Thousands of workers are injured or killed on construction sites in the United States each year. If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a construction accident, it may feel like you’re on your own. You may be trying to deal with pain, bills, and insurance companies while you wish you could just rest so that you can focus on recovering. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but our Warren personal injury lawyer can help.
Construction workers face dangerous conditions on the job, including electrocution injuries, falls from heights, and crushing injuries. These are often catastrophic injuries with high medical costs and long recoveries. In some instances, the worker dies from their injuries. The construction accident legal team serving Warren from Christensen Law will tell you more about your right to compensation in Michigan, which can help cover these costs. Call us today at 248-900-9000 for a free case review.
Recoverable Compensation in a Warren Construction Accident Claim
In a Michigan construction accident injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for a variety of damages, including:
- Medical expenses: All costs related to injury treatment, from ambulance to surgery to physical therapy.
- Lost income: Wages lost due to missing work during recovery and treatment.
- Loss of future earning capacity: If disabilities prevent you from returning to construction work or the same income level.
- Pain and suffering: Financial damages associated with any physical pain, mental anguish, scarring, or lifestyle limitations resulting from injuries.
- Wrongful death damages: In a case of wrongful death, compensation for loss of companionship, benefits, services the decedent provided, and pre-death suffering.
You may qualify for additional damages not listed here. Our construction accident lawyers and staff will review your case and determine the full spectrum of damages to demand.
Construction Accidents Happen When Michigan’s Safety Standards Are Violated
Michigan has extensive construction site safety regulations under its Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) program. These rules exist to protect workers from harm. When companies fail to follow them, it establishes legal negligence if an employee gets injured.
MIOSHA includes many of the same protections as federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, plus additional state-level rules that are tailored to our construction industry. These standards cover electrical dangers, machinery hazards, fall prevention, proper safety gear, and more.
Violating these mandatory guidelines exposes workers to unacceptable risks. Don’t let employers escape justice — MIOSHA violations will substantially strengthen your injury claim. If you suffer an injury where a contractor disregarded MIOSHA or federal safety codes, a Warren, Michigan construction accident lawyer will leverage those violations to help prove legal liability.
Who You Can Sue After a Construction Accident in Warren, MI
In Michigan, employers are required by law to carry unemployment insurance. If your employer complied with this law, and they complied with the state’s safety standards, you will need to file a claim through the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency. However, if your injury was caused by a failure to meet safety standards, you may be able to file a personal injury claim.
If you are injured in a construction accident in Warren, MI, some parties you may be able to take legal action against include:
- The construction company: If a lack of safety compliance caused the incident, the contractor overseeing the site can be sued.
- Subcontractors: Other contractors working on site, like electricians, plumbers, roofers, etc., can share liability if negligent.
- Architects/Engineers: Those responsible for defective site plans and designs can be liable if flaws contributed to the accident.
- Manufacturers: If defective construction equipment, tools, or safety gear caused or worsened injuries, the manufacturers may be sued.
- Property owners: If the accident resulted from hazards on their premises, property owners may share responsibility.
- Rental companies: If rental equipment failure led to the incident, rental companies can be named in suits.
- Individual workers: Independent workers whose negligent actions directly caused injuries may be sued individually.
- Site supervisors: On-site supervisors and managers can be liable for failure to address dangerous conditions.
Holding all responsible parties fully accountable is critical after construction accidents. Our Warren construction injury lawyers know how to identify and pursue compensation from multiple potentially negligent defendants in a construction accident claim. Call Christensen Law at 248-900-9000 today to learn more.
Proving Liability When You Are Injured on a Construction Site
Filing a successful injury claim after getting hurt on a construction site takes proof. There are four elements you will need to prove: that the defendant owed you a duty of care, they breached this duty through negligence, this breach directly caused your injury, and it resulted in damages.
Insurance companies will argue that their client wasn’t negligent or liable. Plus, identifying the right entity at fault can be tricky—was it a worker, contractor, the construction firm, or the property owner?
