Construction sites across New Jersey can be dangerous workplaces because they contain heavy equipment, elevated areas, unpredictable situations, and fast-changing environments. Workers in Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey face the risk of severe construction accidents which result in permanent injuries, financial problems, and emotional distress. The protection of your rights after a construction accident requires you to understand your legal entitlements.
If you were injured on a construction site in Mount Laurel Township, contact an experienced Mount Laurel Township construction accident lawyer at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman. We fight for workers hurt on the job to recover full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and permanent injuries.
The law firm Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman specializes in construction accident cases and workplace injury defense. Construction workers who get hurt on the job can seek compensation when their employers, contractors, or third parties do not keep their job sites safe.
Common Types of Construction Accidents & Injuries
Multiple types of construction accidents exist but certain incidents occur more frequently. The identification of common construction accident scenarios enables you to determine if legal action becomes possible.
Falls
The most dangerous workplace accidents involve workers who fall from scaffolds, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms. The resulting injuries from these accidents frequently lead to severe outcomes including spinal injuries,traumatic brain damage, and broken bones.
Struck-by or caught-in incidents
Workers face danger when equipment or materials or objects move to hit them or when they become trapped between heavy machinery.
Trench or excavation collapses
The collapse of trenches and deep excavations leads to worker entombment. The law firm PR&A secured a settlement for a pipefitter who suffered an injury when a trench collapse occurred at a site operated by another contractor.
Machinery or equipment malfunction
The operation of heavy machinery including cranes, bulldozers, and forklifts becomes dangerous when equipment receives inadequate maintenance or when operators fail to follow proper procedures.
Hazardous worksite conditions
The combination of poor contractor coordination with missing safety equipment and inadequate signage and unprotected areas creates an unacceptable danger.
Injuries to non-workers
People who visit the job site or live nearby can get injured when contractors do not properly protect the area. The victims who lack workers’ compensation benefits need to file personal injury lawsuits because they cannot receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Legal Rights & Recovery Options in Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey
Mount Laurel Township construction accident victims can pursue two primary methods to obtain compensation through workers’ compensation and personal injury (third-party) claims when appropriate.
Workers’ Compensation
The workers’ compensation system of New Jersey provides coverage to all employees who sustain work-related injuries.
- The system provides medical care and wage substitution benefits that reach up to 70% of your weekly earnings before offering permanent disability compensation.
- Your first step after an injury should be to inform your employer about the incident. Your ability to receive benefits will become endangered when you fail to inform your employer about your injury.
- You cannot pursue third-party negligence claims against parties who are not your employer but you cannot file direct negligence suits against your employer.
Third-Party or Personal Injury Claim
- Your ability to file a third-party claim exists when someone outside your employer caused your injury through negligence such as a general contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or subcontractor.
- Third-party claims enable you to seek compensation for additional damages which include both pain and suffering and future earning potential.
- The New Jersey law requires you to start your personal injury lawsuit within two years from the time of your injury.
Key Deadline Reminders
- Your ability to receive workers’ compensation benefits depends on your immediate notification of the injury to your employer within 90 days.
- You need to submit your workers’ compensation claim application within two years after sustaining your injury.
- You must initiate personal injury litigation within two years following your injury occurrence. Your ability to file a claim will become permanently restricted when you fail to meet these essential deadlines.
Who May Be Liable? Identifying Parties at Fault
Multiple parties share responsibility for construction accident liability because of their complex involvement in the situation. The following list shows typical parties who become responsible for accidents:
- Your employer: The employer must follow workers’ compensation rules but direct negligence does not establish a valid claim against third parties.
- The general contractor and site owner bear responsibility to direct subcontractors and ensure site safety while providing necessary equipment and warning signs and enforcing safety protocols. The general contractor establishes fundamental rules which govern site operations.
- The subcontractor becomes responsible for injuries that result from their professional mistakes including dangerous excavation work and unstable scaffolding construction.
- The manufacturer and supplier of equipment become responsible when defective products or equipment malfunctions lead to accidents.
- The owner of property where you suffered an injury becomes responsible under premises liability laws when you were present at their site.
The investigation process becomes essential when construction accidents involve multiple parties who share responsibility for the incident.
Steps to Protect Your Rights After a Construction Accident
Your case will benefit from proper initial actions when you experience a construction accident in Mount Laurel Township.
- Seek immediate medical care – Your health status requires the highest level of attention. Your medical treatment at the right time will help your recovery while producing essential records that prove your injuries.
- Notify your employer – Workers who want compensation benefits through PR&A need to inform their employer about their injury right away because neglecting this step could result in lost benefits.
- Preserve the scene and evidence – Take photographs/videos of the job site and all equipment involved and safety equipment that was present or absent and protective gear and fall hazards and signage.
- Keep all incident reports and equipment maintenance records and injury logs and permit information for future reference.
- Avoid settlement offers – Insurance companies together with contractors will try to offer you fast settlements before you understand your complete medical situation and future health consequences.
- Seek help from an attorney who specializes in construction accidents at the beginning of your case – Your legal needs require an attorney who understands New Jersey workers’ compensation, personal injury law, and construction-site litigation.
Why Experienced Legal Representation Matters
The process of handling construction accident claims requires more than form completion because it demands strategic approaches, negotiation skills, complete site investigations, and possible court battles.
The team at PR&A conducts thorough site investigations to discover essential evidence which helps them identify all parties involved in the accident, retrieve site documentation, equipment operation records, and conduct witness statements.
- Legal complexity: Navigating workers’ compensation claims, third‐party liability, determining future care needs, and calculating lost earnings.
- Meeting deadlines: The process of submitting proper notices and filings requires strict adherence to deadlines because any delay will result in claim termination.
- Leveling the playing field: The injured persons must deal with powerful contractors and insurance companies and defense organizations. Your attorney will protect your rights through insurance communication and aggressive compensation negotiations to achieve complete financial recovery.
- Maximizing the result: Construction accidents result in permanent damage to victims who need compensation to include future medical expenses, reduced ability to work, ongoing medical treatment, and pain and suffering.
What You Should Ask When You Talk to a Lawyer
If you’re injured in a construction accident and meet with an attorney, come prepared with questions to ensure you get the representation you need:
- What is my deadline for filing claims in my case?
- Most personal injury claims in New Jersey must be filed within 2 years, and claims involving a public entity may require a 90-day Notice of Claim, so it’s critical to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
- Who may be liable in my accident?
- Depending on the circumstances, liability may involve your employer (workers’ comp), the general contractor, subcontractors, the property owner, or the manufacturer of defective equipment.
- Do you have experience with construction-site injury cases in this area?
- Yes – PR&A has decades of experience handling construction and workplace injury claims throughout New Jersey, including Burlington County and the Mount Laurel region.
- What types of damages might I be eligible to recover?
- You may seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future care needs, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering through workers’ compensation and/or third-party personal injury claims.
- What evidence should I preserve now?
- Photographs, witness contact information, accident reports, medical records, and any equipment or job-site safety documentation should be gathered and secured immediately.
- What are your fees?
- PR&A works on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees unless they secure a recovery for you.
Contact the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman Today
A construction accident in Mount Laurel Township creates devastating disruptions which affect physical safety, financial stability, emotional well-being, and professional success. You can handle this situation by yourself while being ready for it. Your rights become more effective when you take immediate evidence protection steps and work with an attorney who understands Mount Laurel Township laws.
You should contact us immediately to assess your situation if you or someone in your family suffered an injury at a work site in Mount Laurel Township or surrounding areas. Every passing moment becomes crucial. New Jersey law protects your right to receive complete compensation for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation!
