There are several reasons why you should hire a construction accident attorney. The first reason to hire a lawyer is that you may be suffering injuries and various forms of distress. You may worsen your injuries and stress if you try to handle a construction accident case without an attorney.
There is also the issue of experience. A Cape Girardeau construction accident lawyer will have resolved many construction accident lawsuits. They can complete the investigation, calculate your damages, and other case-related processes more efficiently (and effectively) than you.
The Many Reasons to Rely on a Construction Accident Attorney
Selecting just one reason to hire a construction accident lawyer is impossible. The process of seeking compensation is complicated and, for many, highly consequential. If you fail to obtain a fair financial recovery, you may face life-changing financial stress in the future.
Some of the top reasons to hire a construction accident lawyer include:
You Want to Win Your Case
Don’t overthink the decision of hiring a lawyer. You don’t have to have any other reason other than wanting to secure all of the compensation you deserve. Many construction accident victims hire a lawyer because:
- They have reviewed the law firm’s record of results
- They believe the law firm is capable of obtaining a fair settlement or verdict
The decision-making process that leads you to a lawyer can truly be that simple.
Your Health Is Compromised
Those who suffer injuries in a construction accident often:
- Have intense physical pain
- Have injury symptoms that limit their range of motion
- Are unable to handle their full slate of personal and professional responsibilities
- Cannot justify taking on the physical demands of a construction accident lawsuit
Severe construction accidents are alarmingly common, and every victim must prioritize their physical and mental health after suffering an injury.
You’re Suffering Psychologically
Physical injuries are usually not the extent of harm from construction accidents. You may also have psychological and emotional symptoms that require you to rest and receive treatment.
Construction accident cases can:
- Force the person handling the case to face the details of the accident (which may prove traumatic if you’re the one injured during the accident)
- Be immensely stressful, as you may be fighting a party for compensation they do not want to provide
- Impose physical demands that contribute to any pre existing psychological and emotional issues
Your recovery process may cause stress, as you may have doctor’s appointments and other obligations to tend to. Don’t risk further pain and suffering by trying to handle your own construction accident case, too.
You’re Intimidated by an Unfamiliar Process
For many, construction accident cases are a once-in-a-lifetime event. You may have no prior experience seeking compensation from someone who is liable for a work injury. It’s understandable to be unfamiliar with and intimidated by the legal process.
A construction accident lawyer’s significant experience may greatly benefit your case. Because they have successfully resolved other construction accident cases, you may have the utmost confidence that your lawyer can deliver results for you.
You Need a Lawyer’s Financial Support
Construction accident lawyers see a common concern among prospective clients: How will I pay the cost of a lawsuit?
Hiring a lawyer eliminates this concern because:
- Your construction accident lawyer (and their team) will cover the entire upfront cost of your lawsuit
- The law firm will invest significant resources into your case (including but not limited to expert testimony and reconstructions of the construction accident)
- The law firm will not receive a fee unless (and until) it secures a fair settlement or judgment for you
This is a contingency fee structure in which the law firm takes the financial risk of the case. If the law firm does not deliver on its goal to secure compensation for you, then you will not owe the law firm a cent for its services.
When to Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer
You should find and hire a construction accident attorney as soon as possible. The most important reasons not to wait to hire your lawyer are:
- Evidence: The strength of evidence may be a primary factor in whether you secure the compensation you deserve. The sooner you hire your attorney, the quicker they can gather case-related evidence.
- Filing deadlines: Your construction accident lawsuit may have a strict filing deadline. Only you can prevent your lawyer from filing your case on time, and you may do this by waiting too long to retain your attorney.
- Your rights: Your rights are at risk, even if it has not been apparent. As soon as you hire a construction accident lawyer, they will shield you from anyone who wants to deprive you of fair compensation.
An attorney will explain how you should proceed after the collision. They also deal with insurance companies so nobody pressures you into accepting a lowball settlement offer. Once your attorney has taken over your case, you should recover without worrying about the status of your lawsuit.
Where Do I Find a Construction Accident Lawyer?
You can find prospective construction accident lawyers:
- Online
- Through friends, family, and coworkers
- Through local advertisements
- Through social media
For many, conducting an online search is the most effective way to find a construction accident attorney. You can easily review information about specific firms and determine the most qualified legal team to lead your case.
What Are the Signs of a Qualified Construction Accident Lawyer?
Law firms differentiate themselves from the competition in several ways, including:
Getting Large Case Results
Case results are the primary way for a law firm to prove itself to clients. You may review a law firm’s:
- Total number of case results
- Size of settlements and verdicts in construction accident cases
- Tendency to take cases to trial (or not)
Trial verdicts are an important consideration. If a law firm has a record of obtaining awards from trials, it is clearly willing to go to court when it is the right decision for the client.
