Unfortunately, construction accidents occur daily in Alabama. If you have been injured in a construction accident, you have rights. Blackwell Law Firm will protect these rights and earn you maximum compensation under Alabama law.
Your employer or site manager may not be on your side after a serious injury. Their insurance company may deny or minimize your injury claim to avoid paying what you are owed. Our construction accident attorneys in Athens will protect your rights. .
We stand with our clients from their initial consultation until well after their case is complete. Our team works diligently to help you navigate a complex medical system, negotiate claims, and take cases to trial if necessary.
At Blackwell Law Firm, we never back down from a fight. Our skilled attorneys have been fierce advocates for construction workers across Alabama, winning significant cases to protect their rights and earn them workers’ compensation benefits.
If you need a reliable Athens construction accident lawyer, contact Blackwell Law Firm for a free consultation. We will leverage our legal expertise and healthcare industry relationships to secure you proper compensation and exceptional medical care.
Protect Your Rights After a Construction Accident in Athens, AL
Alabama’s construction accident laws are difficult to navigate without legal counsel. An insurance company may take advantage of you after an injury by offering a low settlement or denying your claim altogether.
At Blackwell Law Firm, we protect construction workers from hostile insurance companies and negligent employers by helping them receive proper medical care and financial compensation.
Our award-winning legal team, led by Jeffrey G. Blackwell and Jennifer L. McKown, is committed to excellence above all else. This high standard has earned us the respect of clients, judges, and fellow attorneys throughout Alabama.
We have won some of the most significant workers’ compensation cases brought before the Alabama Supreme Court and the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Our team is proud to have made such a positive impact on the lives of injured workers. We know that an injury can turn your life upside down—this is why we work around the clock to give you a clear path forward.
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Trust Our Experienced Construction Accident Lawyers
If you need a construction accident attorney in Athens, the Blackwell Law Firm will fight tirelessly to protect your rights and ensure you receive proper medical care. We approach every case with the same commitment: hard work, preparation, and dedication. You deserve nothing less.
Our client-centric approach has earned us recognition from prestigious organizations, such as SuperLawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and The Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We’ve also educated other lawyers on how to treat clients and maximize their compensation. Our attorneys are frequently asked to teach seminars to other lawyers on important personal injury topics.
Our team always prioritizes your best interests. Construction sites often involve multiple contractors. If injured, you may have a workers’ compensation claim against your employer as well as additional claims against another contractor who caused your accident.
You need a lawyer who understands the complex safety rules and regulations related to various contractors. You need a lawyer who understands the big picture and how to prepare all your claims for maximum compensation.
While some firms neglect workers’ compensation payouts, we do not. While other firms neglect investigating valuable 3rd party negligence claims, we do not. We fully investigate each accident to maximize the potential recovery for our client, accepting a limited number of cases so we can devote 100% of our time to earning 100% of what you are owed. You will receive all of our focus, expertise, and compassion.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
1) Falls
Serious falls or slip-and-fall injuries may occur without the proper protocols, safety equipment, and training. Common injuries after a fall include back injuries, fractures, and concussions, leading to lost wages, high medical bills, and disability. Falls from heights are a leading cause of deaths on construction sites.
2) Scaffold Issues
Scaffolding must be properly installed and maintained to ensure the safety of workers. Negligent scaffolding installation and use can lead to severe consequences, such as paralysis or death. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that scaffolding is safe and workers are trained to work on or around it. Our lawyers have tried serious scaffold and lift cases to jury verdicts across northern Alabama. We understand how scaffolding should be safely used and the harm when it is not.
3) Electrical Shocks
Most construction sites pose electrical risks. Making contact with faulty equipment, live wires, and poorly maintained electrical systems can lead to electrocution and burns. Employers must have their site’s electrical components regularly inspected and maintained to prevent injury. When working on a site, it should be properly locked-out / tagged-out to prevent injury. Training is also required to warn workers of potential hazards.
4) Caught-in Accidents
Workers may suffer life-changing injuries if they are trapped, injured, or crushed by heavy machinery or structural collapses. As a young lawyer, one of the earliest cases worked by our firm founder involved a worker who tragically had his arm trapped and crushed in a machine. We understand what it takes to make a job safe. We understand the human toll of defective construction sites. Blackwell Law Firm helps construction workers seek proper medical care and financial compensation after these particularly devastating accidents.
5) Struck by Object Accidents
There are many moving parts on a construction site. Managers and workers need to do their part to keep each other safe. Without protocols in place to restrict loose objects and materials, workers can be seriously injured by falling or sliding objects.
6) Lack of Proper Safety Training
A properly trained workforce is a safe workforce. Employers are required to provide all workers with sufficient safety training before and during their employment. Failure to deliver proper training endangers on-site workers. We believe all companies should put people over profits.
