St. Petersburg Construction Accident Lawyer

Were you or a loved one hurt in a construction accident in St. Petersburg, FL? You have two primary options for recovering compensation: workers’ compensation and personal injury lawsuits. An experienced St. Petersburg construction accident lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to secure maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Our legal team has over 119 years of combined experience handling personal injury law matters. Over the years, our fierce advocacy has helped countless clients recover fair compensation for their injuries.

We’re always available to discuss your case. Just call our law offices in St. Petersburg, Florida at (727) 314-5988 to schedule a free consultation today.

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How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Construction Accident in St. Petersburg

Construction is dangerous work. That doesn’t mean you should have to bear responsibility for the financial consequences if you were injured on the job. An experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney can help with every aspect of your claim.

Our team at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers has been working hard to protect accident victims since we were founded back in 2001. Our dedication and aggressive approach has helped countless clients recover meaningful compensation awards over the years.

Here are just some of the ways we can help with your case:

We’ll handle the investigation to determine why the accident happened
We have relationships with respected experts and specialists who can strengthen your case
We’ll help with your initial workers’ compensation claim
An experienced lawyer will defend you if your claim is denied
Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with, and we’ll handle all negotiations on your behalf

Our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys are committed to helping our clients get a fair deal. You can get the legal advice you need and deserve by calling our law firm in St. Petersburg to schedule a 100% free case review today.

How Common Are Construction Accidents in St. Petersburg?

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries out there. According to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 20% of all workplace fatalities that occur in the U.S. happen in the construction industry.

Construction fatalities are on the rise in the state of Florida. It’s no secret that the construction industry has been booming over the last decade. Over the past seven years, the construction industry has unfortunately seen a 140% increase in the number of fatalities reported.

In 2020, 82 construction-related fatalities were reported in the Sunshine State. That’s more than any other industry in the state. 39 of those workplace fatalities were caused by slips, trips, and falls.

Our lawyers handle all types of construction accident claims, including those involving:

Scaffolding accidents
Building collapse
Electric shock
Electrocution
Motor vehicle accidents
Trucking accidents
Crane accidents
Forklift accidents
Construction fall accidents
Accidents involving falling objects
Defective equipment and work tools
Slip and fall accidents
Fires and explosions
Car accidents
Exposure to toxic substances

To get started, call our law firm to schedule a free case review with an experienced St. Petersburg construction accident attorney today.

What Is My St. Petersburg Construction Accident Case Worth?

The value of a construction accident case depends on many different factors. The primary factor is the severity of your injuries. However, in cases involving work-related injuries, your case value can also vary significantly based on the identity of the responsible party.

Accident victims who are entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party tend to recover higher compensation awards than victims who are limited to workers’ compensation.

The value of your workers’ compensation benefits depends on:

Your average weekly wages prior to the accident
The duration of your recovery
Whether your disability is partial or total
The cost of your medical treatment

The workers’ compensation system provides valuable benefits, but those benefits are capped under state law. In 2022, the statewide cap limits you to $1,099 per week, even if your earnings prior to the accident were much higher.

Personal injury settlements and verdicts, on the other hand, are only limited by the extent of your damages.

Your personal injury case value may depend on:

The type and severity of your injuries
How the injury impacts your ability to work
How the injury will impact your future work and lifestyle
The emotional and physical trauma you’ve endured

In reality, personal injury case values may be limited by the amount of insurance coverage that’s available. Your compensation can also be reduced if you were partly responsible for the accident or failed to mitigate damages.

Do I Have a Valid Personal Injury Claim?

Injured construction workers cannot sue their employers for damages. Employers are protected from lawsuits under Florida workers’ compensation laws. However, you may have a valid third-party claim if someone other than your employer caused the accident.

Examples of potentially responsible third parties include:

Negligent property owners
The at-fault driver in a car accident
Manufacturers of defective products
Third-party vendors
Architects
Engineers
General contractors
Government agencies

You may have a valid personal injury claim whether the third party was wholly or partially responsible for the construction site accident.

What Types of Damages Are Available To Construction Accident Victims in St. Petersburg?

Workers’ compensation provides benefits to help with the financial losses caused by an accident and injury.

Workers’ compensation in Florida provides benefits for:

All reasonable and necessary medical expenses
About ⅔ of your average weekly wages if you’re totally disabled
Permanent disability benefits
Death benefits for survivors of fatal construction site accidents

In a personal injury lawsuit, victims are entitled to pursue compensation for their non-economic damages in addition to their economic damages.

Examples of the types of damages you may recover include:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages
Reduced earning potential
Physical therapy
Rehabilitation
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Diminished quality of life
Physical disfigurement and scarring
Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
Loss of consortium

Our lawyers can help you identify and put a dollar value on the losses you’ve sustained.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Florida?

Workers’ compensation benefits are available regardless of fault. However, Florida’s pure comparative fault laws can decrease your personal injury settlement or verdict if you share some blame. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault if you share responsibility for the accident.

We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries

Some common types of construction accident injuries include:

Broken bones
Back injuries
Whiplash
Soft tissue damage
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Head and neck injuries
Concussions
Lung damage
Organ damage
Burns
Amputations
Paralysis
Catastrophic injuries
Wrongful death of a loved one

These and other workplace injuries can severely impact your life. Our lawyers are here to help you fight for the money you need and deserve.

What Causes Most Construction Accidents in St. Petersburg, Florida?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), four types of accidents account for the majority of all construction accidents.

These “fatal four” include:

Fall accidents
Accidents where workers are struck by an object
Accidents where workers are caught between two objects
Electrocution

However, many different factors can play a role in causing an accident, including:

Lack of proper fall protection equipment
Failure to take proper safety measures
Missing safety equipment
Damaged or defective equipment
Communication failures
Failure to properly train and supervise workers
Hiring under-qualified workers
Negligent driving
Violating state and OSHA safety regulations
Dangerous property conditions
Scaffolding that is defective or improperly installed

It’s important to discover what caused your accident and injuries. The cause of your accident can help us learn who was responsible for your injuries and whether you’re entitled to pursue additional damages in a personal injury lawsuit.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Construction Accident in Florida?

First, you don’t have to prove liability to establish your right to workers’ comp benefits in Florida. However, it’s likely that any personal injury claim you bring will be based on negligence.

Negligence means:

Someone owed you a legal duty of care
They breached that duty
The breach caused your accident
You sustained damages as a result

Different types of evidence may be available to establish these elements. Our lawyers have years of experience conducting investigations into complex accidents. We’ll work tirelessly to gather all available evidence so you can focus on recovery.

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Florida?

If you were injured in a construction accident, the statute of limitations in Florida gives victims four years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under state workers’ compensation laws, you must notify your employer about the accident within 30 days to protect your right to benefits.

Contact a St. Petersburg Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Workers’ compensation laws in Florida are designed to protect you after an accident. Contacting a St. Petersburg construction accident lawyer is the best way to determine whether you’re receiving the full benefits you deserve. Just call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about your options today.

Our personal injury law firm in St. Petersburg, FL also provides: