Were you or a family member injured in a construction accident in Crestview, Florida? Call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers at (850) 407-7726 to schedule a free case evaluation and learn about your legal options today. Our experienced Crestview construction accident lawyers can explain your right to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our attorneys have over 75 years of experience fighting on behalf of injured parties and their families. We’ve recovered over $200 million in settlements and verdicts. If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, then we’re here for you.
Why Choose Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to Help After a Construction Accident in Crestview, FL?
The process for recovering compensation after a workplace accident can be more complex than you might think. Insurance companies don’t automatically give injury victims the money they deserve.
Our experienced Crestview personal injury attorneys at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers know how to handle the challenges you might face. For our success, we’ve earned over 530 five-star Google reviews. We’ve also been recognized with the Avvo Client’s Choice Award and earned an A+ BBB rating.
Does it feel like the insurance company is trying to take advantage of you? Do you need help with the paperwork? Is your employer pushing you to return to work too soon? Our Crestview personal injury lawyers are here to help regardless of your situation. Contact us today for your free case review.
Overview of Florida’s Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Laws
Your employer is required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. All Florida construction employers must have workers’ compensation.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim will be your first step to recovering damages. Only some injured workers are entitled to file personal injury lawsuits.
That’s because workers’ compensation laws protect employers against lawsuits. You only have the right to file a lawsuit if someone other than your employer was responsible for your accident.
For example, you might have a valid personal injury case if your injuries were caused by:
- A negligent driver in a car crash
- A general contractor on the work site who failed to maintain safe working conditions
- A manufacturer who sold a defective work tool
Injury victims don’t always understand exactly why they were injured. That’s one reason why legal advice can be so important. Our lawyers have the skills to help you get to the bottom of things and find out who was responsible for your injuries.
How Much is My Crestview Construction Accident Case Worth?
Your case value depends on factors that are unique to your case and situation, including:
- How severely you were hurt
- Your average income prior to the injury
- Whether the injury is temporary or permanent
- How significantly the injury impacts your earning capacity
- The length of your recovery period
- Whether your employer or someone else caused the accident
Workers’ compensation benefits are limited. You’ll receive about ⅔ of the difference between your pre-disability and post-disability earnings. Florida law also imposes a firm cap on the value of your disability benefits. To date, the most you can receive is $1,358 per week.
Personal injury cases tend to be worth more. Even when the injuries are the same, personal injury victims can pursue compensation for many non-financial losses–such as pain and suffering. Workers’ comp is limited to economic losses.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Crestview?
Workers’ compensation benefits provide compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Income replacement
- Death benefits for surviving family members
All of your medical costs should be covered by workers’ compensation.
Your disability benefits depend entirely on the nature of your injuries.
Possible benefits that may be available include:
- Temporary Total Disability benefits if you’re entirely unable to work during recovery
- Temporary Partial Disability if you can perform some work, but earn less than you did prior to the disability
- Impairment Income benefits if you continue to be unable to perform certain duties after reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI)
- Permanent Total Disability benefits if you can never return to work again
Death benefits are available to provide financial support to survivors of fatal construction accidents.
Damages in Florida Personal Injury Cases
Damages in personal injury cases reflect any loss you have sustained due to the injuries.
Examples of the types of damages personal injury victims may pursue include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- In-home assistance and care
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are available in the rare case where the at-fault party’s actions deserve punishment. For example, if your injuries occurred because a third-party was intoxicated on the job site.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Florida?
Your ability to recover compensation after a construction accident depends on the type of claim involved. Workers’ compensation benefits are generally not affected by fault, meaning you may still receive benefits even if you were partly responsible for the accident.
However, personal injury claims follow Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule. Under this law, you cannot recover compensation if you are found to be more than 50% at fault for your injuries.
If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation may be reduced based on your share of responsibility. For example, if you are found 20% at fault, your total recovery would be reduced by 20%. Understanding how fault applies can be important when evaluating your case.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer in Florida?
Most construction accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which allows injured individuals to pursue legal claims without paying upfront costs. This means you do not have to pay anything out of pocket to hire an attorney at the start of your case.
Instead, your attorney’s fees are paid as a percentage of any settlement or court award you receive. If your case is not successful, you generally do not owe attorney’s fees.
The specific percentage will be outlined in a written agreement before representation begins, so you understand how fees will be handled. This arrangement helps make legal representation accessible while allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Our Attorneys Handle All Types of Construction Accident Claims in Crestview
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, our lawyers are prepared to help with any type of construction accident claim, including cases involving:
- Scaffolding accidents
- Falls from heights
- Scaffolding collapse
- Building and structural collapse
- Motor vehicle and trucking accidents
- Electric shock
- Nail gun accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Accidents involving cranes, forklifts, and other types of heavy machinery
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Heavy lifting accidents
Getting legal advice can be critical to recovering the full compensation you deserve after an accident. Reach out to our team today to tell us your story.
Our Attorneys in Crestview Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Our team at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers represents clients who have suffered a vast range of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Pursuing compensation can be one of the most important things you can do after an injury. Hiring an experienced Crestview construction accident attorney is the best way to protect your interests.
What Are Some Common Causes of Construction Accidents in Crestview?
Like any type of accident, construction accidents are more likely to occur when someone was careless.
Some common causes of construction site accidents include:
- Failure to maintain safe work equipment
- Dangerous property conditions
- Improperly installed or defective scaffolding
- Ignoring state and federal safety regulations
- Missing or damaged protective equipment
- Communication failures
- Failure to properly supervise workers
- Missing fall protection
- Exposure to live electricity
Workers’ compensation benefits are available regardless of the cause of your accident. Still, it’s important to understand what happened. The cause of your accident will dictate whether you can file a personal injury lawsuit.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Florida?
The amount of time you have to take legal action after a construction accident depends on the type of claim you are pursuing. If you are seeking workers’ compensation benefits, you must notify your employer of your injury within 30 days. Failing to report the injury within this timeframe could put your right to benefits at risk.
If your case involves a personal injury lawsuit against a third party, Florida law generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Missing this deadline may prevent you from recovering compensation entirely, even if your injuries are serious. Because deadlines and exceptions can vary, it is important to act promptly and understand your legal options as soon as possible.
Contact a Seasoned Crestview Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
Do you have questions about your workers’ comp benefits after a construction accident? Are you wondering whether you can sue for additional damages? Call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. An experienced Crestview construction accident lawyer can help with any insurance and legal issues you’re facing.