Construction work is hard. Sometimes it can be literally backbreaking. Injuries to the spine are all too common at construction sites in Indianapolis and across Indiana.
Construction workers who suffer work-related spinal injuries – including slipped and herniated discs, broken vertebrae, nerve damage, and spinal cord injuries – are usually entitled to workers’ compensation. Depending on the circumstances, you may also be able to recover additional compensation in third-party claim if someone other than your employer or co-workers was responsible for the injury.
Do you want to learn more about your legal right to compensation for a spinal injury at a construction site? Contact the experienced Indiana workplace spine injury lawyers at Klezmer Maudlin, PC, now.
Randy Klezmer and Nathan Maudlin founded the law firm in 1992 to help Indiana workers who have suffered serious injuries in workplace accidents. Randy and Nathan stand up for injured workers and fight to help them get the compensation they need and deserve.
We want to hear the details about how your construction-related spinal injury and how it happened. We are prepared investigate your accident to determine whether you may have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, as well as the potential for a third-party claim. Our firm has the resources, skills and grit necessary to pursue all potential sources of recovery on your behalf. We take pride in treating our clients like family as we work hard to get results for them.
Legal Options for Construction Workers with Spinal Injuries
Indiana’s workers’ compensation system is intended to provide certain benefits to injured workers regardless of fault. In other words, you may be able to collect benefits even if your employer didn’t do anything wrong to cause your injury – and even if you did something to cause the accident.
While the workers’ compensation system is simple in theory, obtaining full compensation is often more difficult in practice. Workers’ compensation insurers may attempt to deny a valid claim or minimize the benefits they pay, particularly with costly injuries such as those to the spine or spinal cord.
At Klezmer Maudlin, we believe that strong representation is the key to protecting the rights of workers who have suffered spine injuries on construction sites. We work to secure the money and benefits injured workers need to build a more secure future. Attorneys Randy Klezmer and Nathan Maudlin take pride in treating clients like family members. They work directly with each client, delivering the compassionate yet assertive legal representation needed to help you get results.
In addition to seeking full workers’ compensation benefits for our clients, we also explore other potential sources of recovery that may be available in some cases. For example, if someone other than your employer or co-workers did something wrong that caused your accident, they may be responsible for paying you additional compensation.
Here are some of the steps we can take on your behalf:
- Thoroughly and independently investigate the accident to find out what really happened and who might be responsible.
- Work with medical, financial and other experts to calculate the full extent of your losses.
- Help you seek the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
- Determine whether a third-party liability claim may be an option in your case.
- Advocate for your best interests at the negotiating table and in court if necessary.
There are differences between a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party liability lawsuit. For example, workers’ compensation claims are handled by the Workers’ Compensation Board of Indiana while third-party lawsuits are handled by civil courts. There are also differences in the type of compensation you could receive. Workers’ compensation benefits are typically more limited than what may be available in a third-party lawsuit.
Multiple claims are never simple. The lawyers at Klezmer Maudlin have the knowledge to identify and manage all of your claims simultaneously to help you seek the compensation you deserve. Contact us now for a free claim review and legal advice about your best options.
Causes of Spine Injuries at Construction Sites
Construction workers are known for their strong backs, but many construction site accidents are too much for anyone’s spine to withstand. Some of the most common causes of spine injuries and spinal cord injuries include:
Falls, including both falls from heights and falls on the same level (for example, trip-and-fall accidents and slip-and-fall accidents). Workers who use scaffolds and ladders are particularly prone to falls that cause spinal injuries.
Motor vehicle and heavy equipment accidents are common on construction sites, with a wide variety of trucks, diggers, bulldozers, forklifts, backhoes and other equipment moving about the work area. Vehicle drivers, equipment operators, and workers on foot are vulnerable to spine injuries caused by this type of accident.
Defective tools and equipment may also contribute to a construction worker’s spine injury. For example, defective fall protection systems may result in serious back injuries in a fall.
Heavy lifting and repetitive motion can cause serious damage to the spine. While some of these injuries occur in an instant, others develop over time. Both types may make an injured worker eligible for benefits depending on the circumstances.
Workplace violence is a leading cause of spinal cord injuries, including those caused by gunshots.
Costs Associated With Spine Injuries & Compensation
Accidents that cause damage to the spinal cord are some of the most costly injuries anyone can suffer – particularly when they result in paralysis. Injuries to the spine can still cause significant economic damage even when the spinal cord itself is left unharmed. Virtually all spine and back injuries cause significant pain, suffering and emotional trauma. They frequently leave injured workers unable to do their old job or any work at all.
Some examples of the types of costs that spine injury victims face include:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Ongoing disability
- Assistive devices like wheelchairs and hospital beds
- In-home assistance with tasks of daily living
- Modifications to the home and vehicle
- Lost wages and reduced earing capacity
Indiana workers’ compensation benefits may be available to pay for some of these expenses, either in full or in part. Additional compensation may be available through a third-party claim if someone other than your employer or co-workers contributed to the accident.
Resources for Spine Injury Victims
Our Experience & Case Results
Our law firm has helped more than 30,000 people who were hurt at work. In addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits, we also explore other options for compensation, such as a products liability claim against the manufacturer of a defective piece of equipment that caused a construction injury or a personal injury claim against a subcontractor or vendor who caused an accident.
Helping injured workers is all we do at Klezmer Mauldin. Randy and Nathan fight for workers who are trying to recover from injuries and need someone to take on those responsible for their injuries.
Contact us now so we can get started reviewing your situation. The claim review is free and so is the legal advice we provide. We charge nothing for our legal services unless and until we secure compensation for you.