If you’re struggling with construction accident-related injuries in Gretna, LA, reach out to Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers. An experienced Gretna construction accident lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of construction injury claims. Call (504) 323-6000 to schedule a free consultation today.
Our lawyers have a proven track record of success that includes millions of dollars recovered on behalf of injury victims. We’re ready to use over 26 years of combined experience to help you maximize your financial award.
Don’t hesitate to get the legal help you need and deserve. Call our law offices in Gretna, Louisiana, to schedule a free consultation today.
Why Choose Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers to Help With a Construction Accident Claim in Gretna, LA?
Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers is a leading personal injury law firm with over 120 five-star Google reviews from satisfied clients.
Our Gretna personal injury attorneys have also been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers and The American Institute of Trial Lawyers for our success. We’re here to provide the top-notch legal representation you deserve.
Dealing with an insurance company is rarely easy. They have tricks up their sleeves–and they’ll use them to pressure you into taking less than you deserve. Our attorneys spent years representing the very insurance companies you’ll be facing–and we aren’t fooled by these tactics.
We’re dedicated to helping you get every dime you deserve. Call today to learn how our Gretna construction accident lawyers can fight for you.
What Are My Options for Recovering Compensation After a Construction Accident in Gretna?
When you’re injured due to someone else’s actions, you would typically file a personal injury claim to recover damages. Workplace injury claims are different.
Most injured construction workers start by filing a claim with workers’ compensation. Employers in Louisiana must provide workers’ compensation coverage if they have at least one employee.
You qualify for benefits if:
- You were employed by a Louisiana employer
- You were injured because of something work-related
It’s also possible that you could have the right to sue for damages under Louisiana personal injury laws. Only your employer is protected against lawsuits.
You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation if:
- You were an independent contractor who wasn’t covered by workers’ compensation, or
- Someone other than your employer or a co-worker caused your injuries
Our Gretna construction accident lawyers can explain your options in more detail once we’ve reviewed the facts of your case. Call our law firm today to arrange a time to discuss your options.
Who Can Be Responsible for Paying My Damages After a Construction Accident?
Aside from workers’ compensation, various parties might be responsible for paying your damages, including:
- Property owners who allow dangerous conditions to exist on their premises
- Negligent drivers who cause traffic accidents or speed through construction zones
- General contractors who create a dangerous work environment
- Independent subcontractors who fail to train and supervise their employees
- Manufacturers who sell defective work tools or equipment
In short, anyone other than your employer can potentially be responsible for damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
How Much Money Is My Gretna Construction Accident Case Worth?
The value of your case depends on factors that are specific to your accident and injury.
The most important include:
- The severity of your injuries
- Whether you’ll suffer any permanent or long-term disability
- Your average wages prior to the accident
- The length of your recovery period
- Whether you’re totally disabled or can work in a limited capacity
- Whether your earning capacity is impaired even after recovering to the extent possible
- Who caused your accident and injuries
Workers’ compensation benefits in Louisiana are capped by state law. Many workers receive about ⅔ of their wages prior to the injury. However, the current maximum that you can receive is $877 per week.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Louisiana?
Under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws, nearly all workers are entitled to benefits. Your medical expenses should be covered by workers’ comp regardless of the nature of your injuries.
The nature of your disability benefits will vary depending on the nature of your disability, and might include:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) if you cannot work on a temporary basis
- Supplemental earnings benefits if you can work during recovery, but your earnings are reduced
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) if your earnings are impaired after reaching MMI
- Permanent total disability (PTD) if you can never work again
- Vocational rehabilitation to help you learn a new line of work
- Death benefits in fatal injury cases
In personal injury lawsuits, both your economic damages and non-economic damages are relevant.
Examples of potential damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- 100% of your lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Chronic pain
- Loss of consortium and other damages for wrongful death
Workers’ compensation provides a critical lifeline for injured construction workers. You can receive benefits even if you don’t have proof that your employer caused the injuries.
To recover additional damages in personal injury cases, you must establish liability. Typically, that means proving that you were harmed because someone else was negligent.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer in Gretna?
Our lawyers operate entirely on a contingency fee basis. We don’t charge upfront fees. Instead, we deduct our attorneys’ fees from your final compensation award. You’ll agree to pay a percentage when you hire us.
What Happens to My Compensation Award if I’m Partly to Blame for a Construction Accident in Louisiana?
Your workers’ compensation benefits will not be impacted.
Louisiana follows pure comparative negligence laws in personal injury cases. Your damages will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault, assuming you really did share any blame.
Statistics on Construction Accidents in Louisiana
Private employers reported approximately 19,400 workplace injuries yearly. Roughly 1,000 of those injuries were construction-related.
That said, when construction accidents do occur, the injuries tend to be more serious. Private employers in Louisiana also reported 104 fatal workplace injuries in a recent year. 28 of those fatalities were in construction. In other words, roughly 27% of all fatal workplace accidents were in the construction industry.
Our Attorneys in Gretna Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
At Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent clients in all types of personal injury cases, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
- Nerve damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Hearing loss
- Eye injuries and vision loss
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
After an injury, it’s important to seek medical care quickly. It’s also important to follow your employer’s instructions when it comes to choosing your doctor–or you could risk your workers’ compensation coverage.
We Handle All Types of Construction Accident Claims in Gretna
Our attorneys are prepared to handle any type of construction injury case, including those involving:
- Scaffolding accidents
- Falls from ladders and roofs
- Electrocution
- Electric shock
- Fires or explosions
- Slip and fall accidents
- Accidents involving falling objects
- Heavy lifting injuries
- Building collapse
- Demolition accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Welding accidents
- Accidents where workers are caught between objects
- Accidents involving heavy machinery and work equipment
- Motor vehicle and truck accidents
Any type of construction accident can cause significant damage. Your life could be derailed for weeks, if not months, and you deserve all of the compensation allowed under the law.
What Are the Leading Causes of Construction Accidents in Louisiana?
While construction site accidents occur for all types of reasons, some of the most common include:
- Missing or damaged safety equipment
- Missing or damaged guardrails
- Communication failures
- Improperly or inadequately trained employees
- Faulty or exposed wiring and exposure to live electricity
- Wet conditions near outlets
- Contact with overhead transmission lines
- Failure to maintain work equipment in a safe condition
- Failure to properly secure construction materials and other objects
- Ignoring state or federal safety regulations
- Inadequate lighting
- Misuse of ladders
- Improperly installed scaffolding
- Lack of warning signs
Construction is a dangerous industry, even when all proper precautions are taken. When someone cuts corners, the site can become even more dangerous.
If you were injured in a construction site accident, count on our attorneys in Gretna to uncover the cause. Contact us today for a free consultation.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Compensation Claim After a Construction Accident in Louisiana?
For workers’ compensation purposes, you have 30 days to notify your employer about the accident. In personal injury cases, the deadline in Louisiana gives you two years to file a lawsuit.
Contact Our Gretna Construction Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Navigating the legal process can become frustrating. Contact an experienced Gretna construction accident attorney today. We can help you handle the legal issues. At Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers, we have the skills to help you get the full and fair compensation you deserve after a work injury.