Construction projects can be found on numerous streets throughout Staten Island. Whether you are working on a construction site or simply passing by one, there is a risk of accidents and injuries. Construction sites tend to be very dangerous, and an accident could be catastrophic. If you are hurt, an attorney can work with you to get fair compensation.
Damages in a construction accident case in Port Richmond will depend on the severity of the injuries and the nature of the accident. Economic damages like medical bills and lost wages might be significant. Additionally, you might claim non-economic damages for more subjective experiences, like pain and suffering. When preparing your case, we must be mindful of timing. Generally, plaintiffs have only 3 years to prepare and file personal injury claims. During this time, we need to determine who is responsible for the accident. Negligent employers and contractors, property owners, and third parties might all be possible defendants.
Our construction accident lawyers with The Carrion Law Firm can offer a free case evaluation when you call our offices at (718) 841-0083.
Damages Available in Port Richmond Construction Accident Cases
Your damages should be a reflection of the losses and injuries you suffered as a direct result of the construction accident. Anyone who has been injured in such an accident can attest to the fact that accidents are not just painful; they are expensive. Ideally, your damages should represent the compensation you need to be restored to the position you were in prior to the accident.
Economic Damages
Your economic losses represent the losses and injuries that cost you money, and they may often be proven with receipts, bills, and other records of cost. A significant factor in your economic damages calculations might be your medical costs. Again, construction accidents often lead to serious injuries that need extensive medical care. Such care is often costly, and your hospital bills might be extremely high.
Our construction accident lawyers may also think about how your injuries affect your ability to work. Construction work is physically demanding, and injured workers often cannot work at all until they recover. If injuries are particularly complex or serious, an injured worker might never fully recover. The income and wages you lose because of your injuries may be accounted for as your economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic injuries often cannot be measured in terms of money because they might not come at a monetary cost. Instead, these damages are subjective and based on your personal experiences. For example, if your injuries were severe, you might claim non-economic damages for the intense physical pain you endured. You might also claim damages for mental distress and trauma. Many construction workers injured in accidents have a hard time finding work again because of damage to their professional reputation. If this happens, you can claim the damage to your reputation as part of your damages.
Filing Your Port Richmond Construction Accident Case at the Right Time
You only have so much time to get medical care, meet with a lawyer, prepare your case, and file it. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in New York is described under C.V.P. Law § 214. You have only 3 years to file your case. Filling late is not an option. If you cannot file on time, you risk being permanently time-barred from ever filing the case. As such, meet with a lawyer and discuss your case as soon as you can after the accident.
Who is Responsible for Construction Accidents in Port Richmond?
Construction accidents can be challenging to handle because it is sometimes difficult to determine who is responsible. An employer like a general contractor might have a lot of responsibility on a construction site, but so might property owners. Still, third parties who were not necessarily present for the accident might be implicated. Your attorney can help you get to the bottom of things.
Contractors and Subcontractors
General contractors are often in charge of an entire construction project. The general contractor is often the one responsible for hiring other workers, including subcontractors. You might have been hired to work on a construction site by the general contractor or a subcontractor before you were hurt in an accident. Depending on where and how the accident happened, the general or subcontractor might be held responsible. Talk to your attorney about who hired you, the job you were hired for, and how the accident occurred. This information might shed light on whether a contractor may be responsible.
Property Owners
Usually, the owner of the property where a construction project is happening has very little to do with the actual construction work. Once a general contractor is hired, property owners usually take a big step back and remain hands-off for the remainder of the project. Even so, they might still be responsible for accidents. For example, suppose you were injured because the property itself was unsafe, and the property owner negligently failed to disclose information about the hazardous conditions on the premises. In that case, they may be held responsible for your injuries.
In other cases, property owners are more involved, and they risk opening themselves up to liability. For example, suppose a property owner supplied some of the tools needed for the construction project. Next, suppose those tools were damaged and unsafe, and they caused you to become injured. In that case, the property owner who supplied the faulty tools might be responsible.
Third Parties
People or parties who are not directly connected to the construction site might be held liable. In many cases, a liable third party is a manufacturer of power tools, machinery, or other construction equipment. When equipment is produce with dangerous defects, unsuspecting construction workers might be badly hurt. The manufacturer might not be present at the construction site or even know where their tools end up, but they may be held responsible for producing dangerously faulty tools.
Speak to Our Port Richmond Construction Accident Lawyers for Help Right Away
Our construction accident lawyers with The Carrion Law Firm can offer a free case evaluation when you call our offices at (718) 841-0083.