Concord Construction Injury Lawyer

Construction is a crucial component of the American economy, but it is also one of the most dangerous fields for many reasons. Every year, more injuries occur in the construction industry than in any other industry in the U.S. More workplace fatalities also occur in construction than in any other industry. When a construction accident occurs, it’s possible for nearby workers to sustain serious injuries. It is also possible for these incidents to injure bystanders near the construction site.

If you or someone close to you recently sustained injuries in a construction accident that was caused by another party, it’s essential to know your rights when it comes to collecting compensation for your damages. Construction accidents can cause painful injuries that incur significant medical expenses and economic loss from the inability to work during recovery. An experienced Concord construction injury lawyer is the ideal resource to consult if you are unsure how to approach your legal situation after a construction accident of any kind.

Attorney M. Reid Acree, Jr. has extensive experience representing clients in the Concord, NC area in both workers’ compensation claims and personal injury cases. If you were injured at work, you typically can’t sue your employer, but you do have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim without encountering any resistance from your employer. However, if a third party caused your injury at work, you could potentially file a third-party personal injury claim against them.

Determining the best strategy for your unique situation can be incredibly difficult without an experienced attorney. Your Concord construction injury attorney can evaluate the details of your recent accident and help you determine the best approach to recovery.

Why Should I Hire a Concord Construction Injury Lawyer?

Attempting to navigate any civil claim without a lawyer is very risky and challenging. If you intend to file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for causing your recent construction injury, you need to prepare for the complex procedural requirements of the civil court system and accurately calculate your claimable damages. Trying to accomplish these tasks while managing your recovery from your injury would be incredibly challenging. The right Concord construction accident lawyer can not only make this process easier, but they may help you secure more compensation for your damages than you initially expected.

When you need to file a workers’ compensation claim for a construction injury you sustained on the job, it is also technically possible to manage this on your own, but it is not easy. You would need to complete your workers’ compensation claim forms and gather any supporting evidence you would need to provide to your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, and you would also need to navigate settlement negotiations with the insurer on your own. Some injured workers may also face extraordinarily complex claims that demand the attention of experienced legal counsel.

Ultimately, your construction accident injury could be a life-changing event, and the effects of this experience can potentially last for years to come. For the best chance of making the fullest recovery possible, you need legal counsel from an experienced attorney you can trust. The right Concord construction injury attorney can not only make it easier for you to navigate your claim but also help you secure more compensation than you could have obtained on your own.

Filing for Workers’ Compensation for a Construction Injury

North Carolina enforces strict workers’ compensation laws, requiring all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. If you were injured while working in construction, you likely qualify to file a workers’ compensation claim. This process often seems straightforward on paper but can be quite difficult in practice. First, you must notify your employer of your injury immediately. If you suffered an injury due to a severe workplace accident, you will likely be taken to the hospital immediately. Otherwise, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. However, your employer’s workers’ compensation policy will likely require you to visit an approved workers’ compensation physician for an examination.

Your workers’ compensation doctor will carefully examine you to determine the full scope of your medical complications from the accident. They will assign you a disability rating that will factor into your settlement offer from the insurance carrier. The higher your disability rating, the more compensation you can expect.

Workers’ compensation will cover any and all medical expenses a claimant requires to fully heal from their injury and manage their symptoms. Depending on the severity of the claimant’s injury, they may not be able to work for an extended period while they recover. In North Carolina, workers’ compensation insurance carriers tend to award disability benefits in four ways:

1. Total temporary disability benefits are suitable when an employee must recover from their injury before returning to work, but they are able to resume the same job responsibilities they held prior to the injury.
2. Partial temporary disability benefits are reserved for claimants who can return to work after their injuries but cannot earn as much as usual until they recover.
3. Partial permanent disability benefits are suitable for claimants who cannot return to their previous positions due to their injuries but are able to handle lower-paying work.
4. Total permanent disability benefits are only awarded when a claimant cannot return to work at all in the future due to a permanent disability from their injury. Some insurance companies will offer large lump sums to claimants in this situation to avoid long-term benefit arrangements.

Disability benefits awarded in North Carolina are paid according to the claimant’s average weekly wage for the year preceding their injury. It is vital to carefully review your employment agreement with your employer when it comes to workers’ compensation. Most construction companies offer robust protection for their workers when it comes to their workers’ compensation claim insurance, but the employee may need to work for the employer for a specified period to qualify for the full scope of these benefits. If you are unsure about your eligibility for workers’ compensation or believe your employer is attempting to mislead you about your rights, it’s vital to consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

Working with an experienced Concord construction injury lawyer can significantly reduce the time required to complete the workers’ compensation claim process and secure the compensation you need. Your attorney can help you complete all necessary claim forms and gather any additional documentation you may need to provide to the insurance company. In the event the insurer offers an unacceptable settlement, your attorney can negotiate on your behalf to maximize your recovery from workers’ compensation insurance.

