Siegel Legal Blog

Are you a construction worker? Have you been injured on the job? If you do get injured on the job, you are generally still eligible for workers’ compensation benefits at least, and perhaps third party lawsuit monetary compensation in addition. It’s a pretty complicated process, which is why you should have experienced Arizona construction accident lawyers help you figure out exactly how to work things so you get the financial compensation you deserve.

Nothing frivolous about it

Some personal injury lawsuits are “frivolous,” meaning that the people who file them are generally in it for the money, nothing more. However, if you’ve been injured on the job and you work in construction, your Arizona construction accident attorneys know that this is nothing frivolous. You need money for pain and suffering, to take care of expenses while you recover from your injuries.

The difference between workers’ compensation and a third party lawsuit

Although getting injured on the job is indeed a “personal injury” case, you’re probably not going to be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer, even if you work in construction. Instead, what happens is that the employer acknowledges that there is risk of injury on the job by providing workers’ compensation benefits to those who do get injured on the job. In return, you agree not to file a personal injury case against your employer for injuries you receive on the job. In effect, workers’ compensation is meant to bypass the vagaries of court proceedings by giving employees a fair process to go through without resorting to lawsuits whereby they can still receive benefits for injuries received.

However, if you work in construction, you may be eligible to file what are called third party lawsuits. A third party lawsuit can happen when there’s an equipment malfunction or something else happens whereby you get injured not as a direct result of something your employer is responsible for, but because of something that a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer, is responsible for.

You can see that this is pretty complicated, which is why you need the services of Arizona construction accident lawyers who can help you through the process. When you hire an attorney, you will usually not be charged upfront for their services, but will instead hire them on contingency. If you win, they get paid for what they do, but if you do not win, they don’t get paid. Recover from your injuries and let your Arizona construction accident lawyers handle most of the legal headaches for you so that you get the full compensation you deserve. Learn more about the Scottsdale injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Thomas Wilmer.

When a crane collapsed in March of 2008, killing seven people on the east side of Manhattan, regulations were almost immediately put in place that were meant to protect workers in future incidents. That was all well and good, but New York construction accident lawyers were doubtless needed to help loved ones who were killed manage the process of applying for workers’ compensation as well as other damages, so that they could at least get on with their lives even though they would never quite get over the loss of having a loved one killed on the job.

The situation occurred on March 15 when workers were installing steel bracing on the crane so that they could make it taller. This is known as “jumping” the crane. The new processes in place require that the project engineer responsible for the original permit application would have to submit a written protocol for each job, including how it should be done. After the job is complete, the crane is to be inspected by that engineer to make sure instructions were followed.

Not every workplace accident is this severe, of course, but if you have been the victim of a construction accident or a loved one has, New York construction accident lawyers can help you file workers’ compensation claims and perhaps third party lawsuits for equipment malfunction so that you get the compensation you deserve.

Workers’ compensation isn’t that simple

Relatively straightforward workers’ compensation claims are not as simple as you might think. Even if you don’t have a situation whereby you are injured on the job and can file a third party lawsuit because of an equipment malfunction, even straightforward workers’ compensation claims can be pretty complicated. It is very easy to make a mistake so the benefits may even be completely denied. By having New York construction accident lawyers help you file your claim, you’re sure to have it done properly so that you get all the benefits you deserve.

Third party lawsuits

As mentioned above, in addition to workers’ compensation claims, you may also be eligible to file a third party lawsuit against equipment manufacturers or other parties responsible for equipment malfunction on the job. For that, you absolutely need New York construction accident lawyers working for you. They know the law and know how to file these lawsuits so that in addition to workers’ compensation benefits, you may also be able to collect damages or compensation for pain and suffering due to equipment malfunction, etc. Best of all, you do not pay anything up front and will simply pay your lawyer on contingency, meaning that he or she does not collect any fees unless you win.

If you or a loved one have sustained injuries on the job at a construction site, contact the New York construction accident lawyers at Brown Chiari today for a free evaluation of your case.

As New York truck accident attorneys, we realize that accidents involving tractor-trailer rigs occur on our highways and interstates frequently, and that many of these accidents leave innocent victims injured.  Recently, a Westproof, Florida man lost his life following an accident in which the tractor-trailer fled the scene.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 33-year-old Adam Walker of Westproof died at the scene of the accident, which took place at approximately 4:15 a.m. west of Lake Wales Road near the Peace Creek Bridge on State Road 60 in Lake Wales.  Deputies are still searching for the tractor-trailer, which was last seen traveling east on S.R. 60.

Another person in the car, 33-year-old Heath Whitaker, was seriously injured in the crash and transported to Lake Wales Hospital; he was later transferred with life-threatening injuries to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  Sheriff department spokesperson Donna Wood said that Walker and Whitaker were traveling on SR 60 in a silver 2002 KIA Sportage SUV when it crashed with the semi-tractor trailer rig, which was described as dump style.  She said that it appeared that both vehicles were traveling eastbound when the crash occurred.