Training topics should include:
- PPE requirements
- Site best practices
- Emergency protocols
- Other site-specific policies
- Activity hazard analysis
7) Machinery Accidents
When cranes, bulldozers, and forklifts are poorly maintained or improperly used, they can pose a greater danger than a benefit. Machinery accidents can cause life-altering injuries such as brain trauma, disability, fractures, or lost limbs. If you were injured by heavy machinery, an Athens construction zone accident lawyer can help you seek justice. Blackwell Law Firm knows construction accident law inside and out, leveraging our connections in the medical community to ensure you receive outstanding care and maximum financial compensation.
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Your Legal Rights After a Construction Injury
Workers’ compensation benefits are limited in Alabama. You cannot sue your own employer for negligence to recover additional compensation. However, you can file a workers’ compensation claim, sue your employer’s insurer for offering unfair compensation, and pursue claims against the third party whose negligence led to your injuries.
If you have a workers’ compensation claim as well as a third party claim, you need a lawyer who understands the issues and how to prepare these claims for the maximum recovery. Make sure you consult legal counsel who understands, and is willing to pursue, all your claims.
A Blackwell Law Firm attorney will help you understand your rights after a construction accident. It may feel like your employer and their insurer have all the power after an accident, but this isn’t true with an Athens construction zone accident lawyer on your side. We have prepared and presented construction claim injury cases in courtrooms across northern Alabama and understand the roles and duties of contractors on large construction sites.
Our expert legal team knows how to recognize and confront insurers’ tactics. While some attorneys accept the first settlement offered to their clients, the Blackwell Law Firm doesn’t settle for anything less than what your recovery is worth.When you trust our construction accident attorney in Athens, you receive uncompromising legal assistance. We always work in your best interest, accepting settlements that reflect your financial and medical damages. We aren’t afraid to go to trial. Our team has decades of courtroom experience throughout Alabama, having won high-profile workers’ compensation cases and jury trials.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
Workers’ compensation benefits provide financial support for injured workers. They cover losses such as:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Disability benefits
Insurance companies often refuse to pay workers what they are owed, which is why legal assistance is crucial after a construction accident.
Blackwell Law Firm never backs down during negotiations—we are here to earn you proper medical care and total financial compensation for your injuries.
Third-Party Personal Injury Lawsuits
If your injuries were caused by a party other than your employer, you can receive additional compensation by filing a third-party personal injury lawsuit.
Examples of potential negligent parties include:
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
- Equipment manufacturers
- Project managers
- Unauthorized personnel
Identifying a guilty third party can be difficult without legal assistance. Blackwell Law Firm thoroughly investigates each personal injury claim to pursue all available compensation. We know how to investigate construction site claims. We know the safety rules, including those set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that are applicable to industrial and construction projects.
While you recover from your injuries, we perform extensive research to maximize your options and create a clear path to maximum compensation.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Me After a Construction Accident Injury?
There are two main types of workers’ compensation benefits in Alabama.
Medical benefits: Your employer can choose the doctor you visit immediately after an accident, but their insurance company cannot prescribe your medical care. After picking your initial doctor, the insurance company should not dictate or control additional medical treatment.
You have essential medical rights, and Blackwell Law Firm will protect them. We help you earn full compensation for your injuries, including extended care for disability and long-term medical issues.
Disability benefits: Workers’ compensation disability benefits are calculated using mathematical formulas developed by insurance companies. Some insurance adjusters will purposefully use the wrong formula to offer you lower compensation. Our attorneys will discuss these calculations with you so that you understand the actual value of your disability benefits.
We have years of experience preparing medical and vocational experts to obtain the maximum possible compensation, whether by settlement or trial.
Disabled workers are entitled to:
- Temporary benefits during medical care
- Permanent partial benefits if partially disabled
- Permanent total benefits if they can no longer work after an injury
Full Damages From Responsible Third-Parties: If a third-party, not your employer, negligently causes your accident and injuries, you may be entitled to recover ALL your damages from that third-party. We investigate all construction injury claims to identify responsible third-parties. We know how to prepare a third-party negligence claim seeking all your damages.
When a third-party is liable for your injuries, we may be able to recover compensation for all your medical costs, wage losses, disability, pain, suffering and anguish. We work to recover the maximum compensation available to you.
Construction Site Injury Statistics
In 2023, Alabama saw 75 fatal workplace injuries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 15 of these injuries occurred in the construction industry, accounting for 20% of the year’s total fatalities.
Steps to Take After a Construction Site Injury
If you have been injured in a construction accident, we recommend taking the following steps to safeguard your well-being, minimize further injury, and secure proper financial compensation.
Seek Medical Attention
If you are hurt on a construction site, you are entitled to immediate medical care. Your employer or its insurance company cannot deny you access to the care you need. Prompt medical care can prevent catastrophic injuries or detect internal issues that may worsen over time.
Blackwell Law Firm will fight for your right to critical medical care. We work with all our clients during the medical process to help them obtain full treatment for their injuries.
Inform Your Employer
Report your injury to your employer or supervisor as soon as possible. If you do not report the injury in time, you forfeit your right to workers’ compensation. Be sure to make this report in writing and keep a copy for your records. This report will be critical evidence when filing a personal injury claim. The State of Alabama actually has a standardized form for reporting workplace accidents.