Can I Sue for Being Injured at Work in North Carolina?

North Carolina’s workers’ compensation laws typically prevent an injured employee from suing their employer for a workplace injury. However, an employee may have grounds for a lawsuit against their employer in the event the employer intentionally caused their injury. It is also possible for the injured employee to have grounds for a personal injury claim against a party outside of work. This would be a third-party claim and could potentially secure compensation for damages that workers’ compensation won’t cover.

For example, if you work for a construction company and were delivering materials to a job site when another driver hit your vehicle and injured you, this technically qualifies as a work-related injury since you were performing job duties at the time of the accident. However, since a third party caused your injury, you would also have grounds to file a personal injury claim against the third party.

Workers’ compensation generally provides coverage for medical expenses after a workplace injury. When disability benefits are awarded, they typically amount to a percentage of the worker’s average weekly wage, up to two-thirds of their usual earnings. A third-party claim could potentially allow the injured worker to secure compensation for the lost income workers’ compensation doesn’t cover, as well as property damage and compensation for their pain and suffering.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Construction Injuries

Personal injury claims revolve around the legal concept of negligence, or a failure to exercise reasonable care. To succeed with a third-party claim after an injury at work, or to win your case as a personal injury plaintiff when you sustained a construction injury as a bystander, you will need to prove the defendant responsible for the accident in question was negligent in a way that directly caused your damages. Alternatively, you can also file a personal injury claim in response to intentional misconduct that caused your construction accident.

An experienced attorney is a valuable asset when you need to file a personal injury claim, whether it is a standalone civil claim or related to a workers’ compensation claim filed through your employer. Your Concord construction injury attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to establish a defendant’s liability for your damages. They will guide you through each stage of your case through settlement or litigation against the defendant.

Damages and Compensation for a North Carolina Personal Injury Case

North Carolina’s personal injury laws allow plaintiffs to recover compensation for any damages caused by the defendants named in their claims. Damages sought in most personal injury claims include economic damages such as property loss, medical expenses, and lost income. Plaintiffs can also seek compensation for noneconomic damages, specifically their pain and suffering. This is often difficult to quantify, but an experienced Concord construction injury lawyer can help you determine a reasonable amount of noneconomic damages to include with your claim to reflect the severity of your experience.

When you calculate the potential compensation you could obtain for your pain and suffering with the help of your attorney, you may be surprised to learn the true potential value of your construction injury claim. However, it is important to understand North Carolina’s contributory negligence law. This law states that a plaintiff loses the right to claim damages if they are in any way responsible for causing those damages. Even if the plaintiff is only slightly at fault, they lose the ability to recover damages.

One of the most common defenses that personal injury defendants will use to avoid liability for a plaintiff’s injury is asserting contributory negligence. If you have any concerns about contributory negligence coming into play in your case, your Concord construction injury attorney can help you quash their accusations by leveraging available evidence and testimony from witnesses who saw your accident occur.

What to Expect From Your Concord Construction Injury Attorney

It’s possible for a construction accident to be a life-changing event, resulting in painful injury and long-term disability that leads to expensive medical treatment costs and lost income during the victim’s recovery. Your Concord construction injury lawyer will be an invaluable asset as you work toward your recovery, providing several important legal services that help you maximize your compensation.

When it comes to your workers’ compensation claim, your attorney can help you complete your claim forms and handle negotiations with the insurance company. In the event your claim is denied or to correspond with the North Carolina Industrial Commission about your claim, your attorney can assist with these issues as well. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can guide you through each phase of the claim process until you secure the compensation and benefits you deserve.

If your situation enables you to file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for causing your injury, you can count on your attorney to provide ongoing support through each phase of the case. Whether your personal injury claim is a single issue or a third-party claim related to your workers’ compensation claim, succeeding with a personal injury claim is more difficult than securing approval for a workers’ compensation claim. Your attorney will help you gather evidence and testimony to prove the defendant’s liability for your injury and hold them accountable for your damages.

When another party is responsible for a construction accident that has caused a severe injury, you could face an extremely long and painful recovery process and substantial economic strain from the inability to work and expensive medical bills. It’s easy to feel lost and isolated in this situation, and the right attorney is an invaluable asset as you work toward securing the compensation you deserve. If you are ready to explore the full scope of your legal options following a construction accident in Concord, NC, Attorney M. Reid Acree, Jr. is prepared to represent you in your claim. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with a compassionate and experienced Concord construction injury attorney.