IT'S MORE TO US, IT'S PERSONAL
Experienced Construction Accident Lawyer in Panama City
Construction sites are among the most dangerous work environments in Panama City, Florida. This means that construction accidents aren’t uncommon, and many a construction worker is injured during a construction accident.
That doesn’t mean construction accidents are hopeless, however. When it comes to getting appropriate workers’ compensation or a settlement, many people find resistance from construction companies and insurance agents.
When you’re faced with injury, call a Wettermark Keith construction accident lawyer in Panama City. We’ll assist you in filing an effective personal injury case to get the compensation you need.
Construction Accident Statistics in Panama City, FL
Although construction workers may only get injured once while on the job in their lifetime, hundreds of workplace accidents occur in Florida every year. The top cause of fatal occupational accidents in the state is transportation incidents, including accidents on the road and pedestrian accidents. Of all occupational deaths in the state, the industry with the most is construction.
Construction workers are always at risk when they’re working. The best thing you can do is to be careful, follow safety protocols, and properly report any injuries or safety hazards. If you do get injured, file an accident report with your employer immediately after you seek medical care.
Before you answer any questions from the insurance company, call your trusted personal injury attorney. They likely will have some legal advice for you and will want to help you proceed.
Should I Handle a Construction Accident Case Myself?
Unless your injury is minor and the insurance company is paying you a sufficient amount, you should probably call a construction accident lawyer in Panama City. Even in the simplest of personal injury cases, there can be more than meets the eye. For instance, even though employers aren’t legally allowed to fire you over workers’ compensation claims, they may still try to dissuade you from filing.
Construction accident attorneys will have the knowledge to defend you from these unfair actions and many more tactics used by insurance companies. Hiring a lawyer shows the responsible party that you are taking your injury seriously.
Additionally, if you’ve experienced the wrongful death of a family member, it is essential to put together a legal team to handle the case. These cases can be long and complex, and no person wants to go through the experience of filing for wrongful death compensation alone. While you take time to grieve, our team of expert construction lawyers will be fighting to get you the compensation you deserve.
Getting a construction accident lawyer in Panama City is one of the best ways to secure a favorable settlement to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Can I Receive Compensation Outside Workers’ Comp?
Your eligibility for workers’ compensation after a construction accident depends on your status as an employee. In Florida, independent contractors and other, non-employee designations are not included in workers’ compensation.
However, if you do qualify, it will stop you from being able to qualify for other kinds of compensation, like pain and suffering and emotional distress. The only way to receive this type of compensation while also receiving workers’ comp is to file a lawsuit. Generally speaking, lawsuits should only be pursued when the negligence on the part of your employer or construction company was egregious.
If your injuries have kept you from work for a specific period of time, you may be eligible to apply for temporary disability benefits, or maybe even longer-term disability benefits programs. To know what options might be right for you, contact a qualified construction accident lawyer in Panama City from Wettermark Keith.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Construction Accident?
In most construction accident injury cases, the employer will pay workers’ compensation if the employee is eligible. However, there are other parties from whom you can seek compensation if they had a role in causing your accident:
1. Construction Site Owners
It is the role and responsibility of construction site owners to provide a safe working environment. There are also OSHA standards that a construction site must legally meet. These regulations help workers stay safe. When they’re not met, site owners can be held responsible and may need to pay towards your compensation. A construction site owner may also be held liable if they do not disclose the dangers to you before you started working at the site.
2. Parts & Equipment Manufacturers
If your injury was caused by a piece of malfunctioning equipment, the company responsible for creating or repairing it may be to blame. Manufacturers are supposed to ensure that their products are functional and safe for use.
Likewise, any mechanic who works on tools or construction equipment should know when it’s suitable for use and when it’s not. Their negligence to do their due diligence or inform you about the dangers of the equipment may mean that they are liable.
3. Other Workers
In very rare circumstances, you can seek compensation from a person who works with you, like another employee or contractor. Construction work requires a lot of trust in the people who work with you. If one of these people doesn’t do their job properly, it puts others at risk. If you believe your injury was caused by another worker’s negligence, call us today.
Construction Accident Cases We Handle
Construction accidents occur under a number of different circumstances. Not every lawyer in Panama City is equipped to handle your particular case. At Wettermark Keith, our experience with personal injury cases like yours means we can help in almost any type of construction accident practice area. This includes:
- Workers’ compensation
- Disability
- Insurance company bad faith
- Railroad accidents
- Slip and falls
- Harmful substances
- Car accidents
- Large auto accident
- Hazardous exposure
- Struck by object or objects
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Blindness
- Loss of hearing
- Chemical burns
- Wrongful death
Even if your case doesn’t fall under any of these categories, we’ll likely be able to help you with your Panama City construction accident case. Call us as soon as possible after your injury to get the help you need.
Wettermark Keith: Construction Accident Lawyer in Panama City
Don’t just hire the first construction accidents lawyer you find in an online lawyers directory when you’re injured. Do your research and meet several attorneys in Panama City before officially hiring one for the case. You’ll want a lawyer with lots of experience and an understanding, helpful attitude. Choose carefully, and the extra effort of finding a lawyer will be worth it!
Wettermark Keith is a law firm founded on trust. Years ago, we saw that hard-working people were being disparaged by the big insurance companies. Without genuine, trustworthy legal options, these people were being taken advantage of. That’s why we founded Wettermark Keith. As part of our promise to you, we’ll never charge a penny until we win your case. After all, if our clients aren’t winning, we’re not winning, either.
Let us show you how much we care. Set up a free consultation to talk about your case.
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common causes include transportation incidents, pedestrian accidents, failure to follow safety protocols, equipment malfunctions, and negligence of construction site owners or other workers.
It's generally not advisable, especially if the injury is significant. Experienced construction accident lawyers can help navigate the complexities of personal injury law and defend against tactics used by employers or insurance companies.
Yes, you can pursue compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or other damages through a lawsuit, especially when there's negligence involved.
Possible liable parties include construction site owners, equipment manufacturers, other workers, and sometimes the employer, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Wettermark Keith handles a wide range of cases, including workers’ compensation, disability claims, insurance bad faith, various types of accidents (like slip and falls, car accidents, railroad accidents), exposure to harmful substances, traumatic brain injuries, chemical burns, wrongful death, and more.
Free Consultation
you won’t pay us anything until we’ve won your case