Any witnesses who may have information are asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.  Sketchy information regarding the tractor-trailer rig was given; it is believed that the truck had round or circular brake lights and substantial rear-end damage to the ‘push under’ or bumper bar, and possibly damage to the tail lights on the passenger side.  Additionally, the license plate is believed to be blue and white, with the letter G as the last digit of the number.  It is believed that the trailer may have been a Mate, Hardee or Travis style trailer.

Why did the driver of the tractor-trailer rig flee the scene of the accident?  Was he under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances?  According to Florida hit-and-run laws, the driver of any vehicle involved in a crash that results in the death of an individual must stop immediately, or as close to the accident scene as possible and must remain at the scene until the requirements of s. 316.062 are fulfilled.  Any person who purposely violates these requirements is guilty of a second degree felony.

Hopefully, the driver of the tractor-trailer rig will be located and held accountable for his/her actions.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer or other large or commercial truck, contact the New York truck accident lawyers at Brown Chiari for a free evaluation of your case.

Do you view the motorcycle as a favorite form of transportation? If you’re an avid biker, you know that there’s nothing like the feel of the open road. Unfortunately, not all motorists are as careful as you are, such that you may find yourself the victim of a car-motorcycle accident, and you have now sustained injuries. If that’s your current situation, you need the services of an Arizona motorcycle accident lawyer.

It’s an unfortunate fact that other motorists on the road aren’t always as respectful of motorcycle riders as they should be. There’s often the opinion that if motorcycle riders are going to take the risk of riding a bike, they know they’re not as protected as they are in an automobile, but assume those risks anyway. Motorcycle riders know that they deserve every bit as much respect as any other driver on the road; if you’ve been injured in a car-motorcycle accident as the rider of that motorcycle, you need an Arizona accident lawyer who will fight for your rights as a rider as diligently as you would.

Your Scottsdale motorcycle accident lawyer knows how to deal with the “biker prejudice” that is often a subtle presence during negotiations in motorcycle accidents. Whether your case ends up in court or is settled out of court, your lawyer will represent you fairly, so that the judgment you receive is as fair as possible, too.

When you hand your case over to your Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer, you can concentrate on what you have to do, which is to heal. It’s not that you won’t participate at all, because you need to be an integral part of the process. However, your lawyer can handle most of the negotiations for you, once he or she has reviewed your case and have discussed everything with you. And of course, your lawyer will make no negotiations without your full knowledge and consent.

That said, once you have discussed a course of action with your Arizona motorcycle accident lawyer, you can leave most of the details to him or her, so that you can focus on recovery. And because your lawyer is skilled and experienced in this area, you’re much more likely to get the money you deserve as compensation for the accident, so that you can pay medical bills and other expenses while you recover. If necessary, your lawyer will go to court for you, or will settle out of court if a fair settlement can be reached. Your lawyer will not take any money upfront from you, but instead will take a portion of your award or settlement (usually about 30%) as compensation once you have won your case. If you don’t win, your lawyer collects nothing.

Accidents happen, but they’re still traumatic when they happen to you. You’re in pain, you’re suffering, and you may be facing months of rehabilitation – or permanent disability – and the last thing you need to think about is pursuing your case in court or trying to wrestle with the other party’s insurance company to get a fair settlement so that you can take care of yourself.

This is where the services of a Kansas City personal injury lawyer can come in to play. When you hire a Kansas City personal injury attorney, he or she will carefully review the facts of your case, and if your case has merit, will take on the insurance company and the other party for you.

When you’re in pain and suffering the way you are after you’ve had an accident or injury, all you’re probably thinking about is how to get back on track, and get the life you once had back. However, when you have had an injury of this sort, you need money to take care of expenses, medical bills, and so much more.

It’s also not unfair to say that if you’ve been injured through no fault of your own and someone else’s careless actions are the reason for your injuries, you deserve some compensation for that, as well. In addition to taking care of practical expenses like medical bills and living expenses, you also deserve some compensation for the pain and suffering you’re going through. That’s where Kansas City personal injury attorneys can help.

Let’s face it; you’re in no shape to try to take on the insurance company yourself. Not only are you not at your best physically, but you are probably undergoing some emotional turmoil, too. With everything that’s going on, it can be difficult to try to negotiate with the insurance company. Even worse, the offending party’s insurance company knows that you are not in the best of shape, so they’ll probably try to manipulate you to take a smaller settlement than you could get if you had adequate representation.

Kansas City personal injury attorneys are professionals. When you hire one to take on your case, he or she will review the facts of your case professionally and thoroughly – and most importantly, objectively. Without the weight of injury or emotional turmoil to contend with, your Kansas City personal injury attorney can turn his or her attention to your case, and to making sure you get fair compensation for what you’ve gone through.