Construction projects are a common sight in Riverhead. Mixed-use, residential, and commercial developments are in progress across the city. When construction projects increase, so does the potential for construction accidents.
If you or a loved one suffered a construction site injury, our Riverhead personal injury attorneys at Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC can help you pursue fair compensation.
When you reach out to us, we’ll provide a free initial consultation and explain more about how our construction accident attorneys serving Riverhead can help you.
Workers’ Compensation For Construction Accidents in Riverhead
WKC § 202 requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Employees injured in the course of their work duties can claim compensation through workers’ compensation for health care and lost income. Those who lost a loved one in a workplace construction accident can also seek survivor benefits.
Health Care Benefits
Following a construction accident, accident victims may require emergency medical treatment, critical care, surgical intervention, and rehabilitation. A workers’ compensation claim can cover these healthcare costs, as well as medication, medical devices, and transportation to and from doctors’ appointments.
While workers’ comp will cover emergency care, any additional treatment must be through an authorized provider approved by the Workers Compensation Board. Our construction accident attorneys in Riverhead can help you understand your options.
Lost Income Benefits
Construction accidents are often severe enough to warrant time away from work. While you undergo treatment and rehabilitation, workers’ compensation covers lost wages after your first seven days away. If your income is reduced due to your injuries, you can also seek compensation for a portion of those lost wages.
Lost income benefits also extend to income loss due to full or partial disability. The Workers’ Compensation Board defines four types of disability:
- Temporary total disability
- Temporary partial disability
- Permanent total disability
- Permanent partial disability
To receive disability benefits, you must have a report that outlines your disability level from your treating physician. If you believe your documented degree of disability is incorrect, you can request an independent medical review, negotiate with the insurer, or request a hearing.
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s construction accident lawyers can guide you through the process and represent you in hearings. We can also help you gather evidence, complete paperwork, and file an appeal if your claim is reduced or denied.
Survivor Benefits
If you lost a loved one due to a construction accident, you could pursue survivor benefits. A death claim for survivor benefits can cover funeral or memorial expenses and lost income from your lost loved one. Depending on your relationship with the decedent, you may be eligible for weekly cash benefits or a lump sum payment.
Speak with a Riverhead construction accident team member at Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC with questions about survivor benefits in a workers’ compensation claim. We offer free consultations to help you understand your legal rights and options after a serious construction accident.
Third-Party Litigation for a Riverhead Construction Accident
While most construction accidents involve an employee, sometimes a contractor or other non-employee suffers injury on a construction site. If you suffered injuries on a construction site but were not employed by the construction company, you could have grounds to file a personal injury claim against the responsible parties.
Workers are prohibited from suing their employers for workplace accidents. However, there are certain exceptions.
Private contractors, visitors, inspectors, bystanders, and other non-employees could pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. In addition, a construction worker injured by a third party’s negligence could also pursue a personal injury claim.
Determining Fault in a Third-Party Construction Injury Lawsuit
While workers’ compensation claims for construction accidents do not require proving fault, third-party construction accident lawsuits do. Our construction accident attorneys in Riverhead can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
We understand that a construction accident is a highly traumatic experience that can have lifelong consequences. Our team can help you hold the responsible parties fully accountable. Parties we may pursue include:
- General contractor
- Construction company
- Third-party contractor
Most contractors carry liability insurance to cover damages should an injury occur. We file claims with all appropriate insurance carriers. In addition, we work to have your personal injury lawsuit submitted within the New York statute of limitations so you do not lose the chance to pursue fair compensation.
Filing a Third-Party Construction Injury Claim
During your free consultation, we review the details of your case and explain your legal options, which may include filing a lawsuit. When you become a client of Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, we conduct a thorough investigation of the accident scene, including:
- Obtaining photos and videos of the construction accident site
- Taking witness statements
- Securing medical records and bills
Many personal injury claims settle out of court. However, construction injury lawsuits can be complicated due to the number of entities involved and the high medical expenses. We know how to hold all the responsible parties accountable for the losses you suffered. Our dedicated trial attorneys are prepared to take your case to court if we cannot achieve a fair settlement. We will not settle for less than you deserve.
Let’s win your case TOGETHER
Advantages of Partnering With Our Riverhead Construction Accident Law Firm
When you work with Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, you benefit from more than 85 years of personal injury legal experience. Since 1938, our firm has been dedicated to protecting the legal rights of injured parties in Riverhead and throughout Long Island and Connecticut.
Personalized Legal Representation
After a life-altering construction accident, you deserve attentive representation from lawyers who care. Our construction accident lawyers are here to provide the support you need from your initial claim through your final settlement or verdict. We treat each client like family. That means personalized representation, open communication, and aggressive advocacy.
Legal Assistance on a Contingency-Fee Basis
At Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, we know that a construction injury can take a serious toll on your finances. To ease the burden, we offer legal representation on a contingency-fee basis. You only pay for our services when we win your case.
Proven Record of Success
Over the past eight decades, Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC has successfully recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We are dedicated to pursuing fair compensation, no matter how complicated your case is. Our legal team has experience handling workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits. Let us bring our knowledge and resources to your defense.
Deadlines For Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim After a Riverhead Construction Site Accident
To file a workers’ comp claim for a work-related construction accident, you must meet certain deadlines. Failure to meet these time limits could affect your eligibility. Deadlines to consider include:
- 30 Days: You must advise your employer of your injury immediately or no later than 30 days from the date of your injury.
- 10 Days: Your employer must notify their workers’ comp insurance within 10 days of your notification of injury or illness.
- 14 Days: The insurance carrier must provide a statement of rights and healthcare network requirements within 14 days of your employer’s notification of your injury or illness.
- 18 Days: The insurance company must begin paying benefits for lost income within 18 days if you missed more than 7 days of work.
- 18 Days: The insurance company has 18 days from the date your disability begins to contest your claim and notify you of the dispute. Alternatively, they have 10 days from the date they learn of your injury or illness, whichever is later.
- 30 Days: You have 30 days to file an appeal with the Workers’ Compensation Board if you disagree with their decision.
- 30 Days: If the workers’ compensation insurer disagrees with the judge’s decision on appeal, they can file a rebuttal within 30 days of receiving the judge’s ruling.
The appeals process for a workers’ compensation claim can be extremely complicated. When you are recovering from a severe construction accident injury, you may feel too overwhelmed to deal with the legal headache. That’s where we can help you.
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s Riverhead personal injury lawyers can fight for your legal right to workers’ comp benefits. We are here to support you throughout your claim and can aggressively advocate for the compensation you deserve. Our team handles correspondence, files paperwork within required deadlines, and represents your interests during hearings and other proceedings.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation About Your Construction Accident Case
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic or fatal injury in a construction accident, our Riverhead construction accident attorneys can help you take legal action. Whether you are appealing a workers’ compensation denial, fighting for disability payments, seeking survivor benefits, or pursuing a third-party personal injury claim, we have the experience and resources to support your case.
Contact our office today to get started with a free initial consultation with one of our construction accident team members in Riverhead.