Construction Accident Attorneys in Hamden and East Haven
Connecticut construction accident lawyers represent injured workers and bystanders
Construction is a vital industry in Connecticut and throughout the nation. Unfortunately, there are inherent risks, and too many companies sacrifice safety to meet deadlines. As a result, construction workers and bystanders are injured needlessly and often severely. At Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C., our personal injury attorneys in Hamden and East Haven have vast experience in construction accident cases. We fight to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Common causes of Connecticut construction accidents
Construction sites are dynamic areas, bustling with activity that is often uncoordinated or mismanaged. Multiple subcontractors and their workers may be on the work site at the same time. If these workers are not safety conscious, they will be accident prone. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration rates construction as a high hazard industry, and lists these causes of accidents as the “fatal four”:
- Falls — More construction accident deaths result from falls than any other type of incident. Poorly constructed scaffolds can abruptly collapse causing catastrophic falls from high locations with serious consequences. Debris and spilled liquid at the work site can similarly cause slip and fall accidents resulting in death or serious injury.
- Struck by an object — Falling objects, such as tools and materials, can easily deal a fatal blow or cause serious injury, even when a construction worker wears a hard hat or other safety equipment.
- Electrocution — Construction requires power sources, many of which are improvised for the situation. Exposed wiring, wet conditions near exposed outlets and other conditions can result in a deadly shock.
- Caught in or between — Workers caught in or between moving equipment, tools or devices can be fatally crushed or seriously injured. Workers also face the danger of being seriously hurt or killed when trenches are not properly reinforced and suddenly collapse.
Other causes of serious injury include crane collapses, vehicle accidents, toxic exposure, strain and overexertion and tool accidents.
Types of construction accident injuries
Given the many ways there are to be hurt on a construction site, it’s not surprising we see a wide variety of injuries in these cases, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs
- Head and neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burns and scarring
- Lacerations and punctures
- Impalement
- Crush injuries and internal injuries
- Simple and compound fractures
- Loss of limb
Many of these injures are severe enough to cause permanent disability and even death.
Third-party liability claims for Connecticut construction accidents
In most cases, an injured worker’s only remedy comes from workers' compensation benefits. Unfortunately, these benefits only provide partial wage replacement and pay nothing for pain and suffering. To recover full economic losses as well as pain and suffering compensation, a worker would need to file a personal injury lawsuit and prove negligence against a party not shielded by the exclusivity provisions of the workers compensation laws. In most cases, the worker cannot sue his employer, because Connecticut’s law shields employers and co-workers from such lawsuits, even when they are clearly negligent.
However, an injured worker is entitled to sue a defendant if there is no employer-employee or co-worker relationship. For example, a laborer working directly for the contractor may bring a personal injury lawsuit against an employee of a subcontractor if that employee acted carelessly and injured the laborer. Third-party lawsuits are also permitted against manufacturers of faulty tools, equipment or materials that cause a worker’s injury.
Our attorneys thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your injury to determine if you can file a third-party negligence lawsuit. If so, we aggressively pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Contact an accomplished Connecticut construction injury lawyer
The knowledgeable accident lawyers at Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. represent workers and bystanders injured at Connecticut construction sites. To schedule a free consultation, please call 203-745-0942 or contact us online. We have offices in Hamden and East Haven.