of your disability
- The duration of your recovery period
- Your average weekly wages prior to the disability
- Whether you can earn any income during your recovery
- Whether you will return to work in the same capacity after recovering fully
- The identity of the responsible party
- The cost of your medical treatment and out-of-pocket expenses
Workers’ compensation benefits for temporary disability cover about ⅔ of your average wages prior to the injury. Permanent disability benefits are based on a formula based on your impairment level, age, and occupation.
How Do I Get Compensation After a Construction Accident Injury in California?
Injured construction employees have two primary options for recovering compensation: workers’ compensation and personal injury lawsuits.
Workers’ Compensation
Under California workers’ compensation laws, you’re entitled to benefits if you were injured due to one event at work, such as an accident. You can also receive benefits if you were harmed due to repeated exposures in the workplace.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system. Nearly every California employer must purchase workers’ comp insurance. With limited exceptions, you’re entitled to benefits regardless of who or what caused your injuries.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Employers who purchase workers’ compensation insurance are protected against the risk of lawsuits. So, you cannot sue your employer for damages if they were responsible for your injuries. You may have the right to sue a negligent third party.
Examples of possible third-party defendants include:
- General contractors or subcontractors responsible for workplace safety
- Negligent drivers who cause car or trucking accidents
- Manufacturers of defective work equipment
- Property owners who fail to maintain their premises
Your rights under California personal injury laws depend entirely on the identity of the at-fault party in your case.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Escondido?
The types of damages you can recover depend on the laws that apply in your case.
Damages Under California’s Workers’ Compensation System
Workers’ compensation provides the following benefits:
- Reasonable medical care related to the injury
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits if your injury permanently prevents you from working
- Supplemental job displacement benefits to help pay for job retraining if you don’t fully recover and don’t return to work for your former employer
- Death benefits in fatal injury cases
You’re entitled to disability benefits if you cannot perform your usual job for at least three days or if you were hospitalized overnight. Further, to get reimbursed for medical expenses, workers comp may restrict the doctor you can visit if you didn’t predesignate a doctor before you were injured.
Damages Under California Personal Injury Laws
In a personal injury case, you can seek compensation for the full value of any economic damages and non-economic damages you suffered.
Examples include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Your complete lost wages, including diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental trauma and PTSD
- Chronic pain
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Construction accident injuries always have the potential to be severe. It’s important to secure the full compensation you deserve under the law. That way, you won’t be left on the hook for damages caused by someone else’s mistake.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer To Handle My Construction Injury Case?
Like most personal injury law firms, Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. Some lawyers charge hundreds of dollars an hour in legal fees. As personal injury lawyers, we take a set percentage of the compensation we recover in your case.
Hiring us costs you nothing upfront, and nothing at all in terms of attorney’s fees if we don’t recover compensation for you.
Can California Shared Liability Laws Impact My Damages Award if I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident?
Yes. Under California law, you can recover partial compensation if someone else was also partly responsible for your injuries. Your compensation is reduced by any percentage of fault allocated to you.
California’s pure comparative negligence law only applies in personal injury cases. You’re entitled to full workers’ comp benefits regardless of whether you were responsible (with few exceptions, such as if you intentionally caused your injury).
Our Attorneys in Escondido Are Ready To Fight for Fair Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Our lawyers are prepared to help you fight for full compensation regardless of the nature of your injuries.
We often represent injury victims who have suffered:
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Joint injuries
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord damage
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage and other internal injuries
- Hearing damage
- Amputations
- Crushing injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Construction injuries have the potential to cause long-term disability and even death. If you or a family member were injured, don’t hesitate to reach out to our legal team to learn about your right to compensation.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Escondido, California?
Construction accidents happen for many different reasons, including:
- Lack of protective fall equipment and safety gear
- Failure to follow state and OSHA safety regulations
- Lack of proper training
- Improperly secured scaffolding
- Unsupervised workers
- Communication failures
- Faulty wiring
- Dangerous property conditions
- Negligent security and workplace violence
If you were injured on the job, it’s critical to understand why. Contact our Escondido construction accident attorneys today. We’ll start investigating the circumstances of your accident right away.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for Compensation After a Construction Accident in California?
You could lose your right to workers’ compensation if you don’t report your injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident. There is also a one-year time limit for filing your claim.
In personal injury cases, the two-year statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit.
There may be an exception to these rules that changes the time limit for your case. Contact us as soon as possible for legal assistance.
Contact an Escondido Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Construction accident claims are slightly different from your typical personal injury case. You deserve to understand your legal rights. Call an experienced Escondido construction accident lawyer at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers. We’re always available to discuss your case.