Construction workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation. The risks they face range from falls from great heights to burns and crushing injuries. Do you know how to protect your rights if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a construction accident in Colorado? What if you or your spouse couldn’t work for weeks or months or even longer? What if you were denied workers compensation benefits? How would you pay your bills? How would your family survive?
The workers’ compensation construction accident lawyers at Bell & Pollock take these questions very seriously. We know exactly what’s at stake in such cases. The work we do today can make a dramatic difference in the lives of our clients for years to come. That’s why we work so hard to make sure you and your family receives the compensation you rightfully deserve. Case results matter here.
Bell & Pollock will do whatever it takes – within ethical and legal bounds – to build a strong case designed to succeed. We routinely comb through mountains of evidence – accident reports, interviews with witnesses, consultations with experts – in search of the facts that many lawyers overlook.
In most situations, we can also handle construction accidents caused by someone who works for a different company working at the same construction site. These are third party construction accident claims, and you may be entitled to compensation that falls outside of a normal workers’ compensation claim. Call (877) 744-5900 or (720) 740-3227 and schedule a free case evaluation today.
Construction accidents can happen for many reasons in Colorado. Whether the cause was improper safety procedures or defective equipment, it’s critical to conduct a thorough investigation to determine fault and liability. At Bell & Pollock, our lawyers take every construction accident seriously because we understand the significant impact these incidents can have on victims and their families. Any accident, even a seemingly minor one, can change the lives of construction workers and their loved ones forever. One false move can result in a permanent disability that restricts a person’s ability to function or even prevents them from ever working again.
In some tragic cases, a construction accident may lead to a worker’s death, leaving the surviving family members with emotional and financial burdens. In these situations, the family may have the right to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. Additionally, if a construction accident was caused by a vehicle, such as a truck or heavy machinery, additional claims may be pursued to cover all damages incurred. Understanding the full scope of potential claims is essential to maximize the compensation that injured workers or their families deserve.
Insurance companies often try to minimize the amount they have to pay out in workers' compensation claims, creating further challenges for those affected by construction accidents. This is why having experienced legal representation is crucial to protect the rights of the injured and to ensure they receive the compensation necessary for their recovery and future needs. Our team is adept at navigating the complexities of insurance disputes, ensuring that injured workers receive a fair evaluation of their claims.
In some cases, a construction site accident may be caused by negligence on the part of the property owner, such as inadequate safety measures or hazardous conditions. When this occurs, you might have a premises liability case in addition to a workers' compensation claim. This can open up additional avenues for compensation, helping victims and their families manage the financial and emotional repercussions of the accident. At Bell & Pollock, we leave no stone unturned in seeking justice for construction accident victims.
The following are some of the common types of construction accidents:
Crane accident: Cranes are one of the most common causes of construction accidents. In an instant, a construction worker can sustain a traumatic brain injury due to a blow to the head caused by an overhead crane or tower crane. A crane operator can also be seriously hurt if the crane topples over due to not being properly secured or if the construction site is unsafe. Workers can also be struck by falling or swinging loads, injured in falls from the tops of tower cranes, electrocuted by contact with overhead or underground power lines, or even crushed when the entire crane tips over and falls.
Electrocution accident: Electrocution accidents are not unusual on certain job sites. The risk of electrocution accident is present on nearly every construction site and two-fifths of all electrocution accidents are due to contact with overhead lines. On-the-job electrocution injuries typically require a long, painful recovery. An electrocution accident can result in electrical burns, arc burns and thermal contact burns, resulting in severe neurological damage, paralysis or even death.
Falls from a height: Some jobs require people to work high above the ground, where a slip or wrong move can have disastrous consequences. When someone falls from a height at work, whether it’s a roofing accident, a crane accident or a scaffolding accident, the results are typically catastrophic. Construction workers are often paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury or sustain some other severe injury and are unable to work ever again. In certain extreme cases, construction workers who fall from great heights are killed, possibly resulting in a wrongful death lawsuit in Colorado.
Forklift accident: Forklifts can pose a real danger to workers at construction sites and other industrial workplaces, in factories and in warehouses. Sometimes, the conditions are not safe at the construction site. Other times, there are mechanical problems with forklifts due to poor maintenance or defective parts, which could be grounds for dangerous products cases. Driver error can be an issue, especially if the forklift operator did not receive the proper training or was operating a forklift under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Scaffolding collapse: Anyone who works on scaffolding knows that one false move can have disastrous consequences. Some construction workers or companies sometimes try to cut corners to try to save time or money. As a result, scaffolding is sometimes not safely erected or inspected at a construction site. The result: Scaffolding can suddenly collapse, causing serious, sometimes fatal injuries. Falls from a height caused by scaffolding collapses are extremely common.
While many companies do emphasize safety, construction work still remains one of the most dangerous jobs in Colorado and throughout the United States. At Bell & Pollock, we have fought to protect the rights of injured construction workers. We know that their injuries can result in significant financial as well as emotional losses. The work we do for victims has provided our attorneys with a wealth of knowledge about a wide range of construction accident injuries.
Some of the most common construction accident injuries in Colorado include:
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At Bell & Pollock, we know that a straightforward construction accident claim can quickly become complicated once insurance companies get involved. Insurance companies want you to believe they have your best interests at heart. Unfortunately, the opposite is often the truth. Rather than working with injured construction workers to make sure they’re fairly compensated for their injuries, many insurance companies do everything they can to make sure injury victims receive as little money as possible.
With so much at stake, it’s important to have someone on your side you can trust to make things right. Insurance companies don’t intimidate us. At Bell & Pollock, our accident attorneys know how to deal with them and know how to get injury victims results. Remember, you are entitled to be compensated for your construction accident injury no matter how your accident happened. That’s the law in Colorado, and we’ll make sure that your employer and insurance companies follow the rules.
Construction accident claims also can become difficult when companies other than your employer are at fault. Multiple subcontractors often work at the same construction site. If your injury is a result of another company’s negligence, you might have grounds for a third party construction accident claim.
Construction workers who are injured generally can file for workers compensation benefits and not sue their employers. There are, however, exceptions. If you were injured because of the negligence of someone other than your employer, you can file a third party liability claim. A third party claim allows you to pursue compensation for losses not covered by workers compensation. For example, you can file a lawsuit for pain and suffering, emotional distress and other non-financial damages not typically covered by workers comp.
Other examples of third parties that might be liable in construction accidents include manufacturers of a defective tool or product or companies that own delivery trucks. After you file a claim, the at-fault party’s insurance company might point a finger at you or your employer. Because these claims can become complicated, it’s important that you have an experienced Colorado attorney on your side, fighting for your rights.
There are many reasons why you should hire a construction accident lawyer in Colorado if you’re dealing with a third party construction accident. Whether it’s filling out forms or dealing directly with insurance companies, Bell & Pollock can handle all the details so you can focus on what really matters: your recovery.
