St. Louis Construction Site Accidents

Construction Site Injury Claims - Have You Been Injured at Work?

Construction sites are generally dangerous places to begin with. Often times there is a general contractor and several subcontractors on a single jobsite, working together to complete a project. Construction workers can consist of both employees and independent contractors. When a worker is injured at a construction site, the claim for compensation is usually substantial, primarily because the injuries sustained are often times catastrophic. Construction site injury claims are heavily contested by insurance companies and defense attorneys. The Missouri construction site laws that govern whether an injured worker is allowed to recover compensation are very complicated. Contacting a construction site injury lawyer is critical in taking the first steps in preserving your claim for compensation.

St. Louis construction site accidents take place each day. Some of these injuries are caused by worker error, others are caused by a defective product or unsafe product. If a construction worker is employed by a reputable company at the time of the injury, he or she can likely present a workers' compensation claim to the employer's insurance carrier. Workers' compensation claims are handled in 'divisions' in the state of Missouri. Unfortunately, Missouri workers' compensation laws are pro-employer and anti-worker. Injured construction site workers can expect an uphill battle when it comes time to obtain a settlement for their workers' compensation claim.

Missouri Construction Site Injuries - Third Party Injury Claim

Typically the law in Missouri is if you have been injured on the job, that a workers' compensation claim is the exclusive remedy available for you. This means that the worker can only receive one form of compensation, and as stated above, workers' compensation laws in Missouri are not very good. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. If the negligence that caused the injury was caused by someone other than the employer, the injured worker may be able to file a third-party injury claim against that negligent person or party. This exception can arise in several situations, including:

• A defective product is the sole cause of the injury
• A negligent general contractor causes injury to a subcontractor
• Another driver causes an injury to a worker driving a company vehicle
• A jobsite is unsafe or dangerous due to the negligent conduct of the owner of the property
• A co-employee does something reckless that causes an injury
• Fatal injuries are sustained

The general contractor at a construction site is entrusted to make sure that the project is operating within state laws and federal safety codes. When contractors cut corners, the jobsite becomes a danger zone and workers are prone to serious injury or death. In today's economic times, workers are not about to speak up and complain about job safety, but failing to do so may cost you more than just a paycheck.

Missouri Construction Zone Injury Lawyers

It is absolutely critical that you contact a Missouri construction zone injury lawyer immediately if you have been injured on a jobsite. Employers and other contractors will try to manipulate testimony and destroy evidence in an attempt to protect themselves following the serious injury of a worker. Witness statements, forensic evidence, photographs, and other vital information must be preserved by a Missouri personal injury lawyer in order to protect the legal interests of the injury victim. When evidence is tampered with, the value of your claim is greatly minimized.

If you are injured in a construction zone or on a jobsite, do not just assume that your only right to recovery is by filing a workers' compensation claim. Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers have represented countless injured workers and the first thing we investigate is whether a viable third-party injury claim exists. By doing this, we maximize compensation for our injured clients and protect their financial future. Third-party injury claims are much more valuable that a workers' compensation claim. Don't risk your financial future and your family's financial future, contact our construction zone injury lawyers today for free by calling (866) 840-3636, or locally at (314) 732-1401.