Did you or a family member suffer injuries on a construction site in Chambersburg, PA? You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. An experienced Chambersburg construction accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you understand your options under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation and personal injury laws.
Our lawyers have over 120 years of combined experience handling cases similar to yours. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars since we opened our law firm back in 2008.
Take action today if you were injured on the job. Contact our law offices in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, at (717) 388-2378 to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer today.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Construction Accident in Chambersburg
Nearly all injured workers are entitled to workers’ comp benefits in Pennsylvania. On the other hand, there are many different ways that your employer and the insurance companies can make recovering fair compensation difficult. They might blame you for the accident or undervalue your workers’ comp claim. They might even claim that your injuries weren’t work-related.
Our skilled Chambersburg personal injury lawyers can help. Our team includes lawyers who have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers of America. We also have a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist on our staff to help if you’re facing challenges with the workers’ comp system.
Hiring us means you’ll have an advocate to:
- File your workers’ comp claim and handle all paperwork
- Determine who caused your accident
- Assess your case value
- Hire experts to support your claim
- Handle any challenges to your right to workers’ comp benefits
- File an appeal if your workers’ comp claim is denied
- Handle all negotiations with the insurance companies on your behalf
Getting hurt is never pleasant. Let our Chambersburg personal injury attorneys fight for the money you deserve after an accident. You can get started by contacting us for a free consultation today.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Chambersburg?
Construction workers risk their safety every day. In fact, construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), at least 951 construction workers were killed on the job across the U.S. in 2021.
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at least 8,979 construction workers reported work-related injuries in 2021. Injuries to the upper extremities were the most commonly reported injury. A total of 12 Pennsylvania construction workers lost their lives in construction site accidents in 2021.
Our local construction accident lawyers in Chambersburg handle all types of construction accident claims, including those involving:
- Scaffolding accidents
- Building collapse
- Excavation accidents
- Welding accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Crushing accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Electrocution and electric shock
- Roof and ladder falls
- Fires and explosions
- Trenching accidents
- Crane accidents, forklift accidents, and other heavy machinery accidents
- Nail gun accidents
- Exposure to toxic chemicals and substances
- Motor vehicle accidents
Do you have questions about your legal options after a construction site accident? Contact our Chambersburg personal injury law firm for a free case review today.
What Is My Chambersburg Construction Accident Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case will depend on a number of different factors, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Your injuries, economic losses, and lost wages
- Your average weekly wages before the accident
- Whether your disability is permanent or temporary
- Whether or not you are totally unable to work during recovery
- The length of your recovery
- Whether you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit or are limited to workers’ comp
Workers’ compensation benefits cover about ⅔ of your average weekly wages prior to the accident. Under Pennsylvania law, however, workers’ compensation benefits are capped at $1,273 per week if your injury occurs in 2023.
You could be entitled to additional compensation if you’re able to file a personal injury lawsuit. Pennsylvania workers’ comp laws prohibit injured workers from suing their employers for damages after a work injury. However, injured construction workers may be entitled to sue third parties whose actions caused their injuries.
You may have a valid third-party claim against:
- Negligent property owners
- At-fault drivers in a car accident
- Product manufacturers who sell defective products and work tools
- General contractors
- Third-party suppliers or vendors
- Engineers
The value of your case may be higher if you’re eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. That’s because you’ll be able to seek non-economic damages in addition to compensation to cover your financial losses.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Chambersburg, PA?
Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania provides the following types of benefits:
- Reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the injury
- Temporary or permanent disability benefits to replace part of your lost wages
- Impairment benefits if a specific body part was permanently damaged
- Benefits for disfigurement
- Death benefits for the wrongful death of a family member
In other words, workers’ compensation does not typically provide benefits to make up for your personal pain, suffering, and distress. Our lawyers can help you determine whether you’re entitled to pursue compensation for additional damages under Pennsylvania personal injury laws.
In a personal injury case, the following types of damages may be available:
- Medical expenses that workers’ comp does not cover
- 100% of your lost income
- Reduced future earning potential
- Rehabilitation, therapy, and other specialized treatments
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Diminished quality of life
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of your comfort level prior to the accident
- Loss of consortium
If you lost a loved one in a fatal construction accident, we can also help you file a wrongful death lawsuit against a negligent third party.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Pennsylvania?
Yes, you can file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits regardless of whether you caused the work accident. Pennsylvania’s workers’ comp system is a no-fault system. If your injuries were work-related, you’re entitled to benefits regardless of fault.
Personal injury cases are more complex. Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws, injured parties may lose their right to sue for damages if they’re at least 51% responsible for their own injuries. Even if you’re only slightly responsible, your settlement can be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our Chambersburg construction accident attorneys often represent clients who have suffered:
- Injuries to the arms and shoulders
- Broken bones
- Hearing damage
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Workplace injuries can leave lasting scars. If you were injured, reach out to our legal team for a free case evaluation today. We’ll work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania?
Accidents tend to happen because people are careless.
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents include:
- Defective scaffolding
- Improperly installed scaffolding
- Violations of state and OSHA safety regulations
- Failure to provide proper fall protection equipment
- Missing safety equipment
- Using damaged equipment
- Defective tools and equipment
- Communication failures
- Failure to properly train or supervise workers
- Negligent hiring practices, including hiring underqualified workers
- Negligent driving
- Dangerous property conditions
Any one of these factors can quickly make the worksite dangerous. If you or a loved one were injured, our lawyers will help you determine the underlying cause. Just give us a call to learn more about our practice areas today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Construction Accident in Pennsylvania?
Injured construction workers often have to prove negligence to recover compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
The elements of a negligence case are:
- A legal duty of care existed
- The responsible party breached the duty of care
- The breach caused the accident
- You suffered damages
Keep in mind that you’ll only be required to prove negligence if you can file a personal injury lawsuit. You won’t have to prove that someone was negligent to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Pennsylvania?
You must notify your employer about the accident within 120 days. If you wait longer, you may forfeit your right to workers’ comp benefits. In reality, it’s always best to notify your supervisor as quickly as possible after an accident and injury.
The statute of limitations in personal injury cases is two years. Under Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, you have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. After two years pass, you’ll lose your right to sue for damages.
Contact a Chambersburg Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Construction is dangerous work. If you were injured on the job, you deserve to be compensated. An experienced Chambersburg construction accident attorney at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you get a fair compensation award. Just call for the legal advice you deserve today.