Construction sites in Alexandria contain many risks to the health and safety of construction workers and the public. Scaffolds, working from heights, and heavy machinery and equipment can lead to serious injuries and even deaths when something goes wrong. At Morris Bart, our attorneys understand the unique challenges construction accident victims face.
Our law firm is dedicated to helping victims overcome physical injuries, emotional damage and the financial toll caused by construction accidents by guiding them through complex legal claims. Contact us to schedule a free evaluation of your case today. Our local law office is located at 1439 Centre Ct. #301, Alexandria, LA 71301.
For a free legal consultation with a Construction Accident lawyer serving Alexandria, call 800-537-8185
Why Choose Our Construction Accident Lawyer in Alexandria
- Our personal injury attorneys have collected over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients. We know how to get the case results that you deserve.
- The attorneys at our law firm have over 40 years of experience representing personal injury clients in Louisiana and throughout the Southeast United States.
- You will not pay us anything in attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning $0 is charged upfront.
Why Hire an Alexandria Construction Accident Lawyer?
If you or a loved one gets injured in a construction accident, you may not know where to begin when seeking a monetary recovery for your medical costs, lost wages and other expenses. Unfortunately, your employer, a construction company or an insurance company may put their own best interests above yours during an injury claim.
When you hire a personal injury attorney in Alexandria, you get the peace of mind of having a dedicated legal advocate on your side during the claims process. Your personal injury lawyer will protect your rights in conversations with insurance adjusters and utilize the law firm’s resources to build your case. Injury attorneys work for their clients and their clients alone.
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How Much Does an Alexandria Construction Accident Lawyer Cost?
If you are concerned about how much personal injury law firms charge during your construction accident case, Morris Bart can put your mind at ease. We offer client representation on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney’s fees are charged unless your case ends in a successful financial recovery.
As our client, you won’t pay us a cent unless you receive a settlement or judgment award for your construction accident case. If we do win, we will charge our fee as a percentage of the overall amount collected. We will inform you of this percentage before you sign any legal contracts. We are always honest and upfront about our fees.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction is the deadliest industry in the United States. Construction and transportation occupations together account for nearly half of all fatal occupational injuries annually. Many tasks and elements inherent to construction jobs are dangerous for workers, such as working around heights and heavy machinery.
Common causes of construction worker injuries and deaths include:
- Contact with objects and equipment
- Crane collapses
- Electrical hazards
- Equipment malfunctions
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Fall accidents
- Falling objects
- Forklift rollovers
- Heavy machinery incidents
- Scaffolding failures
- Trench collapses
- Truck accidents
OSHA statistics for fiscal year 2022 found that the most frequently cited safety violation across all industries was fall protection in construction. Falls are a serious risk for construction workers due to issues such as inadequate personal fall arrest systems. Other commonly cited safety standards in construction involve ladder safety, scaffolding construction, fall protection training, and eye and face protection.
Top Causes of Construction Site Accidents in Alexandria
Like most workplace accidents, disasters at construction sites can often be prevented with a reasonable amount of care. If a construction company maintains a safe worksite and properly trains its employees, for example, this could prevent many common accident and injury risks.
A construction accident and related workplace injury may arise from many examples of human errors, such as:
- Dangerous construction sites: construction companies have a responsibility to maintain reasonably safe workplaces. This requires regular inspections, adherence to federal safety standards and routine construction site maintenance.
- Violated safety regulations: OSHA enforces many safety laws that are in place to improve the well-being of workers. If a construction site manager or supervisor fails to comply with these rules, accidents can occur.
- Lack of worker training or protection: construction workers must be equipped with the appropriate safety gear and equipment before starting a job, such as personal fall arrest systems. Failing to provide this gear is a dangerous violation of federal law.
- Defective products or equipment: some construction accidents are caused by tools and equipment that contain manufacturing, design or marketing defects. In these cases, a product manufacturer may be held financially responsible for worker injuries.
- Motor vehicle driver mistakes: roadside construction accidents in Alexandria can be caused by careless and reckless drivers. A driver exceeding the posted speed limit in a work zone, for example, could cause a deadly car accident involving a construction worker.
Identifying the cause of your construction accident is one of the first steps toward collecting financial compensation for losses. In general, the person or party most at fault for causing the accident will be held financially responsible (liable). If you do not know what caused your construction accident in Alexandria, our attorneys can investigate on your behalf.
Construction Accident Injuries Can Be Catastrophic
When an accident takes place at a construction site, workers can suffer serious and even fatal injuries. Catastrophic injuries such as a brain injury or permanent spinal cord injury may affect a victim for the rest of his or her life. At Morris Bart, we offer compassionate representation to injury victims whose lives have been irrevocably changed because of construction accidents.
We can help if you or a loved one suffered any type of injury in a construction accident in Alexandria:
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Electrical burns
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Lacerations
- Loss of hearing or vision
- Neck and back injuries
- Paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia, etc.)
