Were you or a loved one hurt in a construction accident in St. Petersburg, FL? 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. Just call our law offices at (727) 314-5988 to get the legal help you need.
You have two primary options for recovering compensation: workers’ compensation and personal injury lawsuits. Our legal team has over 119 years of combined experience handling personal injury law matters such as St. Petersburg workplace accidents, brain injuries, medical malpractice, slip and fall cases, St. Petersburg premises liability cases, and many more.
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 contact our law offices in St. Petersburg, Florida to schedule a free consultation today.
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 an 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 modified comparative fault laws can decrease your personal injury settlement or verdict if you share some blame; they eliminate your right to compensation if you are mostly at fault. If you share some fault, 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 two years to file a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence. You may have more or less time depending on the facts of the accident. 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:
- Bicycle Accident Attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL
- St. Petersburg Boating Accident Lawyer
- Brain Injury Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
- Bus Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg
- Car Accident Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL
- St. Petersburg Child Injury Attorneys
- Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL
- Construction Accident Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
- Dog Bite Lawyer in St. Petersburg
- St. Petersburg Medical Malpractice Attorney
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg
- St. Petersburg Premises Liability Attorney
- Product Liability Lawyers in St. Petersburg
- Truck Accident Attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL
- Uber Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL
- Workers’ Compensation Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
- Workplace Accident Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL
- Wrongful Death Attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL
