Were you or a loved one recently injured on a construction site in Wyomissing, PA? Construction accident victims have options for recovering compensation. An experienced Wyomissing construction accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you evaluate your rights under state workers’ compensation and personal injury laws.
Our team of lawyers has over 120 years of combined experience under our belt. Injured clients like you have benefitted from our dedication. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts over the years.
You may deserve compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. You can learn more by calling our law offices in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania at (717) 388-2325 to schedule a free consultation.
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Why Should I Hire Marzzacco Niven & Associates After a Construction Accident in Wyomissing, PA?
Recovering from a serious injury can be a brutal process. You shouldn’t have to worry about whether your workers’ comp check is fair. You also shouldn’t have to deal with doctors who might pressure you to return to work before you’re ready–or employers who might claim your injuries weren’t work-related.
Our Wyomissing personal injury lawyers can help with every aspect of your case. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our legal team includes lawyers who have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and Best Lawyers in America. We also have a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist on our team.
With our attorneys by your side, you’ll benefit from a personal injury law firm that will:
- Use our own resources to conduct a full investigation into the accident
- Determine the correct level of workers’ comp benefits you should be receiving
- Determine whether you’re eligible to file a third-party claim for additional damages
- Hire experts who can strengthen your case
- Protect you if someone claims your injuries were pre-existing
- Represent you at hearings if your workers’ comp claim is denied
- Negotiate with the insurance companies to recover the highest available settlement
Recovering fair workers’ compensation benefits is often more challenging than it should be. Our Wyomissing personal injury attorneys can handle any complications that arise. If you were injured on the job, don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff in Berks County to learn more about this practice area.
Pennsylvania Statistics on Accidents in the Construction Industry
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in Pennsylvania. Statewide, 8,879 construction workers were injured on the job in 2021. At least 12 construction workers lost their lives in fatal work accidents that year.
Our lawyers in Wyomissing handle all types of construction accident cases, including cases involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Car accidents and trucking accidents
- Scaffolding accidents, including scaffolding collapse
- Building collapse
- Defective work tools and equipment
- Fires and explosions
- Roof and ladder falls
- Electric shock
- Electrocution
- Nail gun accidents
- Trenching and excavation accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Crane accidents
- Exposure to toxic materials
- Accidents where a worker is struck by an object
- Accidents where a worker is caught between two objects
Our Wyomissing construction accident attorneys will do everything we can to protect you after an accident. Call our team today to schedule a free consultation.
How Much Is My Wyomissing Construction Accident Case Worth?
The value of your case depends on many different factors. Nearly every injured construction worker is entitled to file a claim for benefits under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws.
The value of your workers’ comp benefits will depend on concrete factors, such as:
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Your average wages prior to the accident
- The length of your recovery
- Whether your disability allows you to work in any capacity
- Whether you can return to the same line of work once you’ve reached maximum medical improvement
Workers’ compensation wage replacement benefits are limited by state law. Most victims receive about ⅔ of their average weekly wages prior to the accident (90% of your wages if you earned less than $707.21 per week).
However, regardless of your prior earnings, your weekly check is capped at $1,273 in 2023.
How Can Pennsylvania Personal Injury Laws Impact My Case Value?
Your case value will also depend on whether you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit for additional damages. The factors that are relevant in assessing the value of a personal injury case are much more subjective.
In addition to your financial costs, our lawyers will consider:
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering
- Damage to your quality of life
- Lifestyle changes you experience due to the injury
- The circumstances of the accident
You generally cannot sue your employer for damages. You forfeit that right in exchange for benefits under the no-fault workers’ compensation law. However, negligent third parties are not protected against lawsuits.
You might have a valid personal injury claim if your injuries were caused by:
- The manufacturer of defective work equipment
- A negligent driver in a motor vehicle accident
- Property owners who fail to maintain a safe work site
- General contractors
- Independent suppliers and vendors
Construction is a dangerous industry. There are countless ways to get hurt on the job. Let our lawyers evaluate your right to compensation. That way, you can rest assured that you’re not leaving money on the table.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Victims of Construction Site Accidents in Wyomissing?
Workers’ compensation provides benefits to cover the direct financial costs associated with a work-related injury.
In Pennsylvania, injured workers are entitled to benefits for:
- All reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Temporary total disability benefits
- Temporary partial disability benefits
- Benefits for disfigurement or permanent loss of the use of a body part
- Death benefits for surviving family members
These benefits can be critical to helping you get by while you recover. Still, they might not be enough to cover all of your losses. They won’t even begin to account for the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
When you’re eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, different classes of damages become available. In personal injury cases, accident victims can seek full compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Personal injury laws in Pennsylvania give victims the right to seek compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Your full lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Depression
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
You could even be entitled to punitive damages if your case involved intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed For My Own Injuries in Pennsylvania?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Injured workers don’t have to worry about proving negligence or whether they share blame for an accident. You can recover workers’ compensation benefits even if you caused the accident.
Under Pennsylvania comparative negligence laws, you could lose your right to sue for damages if you share too much blame for the accident. If you’re even slightly responsible, your damages can be reduced by your portion of responsibility.
Construction Accident Victims Often Suffer Serious and Life-Altering Injuries
Examples of the types of serious injuries often sustained by construction workers include:
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Shoulder injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Facial injuries
- Lung damage
- Hearing loss
- Soft tissue damage
- Burn injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
These injuries can have serious long-term consequences. Call us today to learn more about how our team at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you fight for money to deal with those consequences.
What Are the Leading Causes of Construction Accidents in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania?
Some construction accidents are unavoidable. On the other hand, owners of construction companies don’t always look out for their employees’ best interests.
Some of the most common causes of construction site accidents include:
- Lack of proper safety equipment
- Lack of fall protection
- Defective scaffolding, work tools, or equipment
- Improper crane installations
- Improperly installed scaffolding
- Negligent supervision of employees
- Communication failures
- Failure to properly train workers on how to use construction equipment
- Dangerous premises and negligent property maintenance
- Outdated technologies and materials
- Failure to maintain work equipment in safe condition
- Failure to follow state and OSHA federal safety regulations
- Workplace violence
Some dangers are more serious than others. In fact, one recent study has found that falls to lower levels caused about 32% of all fatalities in the construction industry, emphasizing the importance of adequate fall prevention measures.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Damages After a Construction Accident in Pennsylvania?
It’s important to pay attention to the statute of limitations in your case. Once the deadline passes, you could lose your right to compensation entirely.
To protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits, you must notify your employer about the accident within 120 days.
In personal injury cases, accident victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With an Experienced Wyomissing Construction Accident Lawyer
Are you wondering how to get fair compensation after suffering a construction accident injury? Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates today. An experienced Wyomissing construction accident attorney can evaluate your case for free and help you understand your legal options.