Construction sites are hectic places. The sound of machines, people running around in hardhats, someone barking out orders and plenty of vehicles driving around and through the site. With all this going on, accidents are bound to happen, and sometimes it involves one of the construction vehicles.
At Crary & Domanico, P.S., we’ve seen the devastation and injuries that a construction equipment or machine injury can bring The victim is often sidelined for months or longer, and sometimes sustains permanent and disabling injuries. We feel that both workers and members of the public should be safe in a construction zone, and will fight for fair compensation for those injured in a construction site.
Premises Liability
Some construction sites are open to the public while some are closed off to the public. Either way, the law looks at the reason why the victim was on the site and thus what level of care was owed to the victim. If the person was authorized to be on the property and was injured, then the owner of the site or the construction company (or both) may be liable for the injuries.
This is because of a legal doctrine called premises liability which holds the owner/operator of a property liable for any dangerous hazards on the property. A dangerous hazard can be just about anything including equipment.
At Crary & Domanico, P.S., we have experience in getting compensation for those injured in a construction zone. We understand that road construction is necessary, but we also know that the company and the government have a duty to keep construction zones safe for those who travel through them.
Construction Vehicle Accidents
Who is going to be liable in a construction vehicle accident will depend on who owned or drover the vehicle involved and who was injured. If the injured person was a worker, then the worker will be compensated by worker’s compensation. However, if the driver of the car wasn’t a worker but a third party, then the worker can sue the third party for their injuries.
Other times, the vehicles might be owned by a private citizen passing through or nearby, and then that driver’s insurance will cover the damages, just like any other auto accident. However, if the company or the landowner is to blame for not being able to provide a safe site, then they might be sued as well.
Types of Construction Vehicles
There are several types of vehicles on a construction site, and many are part of the equipment used in the construction of the building. While others are passenger or delivery vehicles driven by workers, vendors, inspectors, company management or just about anybody.
Some of the more common vehicle types that are involved in construction accidents are:
- Pickup Trucks
- Passenger Vehicles
- Delivery Vehicles
- Backhoes
- Lifters
- Hole-Diggers
- Bulldozers
- Cranes
- Dump trucks
- Excavators
- Forklifts
Compensation
In most of these cases, an insurance company is going to pay for the victim’s injuries. Who pays and how much will depend on who was at fault and how severe the injuries were. The law entitles the victim to financial compensation for all injuries and financial losses reasonably related to the accident. Some of these common losses that can be awarded are:
- Medical Bills
- Rehab Treatment/Equipment
- Travel
- Lost Time from Work
- Future Lost Time from Work
- Permanent Disability/Disfigurement
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Consortium (Intimacy, affection etc.)
Contact a Construction Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in one of the many construction zones in and around Spokane, you owe it to yourself to talk to an attorney who can tell you if you have a case that could get you compensation for your injuries. At Crary & Domanico, P.S., we offer a free consultation and we collect no money until you get an award or settlement.
We also have years of experience dealing with construction site injuries and working with insurance companies. We know all the tricks and tactics they use to keep you from getting fair compensation. Call us today and get someone on your side. You can call us at (509) 926 4900, or send us a message by clicking here.
