Can I Sue My Employer for a Construction Accident?
Construction accidents often result in serious injuries or death. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statistics show there were 991 deaths in the construction industry during 2016. In many cases, you cannot file a workplace accident lawsuit against your employer. Surviving family members may also not have this option. You or your family would rely on workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are cases where a claim could be filed against a third party.
Third parties are individuals or businesses who are not your employer. For instance, a third party could be the manufacturer of construction equipment at your worksite. Subcontractors working for other companies could also be an example of a third party. If one of these parties caused your or a loved one’s workplace accident, then you may be able to file a claim for damages.
Third-party claims have advantages over workers’ compensation benefits. With workers’ compensation, you may recover benefits that pay for medical expenses associated with your injury. Unlike workers’ compensation benefits, you can recover pain and suffering damages with a third-party claim. As a result, you may receive much more compensation than you could have obtained with workers’ compensation benefits alone.
Can I File a Third-Party Claim?
Construction sites generally have multiple companies working alongside each other. In addition, construction workers use machinery made by third-party companies. Depending on the circumstances, it could be possible to hold these other parties accountable for a workplace injury or death.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware that third-party claims exist. If you or a loved one were injured in a construction accident, then you should speak with one of the Colorado construction accident attorneys at Lampert & Walsh, LLC to determine your eligibility for filing a third-party claim. Our Denver personal injury law firm offers free consultations.
You can learn more about our experience with work accident cases by continuing to explore our website.
Can I Be Injured at an Amusement Park?
Warm weather draws millions of people in the US to theme parks and fairs each year. However, you could also suffer injuries at these establishments. The CPSC estimates that emergency rooms treated 30,000 amusement park injuries in 2016. Rides only causes a fraction of these injuries.
Several recent amusement park accidents have captured the national spotlight. In 2016, a 10-year-old boy was decapitated on the “world’s tallest waterslide” at a Schlitterbahn in Kansas City. Recent court documents show the park’s management hired a team without the technical skills necessary to safely build the slide. Two individuals responsible for constructing the slide are facing manslaughter charges.
Another accident occurred at a Six Flags in New York last year. In this case, a 14-year-old girl fell 25-feet from a ride. Several other people on the ground caught her, possibly saving her life.
What Causes Amusement Park Injuries?
There are several reasons why an amusement park might be liable for a ride-related accident. Amusement parks could be liable if they did not perform proper maintenance on rides or if their staff members improperly operated rides. The manufacturer of a ride could also be liable for injuries or deaths.
There are also accidents at amusement parks that do not involve rides. Slip and fall accidents can injure park patrons. In addition, amusement parks may have areas that are dangerous to patrons because they contain moving parts or are under construction. Accidents can happen if these areas are not clearly marked.
Many amusement parks require you to sign liability waivers. Amusement parks may use these legal documents to protect themselves if there are injuries and deaths at their establishments. However, there are still cases where you could successfully bring a claim against the park or other parties. You should still speak to an attorney even if you have signed one of these waivers.
The Colorado premises liability lawyers at Lampert & Walsh, LLC could help you determine whether it is possible to recover compensation for an amusement park injury. You can contact us at no cost for a free consultation.
Car Seat Safety Tips for Protecting Your Child
Selecting the right car seat can mean the difference between life and death or minor injuries and serious injuries for your child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that car seat use reduces the risk of death by 54 percent for children between 1 and 4 years old. Car seats must be used correctly to receive the maximum benefit.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has several recommendations for selecting and using child car seats. These recommendations include:
- Buying the right type of car seat. There are various car seat types for different age groups. For instance, infants and very small children should only use rear-facing car seats. Children can use forward facing or booster seats as they become older or grow in size. NHTSA has more information on selecting a car seat based on your child’s size and age. You should also try to avoid purchasing a used car seat.
- Installing the seat correctly. Many child car seats are not installed correctly. In such cases, seats will not perform as well during a crash. You should always use the manufacturer’s instructions for an installation. NHTSA has installation instructions on its website for different types of car seats. However, may also be able to take the seat to a police or fire station for a free installation. NHTSA allows you to search for free installation services on its website.
- Registering the car seat. You should register your car seat with the manufacturer and NHTSA. This will allow you to receive an immediate notification of any future recalls. You can register with the manufacturer on NHTSA’s website.
What If My Child Is Injured in a Car Accident?
Tragedy can strike even if you follow the steps listed above. Lampert & Walsh, LLC is a Denver personal injury law firm with years of experience handling car accident cases. If you have questions about filing a car accident lawsuit, you can speak to one of our attorneys at no cost during a free consultation.