Providing Elite Client Service
Service is another important way for law firms to establish themselves as trustworthy. You deserve a law firm that:
- Will listen compassionately to your account of the construction accident
- Mold their legal approach to meet your unique needs and requests
- Will be in touch throughout the case (reaching out proactively to update you about the case)
- Will be available whenever you call, text, or email
- Will help with case-related appointments
You can read reviews from former clients to gauge whether a law firm will meet your high standard of service.
Focusing on Specific Practice Areas
Some law firms effectively handle a wide range of case types. However, other firms narrow their practice areas to ensure they can master each case type they handle.
You should ensure that any firm you hire handles many construction accident cases. This way, you can be confident that your attorney has the necessary experience and knowledge.
Regularly Taking Cases to Court
Most cases settle, but a law firm should not limit their options to settling. If a law firm is willing to take your case to trial, then:
- The law firm can negotiate a settlement confidently, knowing that they can take the case to court if liable parties do not offer a fair settlement
- Your lawyer can draft a lawsuit promptly if no fair settlement offer arises
- Your attorney can complete a trial if it becomes the best option for you
While a trial is complicated, you and your attorney may be rewarded with a large financial recovery. Review each law firm’s case results to see if they are willing to take construction accident cases to court.
Your Attorney Will Lead Your Case from Start to Finish
A construction accident attorney will remove the stress of your case from your shoulders. The lawyer and their team will oversee every step of your case, including:
Determining Why Your Construction Accident Happened
Failures in the construction industry (including equipment defects) are among the leading reasons for workplace deaths. Such hazards also cause non-fatal injuries, and construction accident lawyers know these hazards well.
As your lawyer identifies the cause of your construction accident, they will:
- Obtain any video footage of the accident
- Obtain witness accounts related to your construction accident
- Secure any incident reports completed by your employer
- Hire any experts who can testify about the cause of the accident
- Secure any other evidence that will benefit your lawsuit
Attorneys have investigators who are always ready to investigate a harmful accident. These systems will ensure your lawyer gets all the evidence to help you secure a financial recovery.
Documenting and Calculating the Cost of Your Construction Accident
Your lawyer will seek documentation for every damage resulting from your construction accident. Proof of those damages may include:
- Your past income statements, which your lawyer will compare against your current earnings
- Bills for medical expenses, rehabilitation services, mental health services, and other expenses
- Expert testimony about your pain and suffering and physical injuries
- Any other evidence showing the harm you’ve suffered because of your construction accident
Your legal team will also calculate an exact economic value for each of your damages. Having proof and a calculation of your damages will be essential to the success of your case.
Negotiating a Settlement
Your attorney will use their proof of your damages and calculation of a settlement value to demand a fair settlement. They will also show proof of negligence to liable parties, which can establish that the defendant is financially responsible for your damages.
Taking Your Case to Court, if Necessary
After completing every round of settlement negotiations, your lawyer will explain whether you have received a fair settlement offer. If you have yet to receive an offer that covers your accident-related damages, your attorney may ask you to let them take your case to court.
Construction Accident Lawyers Seek Fair Compensation for Clients’ Damages
Your lawyer’s every move will revolve around the goal of a fair financial recovery. They will make a record of your recoverable damages, which may include:
- Medical costs: Construction accidents require that you seek immediate medical attention. Because such accidents often involve severe injuries, you may need a hospital stay, surgery, specialist appointments, and other costly medical services. Your construction accident attorney will secure medical records from your providers and project any future medical expenses.
- Pain and suffering: Your attorney will consider the non-economic cost of your construction accident. This cost may include physical pain, anxiety (which may include fear of activities related to your job, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and lost quality of life.
- Professional harm: Your professional damages may include lost income, diminished earning power, lost bonuses, and other losses that drain your quality of life and financial security.
- Disability-related damages: If injuries from your construction accident are disabling, you may need medical equipment, caregiver services, and other items and services that prove costly. Your attorney will include such expenses in your settlement demands.
- Mental health services: Any counseling or medications you need for mental health struggles will be part of your case.
Each construction accident affects victims differently. Your lawyer will tailor your settlement demands to reflect each damage you have suffered.
Recoverable Damages in Fatal Construction Accident Cases
Fatal construction accidents recently hit a five-year high. This indicates that despite technological advances, the construction industry remains as dangerous as ever. If you have lost a loved one from a fatal construction accident, let a lawyer demand justice for you and other survivors.
A fatal construction accident case may involve several damages, including:
- Funeral and burial (or cremation) expenses
- Survivors’ pain and suffering
- The decedent’s pain and suffering
- A spouse’s loss of companionship
- Loss of the decedent’s income and household services
If you have suffered any other damages because of your construction accident, your lawyer will determine their cost and seek fair compensation from liable parties.
Construction Accidents Often Have Catastrophic Outcomes—Don’t Wait to Hire Your Lawyer
There may be a deadline for filing your construction accident case, so don’t wait to hire your attorney and let them fight for your financial recovery.