Because you are covered by workers’ compensation, you cannot sue your employer if you are hurt at work. However, construction workers’ injuries are often caused by third parties – by negligence on the part of general contractors, subcontractors or property owners, or by defective tools or machinery.
If your injuries were caused or partially caused by a third party, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against that third party in addition to filing a workers’ comp claim.
Our attorneys have handled numerous third-party personal injury claims involving construction site accidents.
For example, in one recent case, our client was a plumber working on a construction site. He was injured after slipping on leftover drywall material. He initially thought he did not have the right to file a claim due to workers’ compensation laws. However, Russell & Hill, PLLC was able to seek and win damages by identifying and proving that his injuries were caused by the negligence of a third-party drywall contractor – not our client’s employer.
In another recent case, our client was injured in a construction site accident when he stepped backward into a stairwell and landed on his back one floor below. At first, he felt he could not file a claim because he collected workers’ compensation benefits through his employer. However, a third-party contractor was responsible for the absence of a railing around the stairwell.
If you have been injured in a construction site accident in the state of Washington or Oregon, contact one of our attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation.
At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we are experienced trial attorneys committed to pursuing third-party claims for people injured in a construction site accident.Our goal is to help you obtain maximum compensation for your medical bills, future medical needs, lost wages, pain, suffering and other losses.
If you are a construction worker injured on a job site, you may have a third-party bodily injury claim in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits.