Kentucky Construction Accident Lawyer

Workplace accidents cause thousands of on-the-job injuries every year in Kentucky. Despite numerous legal and trade regulations put in place to prevent construction accidents, the inherently dangerous nature of the construction industry results in some of the highest worker injury rates of any occupation. As a construction worker, if you are injured on the job, you may be entitled to financial compensation. If your loved one suffered a fatal injury at a construction site, you may be able to collect damages for wrongful death.

To protect your rights and preserve your claim, it is important that you speak with a construction accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Based in Pikeville, KY, injury lawyer Billy Johnson has made it his life’s work to help people throughout Kentucky. Billy has been named a Super Lawyer by U.S. News & World Report as well as an American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 trial lawyer and he is a proud member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums. He has been helping victims and their families put their lives back together since 1998 and he is ready to help you. Get started today. Billy will give you a free, no-obligation case review by calling 606-437-4488 or by filling out our contact form. Let’s discuss the details of your accident and find out your rights.

Whether building residential or commercial structures, construction laborers work hard. However, this occupation is inherently dangerous and results in a number of work injuries and fatalities each year. In fact, just two years ago, the private sector alone experienced 900 worker deaths — one in five — in this occupation.

Our Construction Accident Lawyer Protects Workers’ Rights

Since 2009, the lawyers at the Johnson Law Firm have represented individuals injured in construction accidents and families whose loved ones have been killed on the job. From our office in Pikeville, Kentucky, our construction injury lawyers are dedicated to providing skilled representation to secure the benefits you are entitled to. Call us toll-free at 606-437-4488 or use our contact form to reach us.

IMPORTANT TIPS

• If you are injured on a construction site, the most important thing you can do to protect your rights is act quickly.
• You should report the injury to your employer immediately.
• You should not talk with an insurance company representative or sign any insurance documents until you have spoken with an experienced work-related injury lawyer.
• There are strict time limitations on how long you have to seek compensation in Kentucky.

Construction Site Dangers That Cause Injuries

The Fatal Four: Falls, Electrocution, Struck by an Object, Stuck Between Objects

Construction sites are hectic by nature. These constantly changing environments are full of heavy machinery, vehicles, electricity, noise, tools, uneven ground, scaffolding, and a number of other ways to get hurt. A few are so common that they are referred to by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as the “Fatal Four.”

Falls

Falls are far and away the single biggest contributor to construction site accidents, averaging around 40 percent. Objects or conditions that can cause workers to lose their balance or their bodily support are hazards present at most job sites. Extreme caution must be exercised when working on or near roofs, staging, scaffolding, ladders, aerial lifts, floor openings, and girders. Despite the high rates of fatalities and serious injuries, the lack of proper fall protection is the violation cited most frequently by OSHA inspectors.

Electrocution

Being electrocuted and being struck by an object or piece of equipment tend to happen in roughly equal percentages.

Struck by an Object

“Struck by” accidents include those involving rolling objects like forklifts and other handling equipment, falling tools and materials, flying debris, and swinging objects. While electricians are certainly at risk for electrocution, so, too, are other workers that may come into contact with exposed wires, faulty wiring, and overhead lines.

Trapped, Stuck or Squeezed

Getting a body part or your entire body caught between hazards can result in serious, even fatal, injuries. Being trapped, stuck, or squeezed is the fourth most common worker danger at construction job sites and include instances such as being buried in a cave-in or trench collapse, getting pinned between equipment or vehicles, or having an arm or leg caught in improperly maintained machinery.

It has been predicted that if the “Fatal Four” hazards were eliminated, an average of 545 construction workers’ lives would be saved every year in this country.

Grounds for a legal cause of action may result from circumstances such as failure to provide adequate training, failure to follow appropriate safety regulations, failure to properly inspect equipment, and failure to uphold all health protocols.

Because each case is different, it is always advisable to get advice from a knowledgeable lawyer who specializes in workplace injuries. Despite the protections of worker’s compensation, there is also the potential for improper handling of a jobsite accident. If you suffer an injury as a result of the “Fatal Four” or any other construction site-related reason, you deserve to be compensated for your losses.

Why Work with Our Construction Accident Attorney

At the Johnson Law Firm, our Pikeville personal injury lawyers handle worksite injury and fatality cases in Eastern Kentucky and statewide. Our founder, Billy Johnson, is a proven advocate with over 15 years of experience who has handled litigation in the United States Court of Appeals, the District Courts for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the United States Bankruptcy Court. Call Billy at 606-437-4488 or use our contact form for a free consultation.

Kentucky Construction Site Hazards

Construction sites can be busy, noisy places with workers of various occupations interacting with each other on an assortment of projects. Potentially dangerous equipment like scaffolding, jackhammers, cranes, backhoes and conveyors are everywhere. The general contractor who is supervising the site has a number of legal duties that it must meet, such as providing a reasonably safe workplace, warning of inherent dangers, and hiring careful employees. Subcontractors are also expected to ensure safe workplaces, but their responsibility is second to that of the general contractor. Common construction site risks include:

• Collapsing of walls or floors
• Defective equipment
• Demolition
• Exposure to asbestos and chemicals
• Falls
• Fires and explosions
• Heavy machinery
• Construction vehicles
• Inadequate barricades
• Inadequate training
• OSHA noncompliance
• Power lines/electrocution
• Repetitive motion tasks
• Trenching/excavation

Employers have an obligation to ensure safe workplaces for their employees. When they fail to do so, they may be held liable for resulting injuries and wrongful deaths.

As a construction worker, if you are injured on the job, you may be entitled to financial compensation. If your loved one suffered a fatal injury at a construction site, you may be able to collect damages for wrongful death. To protect your rights and preserve your claim, it is important that you speak with a construction site injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Kentucky Construction Accident Lawyer Billy Johnson Is a Proven Advocate

Based in Pikeville, KY, workplace accident lawyer Billy Johnson has made it his life’s work to help people throughout Kentucky. He is a proven advocate with over 15 years of experience who has handled litigation in the United States Court of Appeals, the District Courts for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the United States Bankruptcy Court. Get started today with a free, no-obligation case review by calling 606-437-4488. You can also fill out our online form to discuss the details of your accident and find out your rights.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits if You Were Injured on a Construction Site

A worker who is hurt on a construction job site is entitled to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Under workers’ compensation, an injured worker can be awarded benefits for lost wages and medical expenses without having to file a lawsuit to prove that the injuries were the fault of the employer. But, this means that the construction worker cannot bring a third-party claim against his employer.

However, the worker may be able to bring a third-party claim against other parties, including:

• Owners
• Contractors and subcontractors
• Engineers
• Electricians
• Scaffolding companies
• Architects
• Insurance companies
• Equipment manufacturers

Such third-party claims allow recovery of damages for pain and suffering, disability, and loss of earning potential, and can supplement worker’s compensation benefits.

Lawyers for Injured Construction Workers

For a free consultation with a knowledgeable Eastern KY construction injury attorney, call the Johnson Law Firm toll-free at 606-437-4488 or contact us by using our online form. Our job as construction injury attorneys is to examine the circumstances of what caused the accident while focusing on our client’s future. With our experience, we know how to seek compensation from all possible sources, and we will carefully calculate your past, current and future losses to get you the best possible recovery.