Construction and Manufacturing Injuries

A construction site is full of hazards that can cause serious injuries and fatalities. Regardless of the danger that comes with construction sites, everyone involved in the project has a legal responsibility to make it as safe as possible.

Accidents can be avoided by enforcing strict safety standards. Examples of safety standards include: providing warnings of potential hazards on the site, hiring qualified employees, coordinating job safety, and complying with all relevant safety procedures. When these procedures are not followed, and construction timelines are hurried, tragic injuries often occur.

If you work in the manufacturing and construction industry, you are frequently exposed to safety hazards when handling machinery and combustible chemicals. If you, a loved one, or a coworker has been injured on the job, contact the Bellotti Law Group P.C., an experienced construction and manufacturing accident attorney in Boston, Massachusetts.

In the manufacturing and construction industries, high-risk work conditions include:

• heavy machinery
• being struck by items
• electrocution
• hazardous exposure
• mechanical failures and malfunctions
• chemical spills and burns
• motor vehicle accidents
• musculoskeletal issues

Unskilled employees with little training or experience are often blamed for the high rate of work-related accidents in the manufacturing and construction industries. However, this blame is not always accurately placed. Rather, the absence of monitoring, training, and safety precautions is the primary cause of the high number of accidents.

If you are a construction worker that has suffered a workplace accident in Massachusetts, you have two main routes for obtaining compensation. First, regardless of who caused the accident, you can claim workers' compensation benefits for the accident. Secondly, if the accident was caused by someone other than your employer, such as a manufacturer, you may be able to bring a personal injury case against that third party, and recover compensation that way.

Workers' compensation is a no-fault insurance system. As a result, even if you caused the accident, you are typically entitled to benefits.

While there are a few exceptions, workers' compensation payments in Massachusetts typically cover:

• All medical expenditures that are reasonable and necessary
• Permanent disability payments of about two-thirds of your typical weekly salary
• Temporary total disability benefits of up to 60% of your average weekly wage for three years
• Temporary partial disability benefits of up to 60% of the gap between your pre-accident and post-accident wages

You're entitled to these rewards even if you can't prove that someone else was at fault. Unfortunately, for many workers, these benefits are insufficient to make ends meet. It's also possible that getting your workers' compensation claim could create unanticipated problems.

Workers' compensation laws protect your employer from claims stemming from workplace accidents. Third parties are not afforded the same level of protection, so you are able to pursue compensation through a personal injury case. If your accident was caused by someone other than your employer, you may have a legitimate third-party claim.

Property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, the driver of a negligent vehicle in an automobile accident, and the maker of a faulty piece of equipment are all possible responsible parties.

The third-party claims process allows you to collect compensation in addition to the benefits provided by workers' compensation. You have a legal right to compensation for both your out-of-pocket expenses and inconveniences that include:

• Medical costs that are not covered by workers' compensation
• Lost income
• Lost future earning potential
• Physical treatment and rehab
• Disfigurement and scars
• Pain and suffering are some of the forms of compensation available in these accident situations.

While these types of damages are common, personal injury law differs significantly from workers' compensation. Insurance companies aren't going to hand over a check without a struggle. You must establish who was at fault for the accident. You must also prove the worth of your injury claim, or you may be forced to settle for less. An attorney at Bellotti Law Group P.C. can help.

A negligent equipment manufacturer, property manager, or a negligent subcontractor on the job site can be held responsible for additional damages in addition to the workers' compensation wage loss benefits you might receive.

We can assist you through the complicated Massachusetts workers' compensation system and continue pursuing a full claim against a negligent third party. Choose an experienced workers' compensation and personal injury attorney at the Bellotti Law Group P.C. in Massachusetts. Contact us at 617-225-2100 for a free consultation.