Document the Accident
Take photos of your injury, the accident site, and other relevant details. We recommend asking witnesses for their names and testimony. This documentation can help you build a stronger case later on. A busy construction site may have numerous workers and contractors. Whenever possible, you should note who was present at the time of the accident.
Consult an Athens Construction Accident Lawyer
Blackwell Law Firm is your #1 advocate after a construction injury. We help you navigate the confusing landscape of workers’ compensation law and third-party claims, building a strong case to earn you proper financial compensation and medical care.
File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
A Blackwell Law Firm attorney will help you file a strong claim. We stand by you throughout the claims process, protecting you from insurers who want to delay, deny, or minimize your workers’ compensation benefits. Our expert team builds a watertight claim with strong evidence and convincing arguments.
Follow-up Medical Care
Be sure to attend follow-up appointments and adhere to the treatments as prescribed by your healthcare provider. It is important to follow a doctor’s medical advice during the claims process. Doing so verifies the severity of your injuries and strengthens your claim. At Blackwell Law Firm, we work with our clients throughout the course of medical care.
Save Records of Expenses and Lost Wages
Be sure to document your medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial damages. A successful claim will compensate for these losses.
Be Wary of Early Settlement Offers
Insurance companies want to settle workers’ compensation cases as quickly as possible to capitalize on your vulnerability with lowball offers. You do not need to accept their first offer. Blackwell Law Firm will help you understand the true worth of your claim and negotiate accordingly. With years of litigation experience, we aren’t afraid to take the insurer to court when necessary. Insurance companies know we will go to court, and win, for our clients.
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OSHA Regulations In Alabama For Construction Sites
Alabama construction sites are required to have the following safety measures in place:
- Fall protection
- Scaffolding safety
- Ladder safety
- Hazardous substance labeling and training
- Excavation and trenching guidelines
- Personal protective equipment
- Electrical safety protocol
Serious injuries can occur if OSHA regulations are ignored on a construction site. An Athens construction zone accident lawyer at Blackwell Law Firm will help you understand whether neglect led to your injury.
Time Limits for an Alabama Workers’ Compensation Claim
Alabama workers’ compensation claims should be filed within 2 years of the accident date. Lawsuits should also be filed within 2 years of the accident date. Failing to file a claim within this period can bar you from compensation.
Our Lawyers Will Guide You Through Your Construction Accident Case From Start to Finish
You have options after a construction accident. Blackwell Law Firm will help you make smart decisions by guiding you through complex legal and medical systems. Your employer and their insurer may try to discourage you from seeking compensation, but with our attorneys at your side, there is no reason to back down. We fight for you during negotiations, bringing decades of experience to your case.
Our team dedicates 100% of its time to helping injured individuals recover the maximum compensation or damages available. From your initial consultation onward, we are fully committed to your financial, medical, and emotional well-being. We promise to be your #1 advocate every step of the way.
Why Choose Blackwell Law Firm for Construction Accident Cases in Athens
Blackwell Law Firm is a staunch advocate for Alabama construction workers. We protect workers’ rights during negotiations and in the courtroom. Unlike some other lawyers, our team has real trial experience. We have secured compensation for clients across Alabama, including cases that have reached the Alabama Supreme Court.
When your future is on the line, we make sure you are in expert hands. Our team leverages key legal and medical relationships to ensure you receive care in both the courtroom and the doctor’s office. We have earned high praise from our clients and colleagues, earning a 10 out of 10 Avvo rating and distinction as a “Top Attorney for Workers’ Compensation.”
Contact Blackwell Law Firm for Help with Construction Accident Cases in Athens, AL
Construction workers built Alabama, and they continue to make this state great. They deserve to be protected against predatory insurers—Blackwell Law Firm has always been up to the task.
As a construction worker, you deserve maximum compensation after an injury. This includes coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and disability. Our attorneys devote 100% of their time to securing this compensation for you and your family. Your recovery matters to us, so we utilize a vast network of resources to ensure you receive proper care.
You need an attorney who works just as hard as you. Contact Blackwell Law Firm for a free consultation today.
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Construction Accident FAQ
1) Will workers’ compensation cover all of my medical bills after a construction accident?
Yes, workers’ compensation benefits will cover all work-related medical bills.
2) How can I prove negligence in a construction accident case?
We recommend documenting the accident with photos, collecting witness testimony, and saving medical bills. A construction accident attorney in Athens will help you organize this evidence to prove another party’s negligence.
3) What Types of Compensation Can I Receive for a Workplace Injury?
You can receive medical benefits and disability benefits. These benefits compensate for medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care.
4) What should I bring to my initial consultation with a construction accident lawyer?
We recommend bringing documentation from the accident, copies of your medical bills, and communications from the at-fault party.
5) How long will it take to resolve my construction accident case?
The exact timeline of your case depends on the amount of evidence, case complexity, and the cooperation of the insurer. Cases may take anywhere from a few months to over a year to be resolved.
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