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Alaska Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction jobs, although they provide a good living, can also be very dangerous. Consider this statistic: although construction has approximately 6% of United States workers, it accounts for 20% of workplace fatalities in the nation the largest number of fatalities reported for any industry sector. Every year, one out of 10 construction workers is injured. Workers on construction sites are exposed to many hazards on an everyday basis, despite the fact that most sites follow strict health and safety rules. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces standards concerning workplace safety and health. But accidents can and do still occur, simply because of the nature of the industry. Construction workers must do their jobs in all kinds of weather, at great heights or in changing conditions. Moreover, they work with heavy machinery, vehicles, and toxic chemicals, all of which can pose a hazard.

Construction site accidents can also be caused by the negligence of other site workers, mistakes and negligence caused by those under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or the inappropriate behavior of other site workers.

The person(s) liable for your accident could be your employer, another worker at the site, a contractor, or a manufacturer, depending on your case. A person injured on a job site has several possible courses of action. They may file a workers' compensation claim, pay for the medical expenses out of pocket, or file a civil suit to recover damages. The victim's course of action often hinges on liability. In order to determine liability, the accident victim must ask the following questions: Was the injury caused by faulty equipment, or a dangerous job site? Was it due to an illegal or dangerous task ordered by the subcontractor? Was the person simply walking by the site when the injury occurred? Did the accident happen during or after construction? A lawyer will be able to determine who is held responsible based upon the facts provided and the circumstances surrounding the accident.

In Alaska, if liability lies with the employer, the injured employee must file a workers' compensation claim and try to recoup medical expenses and lost wages with the help of the state and federal system. If the injury is due to faulty equipment, the employee may still file a workers' compensation claim, but may also bring civil action against the equipment manufacturer or supplier. If the employee is liable, they may simply file a workers' compensation claim or pay out of pocket. There may also be instances in which another party a subcontractor, a foreman, an engineer or an architect is negligent.

Other people, besides construction workers, can be injured in a construction site accident. A piece of machinery or material falling outside the actual site and injure someone, or they could trip over debris left on the sidewalk left during a construction project. In such instances, an individual may have a personal injury case. The family members of someone who has died as a result of a construction accident may have a wrongful death case.

An Alaska construction accident attorney can assist in any of these cases. They are skilled in sifting through records, evidence, testimony, and reports to find not only the liable party, but the appropriate course of action in each individual case. Your attorney will be able to uncover the true owners of construction companies and suppliers in order to name them as defendants. The construction accident lawyer is also experienced in proceeding with a case against defendants that aren't named at the onset of trial.

Anyone injured on a construction job site should contact an Alaska construction accident attorney immediately after the injury to get started recovering damages.