Knoxville Construction Accident Lawyers

If you have fallen from a ladder or roof, been involved in an accident while driving a forklift, backhoe, or other construction vehicle, sustained an injury while operating a saw or other tool, or suffered harm in a construction site explosion, you may be able to pursue various legal remedies. You should discuss your case with a construction site accident lawyer in Knoxville to ensure all avenues are explored. Potential causes of action include:

1. Workers’ compensation – this is typically the exclusive remedy for injured workers in Tennessee. In a workers’ compensation claim, you do not have to prove wrongdoing on behalf of your employer. You only have to show that you were injured during the course and scope of your employment. Under Tennessee workers’ compensation law, you may be entitled to receive temporary partial or total disability benefits while you are off work recovering from your injury, permanent partial or total disability benefits if you suffer a permanent impairment from your injury, and payment of your medical expenses. Pain and suffering is generally not allowed in a workers’ compensation claim.
2. Third-party claim – though workers’ compensation is usually the only remedy for many workers, construction sites are an exception. Generally, on construction sites there are contractors, material delivery persons, equipment operators, and other parties who may be liable to you if their negligence causes you injury. To prove negligence, you will need to show that the third party breached a duty of care to you which caused you to suffer injuries and losses. An example would be a third party delivery vehicle that strikes you while dropping off materials. If you can show that the delivery driver was negligent, you would be able to seek compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages, among other damages.
3. Product liability – injured construction workers may be entitled to sue the manufacturer of a dangerous or defective product which causes them harm, either through a marketing defect, manufacturing defect, or design defect. In product liability claims, you can seek compensatory damages, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In extraordinary cases involving concealment or misrepresentation of the danger, you may also be able to recover punitive damages.