Third Parties That Are Commonly Involved in Construction Accident Injuries

Construction sites are generally considered as safe as the people involved choose to make them. Employers have a responsibility to ensure reasonably safe conditions for their workers, just as any third party that plays a role in the construction process has a responsibility to the basic safety of the construction workers. When an injury occurs in a construction accident caused or contributed to by a third party, the injured party may be eligible to file a third-party injury claim on top of receiving workers’ compensation benefits, which are often insufficient to pay for the injured person’s damages alone. If you or a loved one were injured in a construction accident and suspect a third party may have been involved, reach out to a construction accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Third parties commonly involved in construction accidents include but are not necessarily limited to the following:

• Drivers: A good deal of construction work occurs on or near a roadway. Drivers are required to pay attention to posted warning signs and slow down or move over as necessary to avoid colliding with construction workers, equipment, or materials. When a driver fails to take the adequate precautions or violates traffic laws and injures a construction worker, the driver could be considered liable in court.
• Property owners and managers: Property owners are required to account for the basic safety of any visitors to their property, including construction workers. If a construction worker is injured due to an unsafe condition on the property (i.e. broken step, missing railing, icy walkway, etc.) that could have theoretically been prevented by reasonable attention of the property owner or manager, the property owner or manager could be considered liable for the worker’s injuries.
• Equipment providers: Construction sites are often full of rented equipment, including but not limited to scaffolding, scissor lifts, cranes, forklifts, etc. When a provider fails to properly maintain the equipment they’re renting out and an injury occurs as the result, the provider could be liable for the worker’s damages.
• Equipment manufacturers: Sometimes the danger of a piece of equipment does not lie in its maintenance by the provider, but in the design or manufacturing process itself. When a piece of equipment is designed without basic regard for user safety or an error in the manufacturing process puts the user at increased risk of injury, the manufacturer may be considered liable.
• Manufacturers of dangerous substances: A variety of substances and materials are used on a construction site, which can range widely in regard to their hazardous nature. When a construction worker is injured by an unreasonably dangerous substance or material, the manufacturer may be held liable for their damages.
• General contractors: When working for a subcontractor as one of multiple teams helping on a construction site and an injury occurs due to unsafe conditions, the general contractor responsible for the overall project could be considered liable.

A third-party injury claim can help pay for your related expenses after a construction accident.

A third-party claim is a type of personal injury lawsuit in which the third-party considered to be partly or fully responsible for the victim’s injuries is required to pay for their damages. While workers’ compensation will often cover limited medical bills and lost wages right away, serious injuries generally require significantly more money than workers’ compensation can offer. Damages that may be compensated in a successful third-party claim include past and future medical bills, lost wages, life care expenses, pain and suffering, and more. If you were injured while working on a construction site, it’s a good idea to file for workers’ compensation benefits immediately to begin receiving financial help right away, but then reach out to a construction accident attorney to discuss your options for further financial recovery.