Construction Workers’ Compensation

While any occupation poses certain risks, the construction industry is notoriously dangerous. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction workers comprised approximately 20 percent of all worker fatalities in private industry occupations in 2019. This means that, of the more than 5,000 worker deaths in the U.S. in 2019, one in five was a construction worker.

In California, most construction workers are entitled to workers’ compensation. If you were injured on the job or suffered a work-related medical condition, you are likely eligible for benefits. The California workers’ compensation system also provides benefits to surviving spouses, partners, children, and other relatives of those involved in fatal workplace accidents. Get in touch with our team at KJT Law Group to learn more during a free initial consultation.

While these represent the biggest risks to construction workers, they are not the only causes of serious work-related accidents, injuries, and deaths in the construction industry.

These and other safety standard violations can have devastating—or even deadly—effects. When workers are seriously injured or killed on the job, they or their families have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits, including medical payments, temporary disability, long-term benefits, expense reimbursement, and more.

If you are eligible for workers’ compensation—and most construction workers are—you do not need to prove that your employer or anyone else was at fault for the accident. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you can file for benefits regardless of fault. In exchange, you cannot sue your employer for damages.

However, in some cases, it may be appropriate to file a third-party personal injury claim against a negligent party. For example, if you were injured while using defective equipment on a job site, you could have a workers’ compensation claim and a product liability claim against the manufacturer or distributor of the defective equipment. To bring a third-party claim, you may need to prove liability.

Determining who is liable for your construction accident—and whether fault even plays a role in your case—can be difficult without the help of an experienced attorney. We encourage you to reach out to our Los Angeles construction workers’ compensation attorneys at KJT Law Group today to learn more during a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

There is no law that states you must have a workers’ compensation attorney to file a claim, but there are many reasons to work with an experienced legal professional.

First, a workers’ compensation lawyer will be well-versed in the law. They will have a greater understanding of the process and how it works, and they can help protect your rights. Additionally, when you work with an attorney, you send a message to the insurance company that you are not willing to accept less than what you are owed. You will also be able to focus on your physical recovery while your attorney handles the necessary paperwork, documents, and other legal details.