Our Warren construction accident attorney will handle the complexities of your claim, pin down where the fault lies, and build a strong case for full compensation of your losses. You don’t have to go against the wealthy insurance companies and construction corporations alone. We level the playing field and have the expertise to navigate these accident cases.
Factors That Will Influence the Value of Your Warren Construction Accident Claim
Several important factors shape the value of construction accident injury settlements in Michigan. Those factors include:
- Injury severity: More serious injuries, like permanent disability or traumatic brain damage, will warrant higher settlements versus minor injuries. Providing extensive medical evidence will substantiate your damages.
- Liability and negligence: Contributory negligence, if any, by the victim may reduce their compensation. Our injury lawyers will fight to place responsibility fully on all negligent parties.
- Medical costs: Both past expenses and significant lifelong treatment and equipment costs must be calculated into settlement demands.
- Lost earning capacity: Settlements must compensate for lost income during your recovery as well as any reduced future earnings if disabilities impact your employability.
- Legal expertise: A construction accident attorney will level the playing field against the defendant’s insurers.
The full dollar amount of your settlement or award will be calculated by adding up the tangible costs plus harder-to-quantify damages that were caused by the preventable accident.
Warren, MI, Construction Accident Claim FAQs
How Long Does a Construction Accident Lawsuit Take to Resolve?
On average, it takes one to three years to resolve a construction accident claim in Michigan, depending on factors like case complexity, the need to litigate, and the willingness of insurance companies to engage in fair negotiation.
Consulting with an attorney will help you make informed decisions on critical legal and financial aspects surrounding construction accident injury claims. Don’t leave compensation on the table. Contact us to learn more about the full value of your claim.
Should You Accept the Initial Settlement Offer in a Construction Accident Claim?
Early offers from the at-fault party’s insurance company usually undervalue your claim substantially so that they can hold onto more of their profits. Our attorney will always demand a fair settlement that covers all of your losses. We will represent your claim through assertive negotiation and litigation preparation.
Do You Have to Pay Legal Fees up Front in a Construction Accident Case?
No, you do not have to pay any legal fees in advance when you file a construction accident claim. We work on contingency, meaning your legal fees will come out of any eventual settlement or award. No upfront payment is required.
Not only will our services not cost you anything up front, but statistics also show construction accident victims who hire lawyers typically receive three to five times more in compensation than unrepresented victims.
Common Types of Accidents Our Warren, MI Construction Accident Lawyers Represent
Here are some common types of construction accidents that often lead workers to file injury lawsuits:
- Falls: From roofs, ladders, scaffolds, onto dangerous equipment, etc.
- Struck by objects: Impact injuries from falling/flying tools, materials, and vehicles
- Electrocution: Shock injuries from exposed wiring, equipment malfunctions
- Explosions/fires: Burns stemming from ignition of gas lines or flammable materials
- Crane accidents: Cranes tipping, dropping loads, and equipment failure
- Trench collapses: Improper shoring leads to cave-ins and crushing injuries
- Scaffolding collapses: Defective components or overloading causes scaffold failure
- Heavy machinery accidents: Backhoe rollovers, bulldozer accidents, and forklift incidents
- Lack of PPE: Injuries worsened by failure to provide personal protective equipment
- Toxic exposure: Illnesses from asbestos, lead, and chemical or gas leaks
According to Michigan and federal laws, contractors who employ construction workers and the owners of construction sites are required to provide a work environment that is reasonably safe. Construction work is hazardous, but following safety laws and protocols protects workers.
When companies don’t follow these regulations, lawsuits provide accountability that will protect the workers and their loved ones in the future.
Get a Free Consultation with a Construction Accident Lawyer in Warren, Michigan
If you or a loved one has been injured on a construction site, you have enough on your shoulders without the added stress of navigating a claim for compensation. Our construction accident attorney in Warren will take the pressure off of you so that you can focus on moving forward.
When you contact Christensen Law, your first consultation is free. We are here to review your case and explain your rights in Michigan. Call 248-900-9000 today for a free case review.
