According to data from Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), approximately 7.4 million workers are employed in the construction industry nationwide. With a rapidly growing population, construction is vital to Phoenix. Unfortunately, construction sites are not always as safe as they should be for workers. Too many construction workers sustain avoidable injuries.
Are you a construction worker who was hurt on the job? You need the full available financial benefits to cover medical costs and support your family. Here, our Phoenix workers’ compensation lawyer provides an overview of the most important things injured construction workers should know about their rights, responsibilities, and options in Arizona.
Construction Sites Can Be Dangerous Places: Proper Safety Precautions are a Must
A disproportionate share of serious workplace accidents happen in the construction industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that construction site accidents account for nearly one in five job-related deaths in the United States. As a construction site has the potential to be a dangerous place, it is crucial that employers and other parties take the proper safety precautions. Many construction site accidents could and should have been prevented with proper care. Some of the leading causes of work-related construction industries in Phoenix include:
- Falls from Height: One of the most common causes of construction accidents, falls from heights are extremely dangerous. Proper fall protection is a must.
- Struck By Objects: Falling debris, tools, or materials can strike workers on the site, thereby causing serious injuries or even a death.
- Electrocution: Contact with live wires or electrical currents can cause electrocution. For the most part, construction site electrocutions are preventable.
- Slips and Trips: Uneven surfaces, cluttered work areas, and slippery conditions can cause slips, trips, and falls, resulting in injuries ranging from minor to severe.
- Overexertion: Repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and awkward postures can cause strains, sprains, and other musculoskeletal injuries.
Constructions Companies and Other Contractors are Required to Provide Workers’ Comp
Arizona law requires virtually all employers to provide no-fault workers’ compensation insurance coverage to their employees. The construction industry is not an exception to the rule. Construction companies operating in Phoenix or elsewhere in Maricopa County must provide the proper no-fault workers’ comp coverage to all employees. If you are hurt while working on a construction site, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. Make sure you seek immediate medical attention for your injuries and notify your supervisor/employer of the accident right away.
An Overview of Workers’ Comp Benefits in Arizona
Workers’ compensation benefits in Arizona provide injured construction workers with medical treatment, wage replacement, and disability benefits. Here are the different types of benefits available under Arizona’s workers’ compensation system:
- Medical Benefits: Injured construction workers are entitled to receive medical treatment to cure or relieve the effects of their work-related injury or illness. Benefits may include doctor’s visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and rehabilitation.
- Wage Replacement Benefits: If a construction worker is unable to work due to their injury or illness, they may be entitled to wage replacement benefits. This includes temporary total disability benefits, which provide compensation for lost wages while the worker is unable to work, and permanent partial disability benefits, which compensate the worker for any permanent impairment caused by their injury or illness.
- Death Benefits: Sadly, fatal accidents are a risk in the construction industry. If a construction worker is killed on the job in Arizona, their dependents may be entitled to death benefits, which provide financial assistance to help cover funeral expenses and provide ongoing support. A Phoenix, AZ workers’ comp lawyer can help a grieving family maximize their benefits.
Additional Compensation May Be Available Through a Third Party Liability Claim
In Arizona, a workers’ compensation claim is generally the sole legal action that an injured worker can take against their own employer. However, workers’ comp laws do not prevent injured construction workers from bringing a claim against another at-fault party. These types of cases are called third party liability claims. Some defendants that may bear responsibility for a construction site accident in Phoenix include:
- Other contractors;
- Equipment manufacturers; and
- Property owners.
Third party liability claims are fault-based cases. An injured construction worker must prove a defendant’s negligence in order to hold them legally responsible through a third party liability lawsuit. That being said, these claims open up the possibility for an additional financial recovery. Through a third party liability lawsuit in Arizona, an injured construction worker may be entitled to obtain financial compensation for pain and suffering and other non-economic losses.
Contact Our Phoenix Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
At Snow, Carpio and Weekley, PLC, our Phoenix workers’ compensation lawyers go above and beyond to help our clients secure the maximum financial benefits. If you or your loved one is a construction worker who was hurt on the job, we are more than ready to help. Contact us today to arrange your no cost, no commitment case review. Our work injury law firm represents injured construction workers in Phoenix, Maricopa County, and throughout all of Arizona.