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Severe burn injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Wrongful death
Any type of workplace injury in a construction zone in Louisiana could entitle an injured worker to recover compensation for related costs and losses. A worker may be able to collect workers’ compensation benefits or seek a monetary recovery through a personal injury lawsuit, depending on the situation.
Worker Rights After Construction Accidents in Louisiana
An injured construction worker in Louisiana may be able to seek financial compensation (also referred to as damages) through one or multiple legal outlets. While every case is unique, workers’ compensation benefits are available to most workers who get injured on the job in Alexandria. Louisiana state law requires almost all employers to carry this type of no-fault insurance to cover employee injuries.
It is not necessary to prove that someone else was negligent to qualify for workers’ compensation. It is enough to show that the injury occurred within the course and scope of the worker’s employment. A successful workers’ compensation claim can provide disability benefits, pay for all necessary medical care and reimburse about two-thirds of a victim’s lost wages. It can also provide death benefits to a deceased worker’s family members.
Another legal option could be a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Unlike a workers’ comp case, these legal actions require evidence of someone else’s fault or negligence. The injured construction worker (plaintiff) must provide proof that the accused party (defendant) caused or significantly contributed to the construction accident to recover compensation through a lawsuit.
A personal injury lawsuit cannot be brought against an employer in Louisiana after a worker accepts a workers’ comp settlement. However, a lawsuit could still be filed against a third party, such as the manufacturer of a defective piece of equipment. You are not without legal options as a victim of a construction accident in Alexandria. Whether or not someone else was negligent, you could be eligible for a monetary recovery for past and future losses.
Types of Compensation Available for Construction Site Accident Victims
Various laws protect construction workers and the public from facing financial responsibility for construction-related accidents that are not their fault. You do not necessarily have to pay for your own medical care or accept lost wages as the victim of a construction accident in Alexandria. With assistance from an experienced construction accident attorney, you and your family may be able to collect compensation for various losses.
Examples include:
- Medical bills: all medical care associated with the construction accident injury, such as surgeries, therapies, medications, rehabilitation, doctor’s appointments and live-in care.
- Long-term care: ongoing or future estimated expenses related to a long-term or permanent injury, including disability accommodations.
- Lost wages: income and employment benefits lost because of the accident or injury, including future lost capacity to earn.
- Pain and suffering: intangible or noneconomic losses, including physical pain, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful death damages: reasonable funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, loss of consortium, and other losses suffered by the deceased victim’s family members.
If you suffered other losses connected to a construction accident in Alexandria, such as property damage or out-of-pocket costs, these may also be listed as compensable damages in a personal injury claim. The value of each case is unique and varies based on the individual circumstances. Consult with an attorney to learn the potential value of your specific claim.
What to Do After a Construction Site Accident in Alexandria
Being injured in a construction accident can be overwhelming. You may not know what steps to take to properly protect yourself as a victim. Although every case is different, construction accident victims can generally benefit from taking the following steps:
- Get medical care. Whether you have moderate or severe injuries, it is important to get medical care for your physical health as well as to document your injuries for insurance purposes.
- Report the accident. Tell a supervisor or employer about the construction site accident as soon as possible, but at least within 30 days.
- Contact Morris Bart. If you wish to learn more about your legal rights and options as a construction accident victim in Alexandria, contact us to arrange a free consultation. There are several situations where you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation that is out of the scope of workers’ compensation benefits.
- Ask for a report. Request a written construction accident report that describes the incident and your injuries. Keep a copy for your records.
- Collect evidence. Preserve and document the accident scene as much as possible, including taking photographs, gathering any available video footage and securing witness statements.
- Keep up with medical treatments. During your recovery, follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recommendations. Keep an injury journal documenting your healing journey.
- Be careful talking to insurance adjusters. Do not give an insurance company a recorded statement or admit fault. Do not accept a settlement until speaking to an attorney.
Expect an insurance company to push back and undervalue or even reject your initial claim. Do not give up hope. Speak to an attorney at Morris Bart who can represent you during claim negotiations or a personal injury trial in Alexandria for the best possible resolution.
What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Construction Site Accident Case in Louisiana?
You have a strict time limit in which to bring legal action after an Alexandria construction site accident. Louisiana’s statute of limitations gives you no more than one year from the date of the accident or reasonable discovery of your injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit, with rare exceptions.
However, you have just 30 days to report your injury to your employer if you wish to file a workers’ compensation claim. If you do not notify your employer within 30 days, you could lose the ability to seek workers’ comp benefits. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to preserve your right to take legal action for an Alexandria construction accident.
Contact Our Experienced Alexandria Construction Accidents Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was recently injured in a construction accident, discuss your legal options with an Alexandria personal injury attorney at Morris Bart. We stand with construction workers as well as drivers and pedestrians who get injured in construction site accidents throughout Louisiana. Our trial lawyers are prepared to handle insurance negotiations or a personal injury claim on your behalf.
Speak to a work accident injury attorney today when you call (318) 416-0089 or contact us online. We offer free initial case evaluations.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
