Construction sites can be dangerous places. Even with advancements in technology and machinery and continuing improvements in site safety, people on construction sites sometimes still experience painful injuries that can result in costly medical bills and time away from work. Among the most common types of construction accidents are site debris accidents in Las Vegas.
If a debris accident hurts you or a loved one, your family needs support. Our dedicated Las Vegas construction accident lawyer at Shook & Stone could help you understand your legal options during a free initial consultation.
Types of Injuries Resulting from Debris on Construction Sites
When construction occurs, many people work on a project at the same time, performing different jobs. As a result, materials from the construction or repair of a building can sometimes become displaced. Loose objects on the ground or floor on construction sites can cause people to slip on the debris and fall. Among other injuries, head trauma, broken bones, and back and neck injuries can occur.
Falling objects can strike someone on the ground. Even if the object that falls is small—like a dropped wrench—the struck person might suffer a head injury if the object falls from a great height, such as from a scaffold or ladder. If the falling debris is something large—like a cinderblock—the person on the ground could be crushed. Injuries from falling debris can vary in severity, ranging from minor cuts to broken bones, eye and ear injuries, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries.
Some of the most common types of debris that cause injuries on construction sites are as follows:
- Tools
- Trash
- Drywall
- Scaffolding
- Concrete and bricks
- Wooden beams and boards
- Glass panes and other window materials
Our seasoned Las Vegas personal injury lawyers could investigate your debris accident to determine what fell and who is potentially legally responsible.
Potential Avenues of Recovery After a Debris Accident
Depending on who you are and what you were doing when you experienced an injury from debris on a Las Vegas construction site, you might have more than one way to pursue compensation for your losses.
Bystander
If you slipped on an object or something fell on your head while walking through a construction site, you might be able to sue the company in charge of the construction or the property owner. In that civil suit, you could pursue recovery of your economic damages, such as your medical costs, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and lost future earnings. You could also sue for any non-economic damages, which might include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and diminished quality of life.
Construction Worker
If you worked on the construction site where your injury happened, you should be able to collect benefits under your employer’s workers’ compensation plan. Those benefits should cover your reasonable medical expenses and a percentage of your lost wages. You do not need to prove that your employer did anything to cause your accident to collect worker’s compensation benefits. However, you cannot collect benefits for non-economic losses under worker’s compensation insurance. In addition, you cannot sue your employer while collecting benefits.
Because many different people and entities work simultaneously on construction sites, you might be able to file a third-party civil suit against someone other than your employer. In that civil claim, you could pursue recovery of both your economic and non-economic losses. Potential defendants could include the owner of the site, a subcontractor who dropped a tool, or the manufacturing company that produced a defective item that caused the debris to fall.
Our team of well-versed legal professionals could investigate all potential legal avenues to help you fully recover from your losses.
Work with a Las Vegas Attorney After a Construction Debris Accident
Site debris accidents in Las Vegas can cause debilitating injuries and confusion. You might not know where to turn. Fortunately, the knowledgeable attorneys at Shook & Stone are well-suited to handle all aspects of your injury case. Our attorneys have extensive experience with both personal injury and workers’ compensation, so they know how to help you get what you deserve. Schedule a free consultation with our team today.
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