Were you or a family member injured in a construction accident in Hermosa Beach, CA? You may have rights under California’s personal injury laws and workers’ compensation laws. An experienced Hermosa Beach construction accident lawyer at The Simon Law Group can help you fight to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.
Our lawyers have over 250 years of collective experience handling complicated injury claims. We’ve recovered over $600 million in settlements and verdicts over the years.
It’s not always easy to recover fair compensation if you were injured on the job. Contact our law offices or call (424) 722-3209 in Hermosa Beach, California to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can The Simon Law Group Help After a Construction Site Accident in Hermosa Beach, CA?
Most injured workers file a claim with workers’ compensation after a work-related injury. However, as a construction worker, you know that the construction site is a complicated place. Different parties are responsible for different things. You may have rights to additional benefits.
By now, you also probably understand that workers’ comp isn’t as simple as it seems. Your employer might be challenging your right to benefits. Your doctor could be pushing you to return to work before you’ve recovered. You may just think your benefits check seems low.
Our Hermosa Beach personal injury attorneys at The Simon Law Group are here to help you navigate these challenges.
When you hire us, you can trust that we will:
- Investigate and determine your legal options
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Protect you from blame-the-victim tactics
- Carefully evaluate the value of your claim
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for the maximum amount you deserve
- Represent you in court and at all hearings
- Handle all of the paperwork
Our Hermosa Beach personal injury lawyers have been working hard for injured construction employees like you since 2009. Contact us today to learn more about how we can fight for you.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in California?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private employers in California reported 419,300 non-fatal workplace injuries in 2022. About 26,300 of those injuries were in the construction industry.
Unfortunately, 504 workers also died on the job that year. 75 of those fatalities were in the construction industry.
Who Pays My Damages if I Was Injured in a Construction Accident in Hermosa Beach?
There are two options for recovering compensation after a work-related construction accident: workers’ compensation and personal injury lawsuits.
All employers in California must purchase workers’ compensation coverage. That’s true even if the employer has only one employee.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. You can receive workers’ comp benefits regardless of who or what caused your injuries. In exchange, you cannot sue your employer to recover additional damages even if your employer was negligent.
However, if someone other than your employer caused your injuries, you maintain the right to sue that third party for damages. These lawsuits are called third-party claims.
For example, you may have a valid personal injury lawsuit if you were injured because:
- A negligent driver caused a car accident while you were working
- A property owner failed to maintain their premises in safe condition
- A manufacturing company sold your employer defective tools or equipment
Our experienced Hermosa Beach construction accident attorneys will evaluate your case for free and determine the best course of action. Just contact us today to get started.
What is the Value of My Hermosa Beach Construction Accident Case?
Like any motorcycle accident or slip and fall victim, your case value depends on many different factors.
Workers’ compensation provides a set level of benefits. You’ll be compensated for all medical expenses if you visit an approved doctor or obtain written permission to see your own doctor.
Injured workers also receive about ⅔ of their average weekly wages prior to the disability. However, California caps the weekly check you can receive at $1,619.15 in 2023, regardless of your prior earnings.
Overall, the value of your workers’ comp claim depends on:
- Your earning level prior to the disability
- The duration of your recovery
- Whether you will ever be able to return to work in the same capacity
- The cost of your medical treatment
Additional factors that can impact the value of a personal injury case include:
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering
- How the injury impacts your quality of life, lifestyle, and family
- The nature of the responsible party’s acts
Injured construction workers who can file a personal injury lawsuit tend to receive higher compensation awards. That’s because your compensation isn’t limited by state law.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Hermosa Beach, California?
Under workers’ compensation laws, you can receive the following types of benefits:
- All reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Temporary disability benefits if you cannot work while you recover
- Permanent disability benefits if you can never return to work
- Supplemental job displacement benefits to retrain you for a new line of work if you don’t return to work for your previous employer because you did not recover fully from your injuries
- Death benefits for survivors of fatal construction accidents
Under state personal injury laws, you can seek compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses not covered by workers’ comp
- Future medical costs
- 100% of your lost wages
- Rehabilitation and specialized care
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental trauma
- Diminished quality of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
It’s even possible that you could recover punitive damages if the defendant’s actions were malicious or especially shocking. Note, however, that California courts rarely award punitive damages.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in California?
Yes. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so you can recover compensation even if you caused the accident yourself.
Under California’s pure comparative negligence law, the value of your settlement or verdict will be reduced to the extent you share blame for the accident. You won’t lose your right to personal injury compensation entirely unless you were 100% responsible.
Our Team in Hermosa Beach Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Some common examples of construction injury cases we handle include:
- Eye and facial injuries
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Burns
- Nerve injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Our wrongful death lawyers in Hermosa Beach can also help if your loved one suffered fatal injuries while on the construction site.
What Are the Leading Causes of Construction Accidents in Hermosa Beach, CA?
Construction accidents happen for different reasons. After all, construction is an extremely dangerous industry.
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents include:
- Ignoring OSHA safety regulations and California labor laws
- Lack of fall protection
- Lack of proper safety equipment
- Defective scaffolding, equipment, or tools
- Failure to adequately train employees
- Negligent hiring practices
- Communication failures
- Dangerous property conditions
- Negligent property maintenance
- Failure to properly maintain work equipment and tools in safe condition
Identifying the cause of your injuries is particularly important in workplace accident cases. Once we understand the cause, we’ll understand your legal options for recovering fair compensation.
We Handle All Types of Construction Accident Claims in Hermosa Beach
At The Simon Law Group, we’re here to help regardless of how you were injured.
Our lawyers often represent clients in cases involving:
- Scaffolding accidents
- Scaffolding or building collapse
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents, including trucking accidents
- Accidents involving cranes, forklifts, and heavy machinery
- Nail gun accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Roof and ladder falls
- Defective work tools or equipment
- Electric shock
- Electrocution
- Trenching accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
If you were injured on a construction site, don’t hesitate to take legal action. Contact our personal injury law firm in Hermosa Beach to schedule your free initial consultation today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Compensation After a Construction Accident in California?
You should notify your employer about the injury as soon as possible. You could lose your right to workers’ compensation benefits if you fail to notify your employer within 30 days of the injury. That’s because your employer needs to be able to investigate the injury soon after it occurs.
If you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit, you must take legal action before the two-year statute of limitations expires. After two years pass, you lose your right to sue for damages under California’s personal injury laws.
Call a Trusted Hermosa Beach Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
If you were injured in a construction site accident, it’s important to know that you have legal rights. Our legal team at The Simon Law Group is here to protect those rights. Contact us today to learn more about how an experienced Hermosa Beach construction accident lawyer can help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
