Did you recently suffer injuries while working on a construction site in Orange County, California? You may have the right to recover workers’ compensation benefits and/or file a lawsuit for damages. The experienced Orange County construction accident lawyers at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian can help you work toward a meaningful and life-changing financial recovery.
For more than 30 years, Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian has been a source of strength and support for injured construction workers in Orange County. We’re nationally-recognized trial attorneys who have received some of the top honors in the legal industry for our ability to win top results for our clients.
With 75+ years of experience between us, we’ve been able to secure over $1 billion in jury awards, settlements, and insurance benefits.
Don’t settle for less than you deserve after your construction accident. Call our Orange County law office in Newport Beach, CA, and discover the considerable benefits of working with our top-rated team. Your first consultation is entirely free, so call now.
How Can a Construction Accident Lawyer Help You?
Hiring a lawyer to represent you during a construction site accident claim in California can transform your legal experience. An attorney can advocate for you during insurance claim negotiations or a personal injury lawsuit, most likely leading to a greater financial recovery than you could secure on your own. A law firm will have a team of experienced attorneys who can fight for maximum financial compensation on your behalf.
A construction accident lawyer can provide many important services, such as:
- Free case evaluation. An attorney will listen to your story, answer your questions and explain your legal options at no cost or obligation.
- Accident investigation. A comprehensive analysis of the accident will be performed, including evidence collection and consultations with experts, as necessary.
- Insurance settlement negotiation. Your lawyer can take over an insurance claim, including a workers’ compensation case, and handle any disputes that may arise.
- Trial litigation, if necessary. If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, a law firm will have the power to take your construction accident case to trial.
- Medical care and rehabilitation assistance. Your lawyer can help you find the medical care and support that you need for your recovery in Orange County.
Many construction site accidents are catastrophic, meaning they leave victims with long-term or permanent injuries and disabilities. If you or a loved one suffered a severe injury, it is crucial to work with an attorney, as the injury may affect the victim’s future capacity to earn. An attorney can help you seek the financial compensation that you need by holding one or multiple parties accountable for your losses.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in California?
Despite the fact that the construction industry is subject to strict regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and California state law, construction accidents are still commonplace in the Golden State.
Many of these accidents cause serious injuries or death. Between 2013 and 2017, the construction industry accounted for 17 percent of all fatal workplace injuries in the state of California.
Statistically speaking, falls, being caught in/between an object, electrocution, and being struck by objects are the leading cause of these deadly construction accidents. Known as the fatal four, they account for more than half of all construction-related deaths.
Representing Clients in All Types of Construction Accident Cases in Orange County, CA
At Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, we’re here to advocate for you after you’ve suffered an injury or lost a close family member in any type of construction accident, including:
- Excavation accidents
- Trenching accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Crane accidents
- Scaffolding accidents
- Falls from heights
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Building collapse accidents
- Defective equipment accidents
Call our law office in Orange County to discuss the specific details of your construction accident case today.
What to Do After a Construction Site Accident in Orange County
Suffering through a construction site accident can be traumatic and overwhelming. You may not know where to turn for assistance or whom to trust during the recovery process. Taking the right steps immediately after your accident can be critical for your well-being as well as for future potential legal claims. Here’s what to do:
- Put your safety first. Get to a safe location away from immediate danger. Check yourself for injuries and try to limit your movements until help arrives.
- Seek medical attention. Get immediate medical care, even if you do not initially feel injured. Prompt medical care is required by most insurance providers and can diagnose hidden injuries.
- Report the accident. Notify the appropriate person at the construction site of the incident, such as a supervisor or manager. Ask for a written accident report.
- Notify OSHA. File a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for serious safety or health violations at your worksite.
- Document the scene. Before you leave the construction site, take photographs of the unsafe condition or hazard that injured you. Write down the names of any witnesses, as well.
- Create an injury folder. Keep copies of all relevant records and reports, including your medical records, related bills and expenses, and employment documents.
