Getting Full And Fair Workers’ Comp Benefits For Construction Workers

Construction is one of the most labor-intensive — and potentially dangerous — industries. Each day, workers use heavy machinery and perform difficult tasks, sometimes at great heights or involving heavy loads. Safety measures are often enforced on work sites, but this doesn’t always prevent accidents and injuries from occurring.

Injuries that occur on the job will be covered by workers’ compensation. It is important, however, that you have skilled guidance in filing the application and fully documenting the extent of your injury. Without the correct medical opinions, you can undermine your efforts to receive maximum benefits that you deserve.

Often these accidents cause back injuries, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, broken bones and even chronic pain from years of repetitive motions and stresses. We have the medical background to help you understand your injury and how it relates to your job. Our staff will help you find the doctors and treatment you need to fully document the pain for workers’ compensation.

Challenges Construction Workers Face When Seeking Benefits

Construction workers face unique hurdles when proving their injuries deserve compensation. Several situations require additional evidence: 

• Repetitive stress injuries: Years of lifting, bending or operating vibrating equipment can cause gradual damage to joints, muscles and nerves. These conditions require medical testimony explaining how daily work tasks created the injury over time. 
• Machinery-related accidents: When cranes, forklifts or power tools cause harm, we obtain maintenance records and operator certifications. The ultimate goal is to determine whether equipment failure or improper training contributed to what happened. 

For your claim to succeed, you must show a clear connection between your work and your injury. Our firm brings decades of experience to your case. We can help ensure every aspect of the injury is thoroughly documented and linked to the job, so your claim stands on solid ground. 

A Clearer Path For Filing Your Claim

The workers’ compensation claim process involves strict deadlines and specific documentation. We gather the evidence needed for a strong claim, including:

• Injury documentation: We help ensure you have the correct medical opinions that link your injury to the job site. This includes careful records of all treatments.
• Site records: We secure records unique to a construction setting. This may include accident reports, site safety logs and co-worker statements.
• Maximizing benefits: It is important to pursue the maximum benefits to which you are entitled. We coordinate your medical treatment to document the extent of your injury.

We take over the paperwork and deadlines so you do not carry that burden alone.

When Third Parties Share Responsibility

If another party, other than your employer or co-workers, was involved, you may have a third-party liability. For example, if the equipment malfunctioned causing your accident, you may be able to file a claim against the company that manufactured the equipment. This would proceed separately from your workers’ compensation claim. We will advise you as to any possible additional claims you may have, based on the circumstances of your accident.

Subcontractors who create hazardous conditions on shared work sites can be held liable separately. Equipment manufacturers whose defective products cause injuries may owe you damages beyond workers’ comp benefits. Property owners who fail to maintain safe premises where you are working might face claims for their negligence.

These third-party cases run parallel to your workers’ compensation claim and can provide additional recovery for pain and suffering and lost income. No matter the situation, guiding your recovery is our commitment.

We have spent decades handling cases involving construction workers who were injured by factors beyond their employer’s control. With that knowledge, our attorneys coordinate both claims simultaneously, protecting your right to workers’ comp benefits while pursuing every liable party. 

New Jersey And Bergen County Construction Worker Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured in a construction site accident, we can help. At Parisi & Gerlanc, Attorneys At Law, our legal team is committed to fighting for construction workers throughout Hackensack and Passaic County who have been injured and are seeking the compensation they need and deserve. These benefits help to cover medical treatment and lost wages.

To learn more about how our lawyers can help you receive the workers’ compensation benefits you need, please schedule a free initial consultation with our Bergen County law firm today at 551-587-8915.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Construction Accidents

Construction accidents can leave you with life-long injuries, physical disabilities and emotional trauma, impacting not only your ability to work but also your quality of life. In our more than 80 years of legal experience helping victims of New Jersey construction accidents get compensated, these are some of the questions we most frequently hear from our clients:

What are the most common construction accidents in New Jersey?

Some of the most common accidents at New Jersey construction sites include:

• Falls from heights
• Scaffold collapses
• Electrocution incidents
• Struck-by-object accidents
• Trench collapses
• Machinery accidents

According to the CDC, falls, stuck-by injuries, electrocutions and caught-in/caught-between injuries are the most likely to be fatal.

Is workers’ comp the only way to get compensation for a New Jersey construction accident?

No. While workers’ compensation is often the primary avenue for compensation for New Jersey construction accidents, it is by no means the only option. You may be able to claim third-party liability if someone other than your employer, such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer or property owner, was negligent and contributed to the accident.

When can you sue a third party for injuries in a New Jersey construction accident?

You can sue a third party for injuries in a New Jersey construction accident when their negligence or wrongful actions contributed to the accident and resulting injuries. Some common scenarios where you might be able to pursue a third-party lawsuit include:

• Negligence of subcontractors or other workers on the construction site
• Defective equipment or machinery provided by a manufacturer or supplier
• Unsafe conditions on the property maintained by a property owner or manager
• Negligent actions by architects, engineers or other design professionals involved in the project

Consulting with a skilled attorney experienced in New Jersey construction accident cases can help determine if you have grounds for a third-party lawsuit and guide you through the legal process.