A Construction Accident Attorney West Palm Beach Trusts in Your Corner
Sustaining an injury in a construction accident can come with its fair share of consequences. You will likely be contending with them for quite some time, especially if your injuries impact your way of living and your ability to earn a paycheck. There are a number of construction accidents that workers may be susceptible to when on the job. Finding the right construction accident attorney who can outline your options for you is vital when seeking legal recourse. That’s where we come in. At Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt we bring over 80 years of combined experience in West Palm Beach to the table. Let us help you obtain the compensation you may be entitled to with legal services that are like no other.
Typical Types of Construction Accidents
The results of a construction accident can be incredibly damaging to injury sufferers. There are a number of ways in which a construction accident can be sustained, for example:
- Explosions
- Building collapse
- Being hit by an object
- Falling, whether it is from a rooftop, ladder or some other structure
- Accidents involving heavy machinery
- Injuries from repetitive motions
Depending on the way in which you were injured, you will have a number of decisions to make. Should you obtain worker’s compensation or pursue a personal injury lawsuit? This can feel like a whirlwind, especially in the wake of a serious accident. Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt can help to lay out all of your options so that you can determine the path that works best for you. Have You Been in a Construction Accident?
Finding the Right Attorney
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do for yourself following an accident is to make sure that you have an attorney who is qualified to represent you. By doing so, you secure your right to legal representation from an attorney who knows what they are doing. Finding legal counsel who is experienced and qualified doesn’t often happen by randomly picking a law firm out of a phone book. Take the time to do the following so that you are able to retain a qualified attorney:
- Start by making a list of construction accident attorneys in your area
- Speak with people you know who have worked with attorneys in the past.
- Conduct internet searches of attorneys in your area
- Read online reviews of prospective attorneys and look over their websites
- Ask for referrals from past clients. Any reputable attorney should be able to provide you with this.
- Take advantage of the free consultation offered by many attorneys. By meeting with them, you can ask questions and ensure that they feel like the right fit for you.
- Make sure that you are prepared for your consultation, you will only have a limited amount of time to meet with a prospective attorney.
By taking these steps, you can be sure that you have chosen a construction accident attorney in West Palm Beach who can get the job done. The last thing you want is to end up with a lawyer who doesn’t do their job to the best of their ability.
What Can I Do About Employer Retaliation for a Construction Accident?
If you have been the victim in a construction accident injury, or if you have filed a claim against your employer but believe they may be retaliating against you, contact a West Palm Beach construction accident attorney from the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig, & Neuwelt. Workers’ compensation was created as a way for employers and injured workers to arrive at a compromise regarding an accident. Unfortunately, an employer may subconsciously or intentionally retaliate against an construction employee who reported an incident and applied for workers’ compensation benefits. This may be especially true for situations where the construction worker’s injuries were expensive, and cost the company money. Retaliation can take on many forms, and may be either discrete or obvious in essence. Anyone who feels their employer sought revenge against them, should talk with a West Palm Beach construction accident attorney right away for representation.
Q: Is it illegal for an employer to terminate a worker for using workers’ comp?
A: It is against the law for any company to fire or discipline a worker for using workers’ compensation benefits. An employer may let a worker go as a way to cancel his or her benefit coverage to save the company from losing money. However, such behavior may be actionable by law, and victims in these scenarios may want legal guidance from a construction accident attorney in West Palm Beach, Florida on what to do next. An employer may say the worker was fired for a reason unrelated to the accident. But, an attorney can help investigate further and try to uncover the truth behind the termination.
Q: What are signs that an employer retaliated against a construction worker?
A: There are many ways that an employer may seek revenge against an employee in the workplace. It can be as subtle as passive aggressive remarks, or as transparent as moving the employee to another department. Other examples of employer retaliation can include failure to promote, demotion, isolation, intimidation, reclassification, threats of repercussions, unwarranted disciplinary actions, or giving untruthful negative employment reference reviews.
Q: What must I prove to have a case against my employer?
A: Very rarely will an employer come out and admit publicly that he or she retaliated against their worker. This means the worker and his or her attorney must work hard to gather proof that shows the behavior was unlawful. In general, the following factors may have to apply for it to be actionable:
- The employee was entitled to utilize workers’ compensation benefits under state law.
- The employee reported the injury accident promptly after it occurred and completed the necessary paperwork with a supervisor or manager.
- The employee has photographic evidence or witness statements that show the extent of injuries and how the work environment had been unreasonably hazardous or dangerous.
- The employer’s actions were based on the fact that the worker had filed an incident report and/or used workers’ compensation benefits to heal from the resulting injuries.
Q: How do I know whether I am protected by law?
A: There are elements of the situation that must apply, in order for the construction worker to be protected by law. For instance, the person must have been an employee, and the employer must have participated in a workers’ comp program or was self-insured at the time. State laws can vary when it comes to a worker’s rights and protection regarding employer retaliation. An attorney can offer insight into what rules apply to your circumstances based on where you reside.
Get Help From a Construction Accident Attorney West Palm Beach, FL Residents Rely on
If you have been injured at work and believe that your employer is retaliating against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim, reach out to the West Palm Beach construction accident attorney from the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig, & Neuwelt now.
Suffering injuries from a construction accident can not only be physically and emotionally painful, it can also have an impact on your livelihood and the life you once knew. Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt can provide you with the legal representation you deserve during what is sure to be a trying time in your life. Contact us as soon as possible so that a construction accident attorney West Palm Beach clients recommend can begin reviewing your case and mapping out the proper course of action for you.