- Ask about workers’ compensation. Ask your employer if the accident is covered by workers’ compensation insurance. If so, you may wish to file a claim.
- Consult with an attorney. Before you accept a settlement from an insurance company, contact a lawyer at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian to discuss your legal options.
Every construction accident case in Orange County is unique. The exact steps that you should take to ensure the protection of your rights can vary based on the circumstances. The best way to protect yourself is by consulting with a qualified construction accident lawyer as soon as possible for personalized guidance and counsel.
Common Injuries Suffered in Construction Site Accidents
Construction workers put themselves at risk of suffering severe and catastrophic injuries in the workplace every day. Construction is a notoriously dangerous industry that is consistently responsible for the highest number of worker deaths in the country annually.
A victim who is involved in a construction site accident in Orange County could suffer any of the following types of injuries:
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Crush injuries
- Electrocutions
- Eye and ear injuries
- Head injuries and skull fractures
- Lacerations
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries or paralysis
- Sprains and strains
- Traumatic brain injuries
The lawyers at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian can help if you or a loved one sustained any type of injury in a construction site accident in Southern California. We are a team of highly experienced Orange County personal injury lawyers.
How Do I Recover Compensation For My Construction Accident Injuries?
You may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits or have the right to file a third-party lawsuit.
Most construction workers are covered by workers’ comp, which can allow you to receive benefits for the costs of medical care and a percentage of your lost income and future earnings. Under the no-fault system, you can receive benefits even if you contributed to your construction accident.
If you’re not covered by workers’ comp, or if a negligent third party contributed to your accident, you can file a lawsuit for damages related to your medical bills, disability, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
If your loved one was fatally injured on a construction site, our Orange County wrongful death attorney can take legal action on your behalf.
Our experienced Orange County consturction accident lawyers will help you explore your legal options and pursue maximum compensation from all available parties.
Who Is Liable for a Construction Accident?
Liability, or legal and financial responsibility, for a construction accident victim’s injuries depends on the specific circumstances. One or more parties may share liability if they were at fault or contributed to the accident.
Examples include:
- A construction company. Employers in the construction industry have a legal duty to provide safe working environments. Inadequate safety training, code violations or a lack of proper safety gear could lead to employer liability for worker injuries.
- Contractors. A general contractor could be held liable for accidents related to the safety and operation of the overall work site, while a subcontractor could be responsible for injuries related to their specific tasks or special projects.
- A property owner. If a dangerous premises defect injures a construction worker, such as an unmarked open trench or slip and fall hazard, the owner of the property may be held responsible with a premises liability claim.
- A manufacturer. Defective construction equipment, such as cranes and forklifts, could lead to a product liability claim being filed against a manufacturer if the defect results in worker injury or death.
Other possibilities can include architects, engineers, material suppliers, government entities, safety inspectors, consultants and coworkers. A personal injury lawyer can carefully investigate your construction site accident to determine liability.
You’ll Have a Limited Time to Seek Compensation After a Construction Accident in Orange County, California
It is important to act quickly if you wish to recover financial compensation after being injured in a construction accident in Orange County. Laws known as statutes of limitations in California place strict deadlines on a victim’s ability to file a claim. Under California law, you’ll have just one or two years to seek compensation for a construction accident injury, depending on the avenue you choose.
The deadline for filing a workers’ compensation claim in California is one year from the date of injury, in most cases. To file a personal injury lawsuit, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident or the date of injury discovery. There may be exceptions for unique cases, such as those involving criminal activity or wrongful deaths. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid missing your deadline.
Contact a Construction Accident Lawyer in Orange County Today
Don’t miss out on the money you’ll need to get back on your feet. Call Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian as soon as you can after you get hurt. Our Orange County construction accident lawyers are ready to help you fight to maximize your recovery.
Your first consultation is free, and there’s no cost to hire our law firm unless we win your construction accident case, so call now.