Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Construction Site Accidents

Scott, Kinney, Fjelstad & Mack, Attorneys at Law

Representing Injured and Disabled Workers and Individuals

If you were injured on a construction site, your basic need for medical care and time loss compensation should be covered by your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance. However, that will only provide you with partial compensation for your losses. If the actions or failures of the property owner, general contractor or another subcontractor on the site contributed to the accident, then you have a potential “third party” claim. The attorneys at Scott, Kinney, Fjelstad & Mack, Attorneys at Law have the experience and knowledge to obtain compensation for your past and future lost wages, your medical expenses and pain and suffering.

A general contractor has a non-delegable duty to create and maintain a safe construction site. There are many regulatory codes (federal, state, and/or trade based) governing the site and the conduct of every company, supervisor and worker present.

Construction sites change rapidly, as you know. It is vitally important to obtain photographs or videos as soon as possible, and equally important to interview potential witnesses and preserve other evidence. This is one situation where delay can harm, if not destroy, your ability to enforce your right to full and fair compensation. Holes get covered, scaffolds get repaired, barricades go up and machinery disappears. It is in your interest to talk to a lawyer with experience handling construction site accidents before crucial evidence is lost.

We have successfully handled cases involving scissors lifts, fork lifts, man lifts, cranes, scaffolds, ladders, trucks, equipment and tools (pneumatic nail guns, paint sprayers, jackhammers, conveyor belts, etc.) used in construction and demolition projects. These cases have involved tip overs, falls, explosions, electrocution and crush injuries, causing injuries from sprains to spinal cord injuries, burns to brain damage.

Contact Scott, Kinney, Fjelstad & Mack, Attorneys at Law to talk to an experienced construction site accident lawyer to protect your rights.

Construction worker fell while demolishing a warehouse and suffered paraplegia. Settlement for $3,200,000 versus property owner and contractor.

Painter fractured his heel and elbow when scissorslift toppled after hitting hole in floor of big box store under construction. Settlement for $1,000,000 versus general contractor and scissorslift manufacturer.

Surgeon lost vision and had to give up his profession. His long-term disability insurer denied his claim. $1,500,000 recovery after successful trial and appeal to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Student suffered a brain injury in car accident with Seattle police car. Settlement for $3,000,000.

Worker injured knee while using a defectively designed ships ladder on building. Settlement versus architect and builder for $445,000.

Worker in gypsum plant suffered the amputation of his fingers by defectively designed conveyor belt and rotary air lock. Settlement against designer and manufacturer for $370,000.

Child killed in apartment fire who failed to install smoke detectors according to Section 8 regulations. Settlement for mother and sister against property owner (confidential sum).

Logger suffered head injury while yarding logs. Settlement of $275,000 versus logging company.

Emergency room physician rendered disabled due to heart condition. His long-term disability insurer denied his claim. Settlement for $400,000.

Physician with heart problem forced to retire. His long-term disability carrier denied his claim. Settlement for $505,000.

A serious accident is devastating and can result in high medical bills and lost wages in addition to pain and suffering. Let the personal injury attorneys at Scott, Kinney, Fjelstad & Mack, Attorneys at Law, help you recover the compensation you deserve.

If you were injured at work, the law provides for medical care, rehabilitation and return to work assistance, time loss compensation and a disability award. Contact Scott, Kinney, Fjelstad & Mack, Attorneys at Law, today to learn how we can help you.

There are unique aspects to every legal issue. It is important that you speak with a well-qualified lawyer about the application of the law to your specific situation.

Scott, Kinney, Fjelstad & Mack
Attorneys at Law,
Corner of 6th Ave. and University St.
600 University St., Ste. 1928
One Union Square
Seattle, Washington (WA) 98101
Phone: 1-206-622-2200
Fax: 206-622-9671

Scott, Kinney, Fjelstad & Mack, Attorneys at Law, represents clients from throughout the Puget Sound / Seattle metro area, including communities such as Auburn, Ballard, Bellevue, Bothell, Everett, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Monroe, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, Seattle, Tacoma, West Seattle, and Woodinville, Washington. The firm represents clients all over Washington State, including counties such as King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County, Kitsap County and Chelan County.

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