Did you sustain an injury while working on a construction site in Cleveland, Ohio? Call Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers for a free consultation at (216) 510-9985. Our experienced Cleveland construction accident lawyers can help you pursue your best course of action, including filing a lawsuit on your behalf if applicable.
We’re a long-standing personal injury law firm in the state, with 181 years of combined experience and over $100 million recovered for our clients so far. We’ll work just as hard for you on your case, so reach out today to get started.
Why Choose Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers After a Construction Accident in Cleveland, Ohio?
Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers is a trusted name in Cleveland, OH. We work relentlessly on behalf of our clients so that they can recover maximum compensation for their injuries. Our Cleveland personal injury lawyers are also highly experienced at trial, and insurance companies know it. When they see our name on the other side of a case, they know we will not accept a lowball offer.
Here is what makes our attorneys the right choice after a construction accident:
- Nearly two full centuries of combined legal experience handling serious injury cases
- Case results that include recoveries in the seven figures
- Recognition from Martindale-Hubbell, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Super Lawyers
Contact our Cleveland workers’ compensation attorneys today for a free consultation. We can answer all of your questions when we meet to review your case.
What Legal Options Do I Have After a Construction Accident in Cleveland?
You have a couple of options for recovering compensation after a construction accident: workers’ compensation and a third-party claim.
Here’s what each of them entails:
Workers’ Compensation
Ohio law requires nearly every employer in the state to carry workers’ compensation insurance through the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). If you were injured on a construction site while performing your job duties, you can likely file a claim for benefits.
Workers’ comp operates as a “no-fault” system in Ohio. That means you do not have to prove that your employer was negligent. As long as the injury happened during the course of your employment, you are generally eligible for benefits.
A workers’ compensation attorney in Cleveland can help you seek the following types of benefits:
- Medical benefits covering all approved treatment related to your injury
- Temporary total disability for periods when you cannot work at all during recovery
- Permanent partial disability if you can return to work in some capacity but have lasting impairments
- Permanent total disability if you are unable to return to work indefinitely
- Death benefits for surviving family members
One important limitation to keep in mind is that workers’ compensation in Ohio does not cover losses like pain and suffering. That is one reason third-party claims can be so critical for construction accident victims.
Third-Party Personal Injury Claims
Workers’ compensation benefits are valuable, but they do not always reflect the full scope of what you have lost. If someone other than your employer contributed to your accident, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against that third party. Unlike workers’ comp, a third-party claim allows you to pursue a much wider range of damages.
Construction sites in Cleveland typically involve multiple companies working side by side, which creates many scenarios where third-party liability may come into play:
- A general contractor fails to enforce safety protocols or maintain a safe work environment.
- A subcontractor’s negligence on a shared job site causes an injury.
- A property owner ignores known hazards on the premises.
- A manufacturer sells defective equipment, scaffolding, or safety gear that malfunctions on the job.
- A vehicle operator causes a car accident on or near the construction site.
Identifying all of the potentially liable parties is one of the most important steps in a construction accident case. Our trial attorneys will work hard to ensure no stone is left unturned.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Construction Accident in Cleveland?
If you are able to file a third-party lawsuit alongside your workers’ compensation claim, you can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. These are known as “compensatory damages” because they aim to restore what you have lost.
Economic damages cover your financial losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Costs of medical equipment and ongoing care
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are harder to put a number on, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Psychological conditions like PTSD and anxiety
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are only available in cases involving egregious conduct, malice, or fraud.
How Much Is My Cleveland Construction Accident Claim Worth?
Factors that can affect the value of your case include:
- The severity and long-term impact of your injuries
- Whether you can return to work in any capacity
- How much your medical treatment has cost and what future care you will need
- Whether a third party can be held liable beyond your employer
- The strength of the evidence supporting your claim
- Whether you share any degree of fault for the accident
- The available insurance coverage of the responsible parties
We would be happy to provide more insight into what your claim might be worth during your free consultation. At the end of the day, if you hire one of our Cleveland personal injury attorneys, our goal will be to pursue every dollar you are entitled to under the law.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Cleveland Construction Accident?
You can still generally file a workers’ compensation claim regardless of who caused the accident, since Ohio’s workers’ comp system is no-fault. When it comes to a third-party personal injury lawsuit, however, Ohio’s modified comparative negligence law will apply.
Under this rule, you cannot recover damages if you are found to be 51% or more at fault. If your share of responsibility falls at or below 50%, you can still receive compensation, but it will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are assigned 30% of the blame, your damages would be reduced by that same 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer in Cleveland?
Most construction accident lawyers in Cleveland work on a contingency fee basis. You do not have to pay anything upfront to get started, and you will not owe an hourly rate or flat fee while your case is in progress. You only pay if your attorney successfully recovers compensation on your behalf.
This arrangement benefits you in two important ways. First, it means you can hire a skilled trial attorney regardless of your current financial situation. Second, your lawyer has every incentive to maximize the value of your claim because their payment depends on the outcome.
We’ll Fight for Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Our construction accident attorneys in Cleveland can help you pursue compensation for all of your injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones and fractures
- Crush injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Nerve damage
- Internal organ injuries
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Eye injuries
- Hearing loss
- Soft tissue tears
- Paralysis
No matter what kind of injury you have suffered, our legal team is here to help. Get in touch with us for more information about how we can assist with your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Construction Accident Claim in Ohio?
The deadlines for construction accident claims in Ohio depend on the type of claim you are filing. For workers’ compensation, you must generally file with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within one year of the date of your injury. For a third-party personal injury lawsuit, the statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the accident.
Missing either of these deadlines could cost you your right to compensation entirely. We strongly recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to avoid missing any deadlines.
Contact Our Cleveland Construction Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Were you injured on a construction site in Cleveland, Ohio? Workers’ compensation may cover part of your losses, but a third-party lawsuit could put you in a position to recover significantly more. The attorneys at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers can handle your case from start to finish while you focus on getting better.
Our Cleveland construction accident attorneys have 181 years of combined experience and a track record of results that you can trust. Give us a call today to learn more and to schedule a free consultation.