Everyone knows that construction sites are dangerous. They typically have barricades to prevent random people from accidentally wandering through and signs advising people that they have to have a hard hat on to approach. The average person likely thinks of construction workers as the ones most at risk, which is statistically true. Hundreds of construction workers get hurt on the job in New York every year.
However, construction professionals aren’t the only ones who could get hurt due to dangerous equipment or falling materials at a construction site. The average person walking or driving by could also get hurt. What happens when a non-employee suffers an injury at a construction site?
A hurt individual likely has grounds for a personal injury claim
Getting hurt because of improper construction site safety or other forms of professional negligence can affect your life for years. Your injury might require extensive medical care and could limit what you earn as well.
When you have provable financial losses stemming from a construction site injury, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against the responsible party. Sometimes, it will be the business performing the work because they did not provide proper signage or hired workers without providing adequate safety training. Sometimes, it could be an individual worker responsible for your injury, especially if they did something negligent, like handling a tool without securing it first.
Other times, it could be the person who owns the property where the work occurs who could be responsible, especially if they cut corners with safety planning. Looking into the official report about the incident and exploring who ultimately contributed to your injuries will help you determine whom to hold responsible.
You will need evidence about what happened and how it affected you
You can’t just make a claim that you got hurt on a construction site without any corroborating evidence. You need a report from the manager of the construction site or medical records from the day of the incident. Security camera footage and eyewitness testimony can also help corroborate your version of events. You must have proof that you suffered some kind of preventable injury and that you have incurred losses because of that injury. Only then can you file an insurance claim or civil lawsuit.
Knowing your rights after a construction site injury as someone who doesn’t work in construction will make it easier for you to get the compensation you need for your injuries.