Hempstead Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction sites are a way of life in Hempstead and the surrounding areas. It is a rare day when a driver or pedestrian does not come into contact with an active site or places where traffic meets a diversion. In these situations, the workers and their employers must take steps to prevent accidents.

A lawyer from our firm may be able to help you if you have suffered injuries due to an accident that happened on or near a construction site. The legal professionals at Morelli Law Firm can perform a full investigation into the incident that occurred in Hempstead, evaluate how the accident has impacted your life, and demand proper compensation from all at-fault parties. We can speak with you today during a free consultation.

Construction Can Play a Role in Car Accidents that Occur on Hempstead’s Roads

Anyone who drives or rides in a car in the Hempstead area knows that road construction is a constant presence. With the volume of vehicles that travel over these surfaces every day, it is inevitable that accidents will happen. Still, these changes in traffic patterns can create hazards that require drivers to keep their attention on the road and comply with reduced speed limits.

A failure to follow these new rules is a leading cause of car accidents in Hempstead. A driver who does not slow down in a construction zone violates state law. If a police officer responding to the scene of a collision issues a ticket to a driver for this infraction, this is strong evidence that the driver was at fault for the accident.

Our Lawyer Can Investigate What Led Up to Your Accident

An attorney from our firm familiar with construction accident cases in Hempstead could help pursue personal injury lawsuits that arise out of car crashes in construction zones. This includes investigating whether a police officer issued a ticket and whether that ticket resulted in a conviction in traffic court.

Car accidents can happen in construction zones when a worker at that construction site operates machinery in a reckless or negligent manner. Or, perhaps, an employee rerouting traffic sends a driver in the wrong direction, causing an accident and injuries. Our lawyer will investigate the cause of your accident and identify the liable party or parties and hold them legally accountable for your damages.

Companies that Operate Construction Sites Have a Duty to Protect Visitors and Passersby

As mentioned, many accidents that involve construction sites are the fault of the companies operating at those locations. When they invite a guest to visit the site, they must take all reasonable steps to prevent hazards that could result in an injury. This includes providing a hard hat, ensuring that all machinery is safe and warning guests of open pits. A construction company that fails to take these steps may be at fault for any resulting injury under the concept of premises liability.

Similarly, construction companies have a duty under the law to protect passersby on public streets. Something as simple as a falling tool from scaffolding has the potential to inflict life-altering injuries. Because companies are jointly liable for their employees’ actions, construction companies have an obligation to provide compensation for any resulting losses.

The legal team at Morelli Law Firm helps people like you evaluate their legal rights following an injury that occurred on or near a construction site. A lawyer from our firm could help gather evidence of the responsible party’s negligence, determine how the incident has impacted your life, and demand appropriate compensation in or out of court.

Compensable Damages You Could Receive in a Construction Accident Case

Whether you or a family member suffered injuries in a construction accident that was someone else’s fault, you could be eligible to receive compensation for your damages. There are two types of damages you could be entitled to – economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the actual out-of-pocket expenses you endured due to the accident. You could recover financial damages for:

• Past and future medical expenses – (e.g., ambulance transport, hospitalization, imaging tests, surgeries, assistive medical devices such as a wheelchair, prescription medicines, rehabilitation costs)
• Loss of income – (e.g., any bonuses or promotions you missed due to your accident-related injuries, time missed from work to attend doctor’s appointments)
• Loss of earning capacity – (e.g., if your injuries prevent you from doing the job you did before the accident, or you have to take a lower-paying position)
• Property damage – (e.g., the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle due to the accident)

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are less tangible and reflect how the accident has affected you physically and emotionally. These damages may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of activities
• Loss of consortium

If you lost a loved one in a construction accident in Hempstead, you have our deepest sympathies. You may be entitled to recover damages for medical bills up until your loved one’s passing, funeral and burial costs, and pain and suffering through a wrongful death lawsuit. An attorney at our firm can go over the details of your case and determine if it applies per New York’s EPTL § 5-4.1.

Portions of the Law May Limit Your Ability to Collect Compensation

Even if it appears that another driver or the construction company is to blame for an accident that involves a construction site, certain portions of the law may make it difficult to collect full compensation.

One clear example of this is the state’s law concerning contributory negligence. According to CPLR § 1411, juries in accident cases must evaluate the actions of all parties involved in the incident and assign blame accordingly. If the jury assigns 33% of the blame to the injured party, for example, the court may only award 67% of the demanded compensation.

Defendant drivers and construction companies may argue that an injured person was on the phone at the time of the collision or did not wear proper footwear when visiting the site. These tactics may serve to reduce your overall compensation.

Statute of Limitations in Personal Injury Cases

In addition, all injured people have a limited time under the law to demand payment in court. New York’s CPLR § 214 is the state’s statute of limitations. It says that most people have no more than three years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit in court. Our lawyer could help to limit the impact of these legal concepts on your claim or lawsuit for compensation after your accident.

Our Attorney Can Help You Pursue Recovery After Your Construction Accident in Hempstead

Construction sites are dangerous places that require all parties to take great care. This includes drivers in other vehicles as well as the employees of the construction companies. Despite this fact, injuries that result from encounters in and around construction sites are common. These may include car crashes, falling tools, or slip and fall accidents.

Regardless of the exact nature of the circumstances that led to your injuries, you deserve the compensation you need to make things right if the accident was another party’s fault. This can include payments for medical bills, lost wages, and reductions in your quality of life.

Call Us Today to Get Started

The legal professionals at Morelli Law Firm can work to investigate your construction accident in Hempstead, gather evidence that indicates another party’s fault, measure your losses, and pursue fair payments in or out of court. Give us a call today at (212) 751-9800 for your free consultation.