Salt Lake City Construction Accident Lawyers

Salt Lake City Construction Lawyers Know When to Bring a Lawsuit

A Lawsuit Can Bring Additional Benefits

With few exceptions, such as for business owners with no employees, sole proprietors, independent contractors, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs), Utah employers must maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage. In return for being covered by the workers’ compensation system, injured workers lose their rights to sue their employers or co-workers in court.

However, there are exceptions to the rule. In situations such as where you are not covered by workers’ comp, where the injury was due to the “willful and intentional” act of the employer or a fellow employee, or where a third party’s negligence or a defective product caused your injury, you may be able to file a lawsuit to receive the compensation you deserve.

Many different people and parties are involved in a majority of construction projects, and if they caused your accident, a lawsuit is warranted that can bring compensation that is greater than what workers’ comp provides.

To be able to go beyond workers comp and file a lawsuit, your attorney would have to show that another party is at least partially responsible for the accident that caused the injury.

How Our Construction Accident Attorneys Can Help

Why Choose Us?

Construction accident cases can be extraordinarily complex, and you should look for an attorney you feel comfortable with and have the experience and resources to properly investigate and handle your case.  Here are some reasons why we feel Strong Law is your best choice:

• We are experienced. Attorney Jed Strong, the founder of Strong Law, once worked for GEICO insurance company as one of its in-house attorneys, so he knows the inner workings of insurance companies. He uses this inside knowledge to help negotiate with insurers and advocate for his clients. He is a strong litigator who has taken numerous cases to trial and obtained exceptional verdicts for his clients.
• We get results and have a long record of success. We have won 98% of our cases, including a $1.1M car accident case verdict.
• We work closely with and take a personal interest in our clients. You can read our client testimonials to prove it.
• We are available and you can call us 24/7 for emergencies.
• We are licensed to practice in Utah, Washington, and Oregon to better serve all your case needs.
• We negotiate forcefully with insurance companies but are fully prepared to take your case to court if necessary.
• We offer free consultations to discuss your issues and show you how we can help.

How Our Construction Accident Attorney in Salt Lake City Works for You

When you retain our Strong Law legal team, we will immediately start working on your behalf. We will:

• Meet with you to discuss how the accident happened, who the at-fault parties may be, whether your case warrants a lawsuit, and what type of settlement to go after.
• Assess your damages, ensure you get proper medical care, and that all symptoms and treatments are documented.
• Investigate your and gather evidence to help prove your claims, such as photographs and videos from surveillance cameras, interviews with witnesses, co-workers, and first responders, and police and medical reports and records.
• Make sure all required paperwork is filed correctly and in a timely manner.
• Hire experts to reconstruct the accident and determine fault, and experts to testify as to your damages and losses and how they will affect you into the future.
• Handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies to come up with an agreement for a fair settlement.
• Build your case and take it to court if necessary.

The Salt Lake City construction accident attorneys at Strong Law will fight for the best settlement possible. Call us today at 206-741-1053 to get started while evidence is available, and witnesses can be found.

Damages Our Utah Construction Accident Lawyers May Recover

Compensation Should Cover All Your Losses

In a successful lawsuit, our lawyers may win an award for your damages — the expenses and losses you suffered from the accident. We will fight for an award that covers your economic or monetary costs and losses and your non-economic damages. These do not have a specific dollar value, but negatively affect your life, and may bring more compensation than your economic damages.

Your damage award may include:

• Medical and rehabilitation bills and costs of continuing care
• Lost wages, current and projected into the future
• Property damaged in the accident
• Costs of modifications to a home, such as to accommodate a wheelchair
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional distress
• Loss of companionship and consortium and quality of life
• Permanent disability
• Disfigurement and scarring.

Construction Accident Attorney Must Establish Liability

In a construction accident, depending on the situation, there may be multiple parties who, through some act of negligence, contributed to the accident that injured you and who could be held liable in a lawsuit. These may include:

• Contractors or subcontractors who were not your employer and failed to create and maintain a safe working environment or provide adequate workplace safety training.
• Other employees who were negligent and willfully caused harm.
• Drivers of vehicles who came to the site and failed to exercise caution may have run you over.
• Manufacturers or distributors of equipment or its parts if these were defective and caused an injury.
• Government agencies and construction site property owners of the workplace who did not ensure a safe work environment.

For your lawsuit to be successful, your attorney must be able to prove that another party, the defendant in the case, was negligent and at fault for causing the accident that injured you. To prove fault legally, we must show the existence of the following elements:

• Duty — The defendant owed you a duty of care not to cause harm
• Breach — The defendant breached that duty by acting or failing to act
• Cause – This breach caused an accident that resulted in your injuries
• Damages — You suffered actual damages as a result.

Based on the evidence and our investigations, our Strong legal team will find all possible liable parties, as they all may have assets and insurance that can go toward a settlement.

Amounts of Damage Awards

There is a wide range of damage amounts that you may receive in a successful construction accident lawsuit, from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the individual factors and circumstances of your case.

Some factors that influence awards include:

• the extent and permanence of your injuries,
• whether you will need continuing care,
• your age and earning capacity,
• whether you will be able to return to work in the future, and
• whether death is involved.

In general, the more severe injuries that involve permanent damage and require long-term care or result in death often bring the highest settlement awards. The skill and negotiating power of your attorney is also a factor.

Construction Accident Attorneys Answer FAQs

After being injured in a construction accident, it is natural to have many questions about your legal options. These are best addressed in your free consultation, but to get started, here are some answers to questions our clients often ask.

Are there time limits to filing a construction accident claim in Utah?

Yes, there are deadlines for filing a claim. Under UT Code § 78B-2-307,  the statute of limitations for construction accident cases is four years from the accident date. If you fail to file on time, the courts are likely to refuse to hear your case.

Should I talk to the insurance company?

No, the less you say to insurance companies, the better. Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible and use tactics such as making a lowball offer, they hope you will accept quickly or trying to get you to admit that the accident was your fault. Tell the insurance company to talk to your attorney and let Strong Law handle all negotiations to get you the settlement you deserve.

What if a loved one died in a construction accident?

Family members of the deceased construction worker may be able to file a lawsuit for wrongful death in Utah. Damages may include compensation for funeral costs, lost wages, loss of consortium, and the support and affection the loved one would have provided.

When can I sue my employer in Utah?

There are two ways that you can sue your employer for a work-related injury or illness in Utah:

1. If the employer failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance
2. If the injury was due to the “willful and intentional” act of the employer or a fellow employee.

Our construction accident lawyer will examine your situation and determine if a lawsuit against your employer or other party is possible.

If my employer has violated an OSHA regulation, am I guaranteed benefits?

No, but most of the time a clear violation of OSHA regulations is enough to warrant compensation, but additional evidence may be needed. This is why it is a good idea to have a construction accident lawyer on your side as soon as possible to begin gathering evidence while it is available.

Do I need to hire a lawyer for a construction accident?

While it is not necessary to hire a lawyer, the chances of your getting the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries increases when you work with an experienced construction accident attorney. Your lawyer has the resources to investigate your case, gather evidence, hire expert witnesses, and negotiate with insurance companies to get you as much as possible.

When you have our Strong Law attorneys on your side, we will be there throughout the entire legal process, answering your questions and keeping you informed.