Why Construction Workers in Fort Lauderdale Need Legal Protection After an Injury

If you’re searching for a construction accident lawyer fort lauderdale, you’re likely dealing with a serious injury, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about your rights. Here’s what you need to know right now:

Quick Guide: Finding Your Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident Lawyer

• What they do: Investigate your accident, identify all liable parties (employers, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers), and fight for maximum compensation.
• When to call: As soon as possible after your injury—especially if your workers’ comp claim is denied, your injuries are severe, or you suspect third-party negligence.
• What you can recover: Medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care costs (much more than workers’ comp alone).
• Cost: Most work on contingency—you pay nothing unless they win your case.
• Time limit: Generally 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida, but workers’ comp must be reported within 30 days.

Construction sites are inherently dangerous. In the U.S., one in five worker deaths occurs in the construction industry, and in 2021, construction accidents caused 46.2 percent of all fatal falls, trips, and slips.

When you’re injured on the job in Fort Lauderdale, you face a complex legal system. Workers’ compensation may cover some bills, but it rarely covers your full losses, especially pain and suffering. If a third party like a subcontractor or equipment manufacturer contributed to your accident, you may be entitled to significantly more compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Insurance companies and employers often pressure injured workers to settle quickly for less than their claims are worth. You need an advocate who knows Florida construction law and will fight for you.

At DiStefano Law LLC, we have represented injured construction workers in Fort Lauderdale for over 40 years. Our experienced construction accident lawyers understand both workers’ comp and third-party liability lawsuits, and we know how to maximize your recovery.

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Understanding Construction Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale’s constant construction boom creates thousands of jobs but also serious dangers. Construction work is one of the most hazardous occupations in America, with one in five worker deaths occurring in this industry. Understanding the causes of these accidents and the safety rules companies must follow is the first step to protecting your rights after an injury.

Common Causes of Construction Site Accidents

Safety experts often refer to the “Fatal Four” hazards—falls, being struck by objects, electrocutions, and getting caught in or between equipment—which account for the majority of construction fatalities. Other common causes include:

• Falls from heights: As the leading killer on construction sites, falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, and trenches are a constant risk. Construction accidents caused 46.2 percent of all fatal falls, trips, and slips in 2021.
• Struck by falling objects: Dropped tools, materials, or debris from above can cause catastrophic head injuries or death.
• Defective or poorly maintained equipment: When safety harnesses, cranes, or power tools fail due to poor maintenance, workers pay the price.
• Scaffolding and crane accidents: Collapses of improperly erected scaffolding or malfunctions of heavy cranes can injure or kill multiple workers in seconds.
• Electrocution: Contact with exposed wires, faulty equipment, or power lines can cause severe burns, cardiac arrest, and death.
• Lack of proper training & OSHA violations: Companies that rush untrained workers onto sites or ignore federal safety regulations for fall protection, trench safety, or equipment use are breaking the law and endangering lives.

Types of Injuries in Construction Accidents

When accidents happen on construction sites, the injuries are often severe and life-altering, requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care.

Common injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Caused by falls or falling objects, TBIs can result in permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes.
• Spinal Cord Damage and Paralysis: A fall or impact can sever the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis and lifelong medical needs.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: Complex fractures often require multiple surgeries and may result in a permanent loss of function.
• Severe Burns: Electrocution or chemical exposure can cause excruciating, disfiguring burns that require years of treatment.
• Amputations: Workers can lose limbs when caught in or crushed by heavy machinery.
• Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma can cause life-threatening internal bleeding or organ damage that isn’t immediately apparent.
• Wrongful Death: Tragically, many accidents are fatal, leaving families with devastating emotional and financial burdens.

Florida’s Legal Safety Requirements for Construction Companies

Florida law and federal OSHA regulations impose strict safety requirements on construction companies. These are not optional. Key duties include:

• Providing a safe workplace: Employers must identify hazards, implement safety measures, and maintain safe work zones.
• Supplying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Hard hats, safety harnesses, and other PPE are mandatory, and employers must provide and train workers on their proper use.
• Maintaining equipment: All machinery must be regularly inspected and serviced. Defective equipment must be removed from service immediately.
• Ensuring adequate training and supervision: Workers must be properly trained to operate equipment and recognize hazards, and competent supervisors must enforce safety rules.

When companies violate these requirements, they can be held accountable. A construction accident lawyer fort lauderdale can investigate whether safety violations contributed to your accident and help you pursue full compensation.

Your Legal Rights and Compensation Options

After a construction accident, understanding your legal rights is crucial for your financial recovery. In Florida, you generally have two potential paths for compensation: a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit. Knowing the difference can have a massive impact on your future.

Workers’ Compensation vs. a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system. You don’t have to prove your employer was negligent, only that you were injured on the job. It covers medical bills and a portion of your lost wages. However, under Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Act, you cannot sue your employer for negligence and you cannot recover damages for pain and suffering.

A personal injury lawsuit is a claim against a negligent third party—someone other than your employer, like a subcontractor or equipment manufacturer. To win, you must prove their carelessness caused your injury. If successful, you can recover full compensation for all your losses, including pain and suffering.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

Feature	Workers’ Compensation Claim	Personal Injury Lawsuit (Third-Party Claim)
Who you can sue	Your employer’s insurance (not your employer directly)	Third parties like subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, general contractors
What you must prove	That your injury occurred on the job	That the third party was negligent and their negligence caused your injury
Types of compensation	Medical expenses and partial wage replacement; no compensation for pain and suffering	Full damages including all medical bills, complete lost wages, pain and suffering, and future losses

Many injured workers can pursue both claims simultaneously. You can receive workers’ comp benefits while your lawyer builds a third-party lawsuit to maximize your total recovery. Our team at DiStefano Law LLC has extensive experience handling both workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered?

In a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for all your losses, which fall into two categories:

• Economic Damages: These are your calculable financial losses, including past and future medical bills (surgeries, therapy, medication), lost wages, and diminished earning capacity if you can no longer perform your job.
• Non-Economic Damages: These compensate for intangible suffering, such as physical pain, emotional distress (anxiety, depression), and loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in hobbies or family activities).

In cases of extreme recklessness, you may also be awarded punitive damages, which are intended to punish the wrongdoer. Workers’ compensation does not cover non-economic or punitive damages, which is why a third-party lawsuit is so critical.

Can I Sue a Third Party for My Construction Injury?

Yes. While you generally can’t sue your employer, you can sue any other person or company whose negligence contributed to your accident. On a complex construction site, this could include:

• General contractors or subcontractors who created an unsafe condition.
• Equipment manufacturers who produced a defective tool or machine.
• Property owners who failed to warn of hidden dangers on the site.
• Architects or engineers whose negligent design led to a structural failure.

Identifying all potentially liable parties requires a thorough investigation of the accident, safety records, and contractual relationships on the job site. An experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury law firm like DiStefano Law LLC can uncover every party whose negligence contributed to your injuries and pursue every available avenue for compensation.

What to Do Immediately After a Construction Accident

The moments after an accident are chaotic, but the steps you take can protect your health and your legal rights. Evidence can disappear quickly from a construction site, so it’s crucial to act fast.

Here are the most important steps to take:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention. Your health is the top priority. Get checked by a doctor right away, even if you feel “fine.” Some serious injuries, like concussions or internal bleeding, aren’t immediately obvious. Medical records also create a crucial link between the accident and your injuries.
2. Report the Accident to Your Supervisor. You must report your injury to your employer within 30 days to be eligible for workers’ compensation in Florida, but you should do it immediately. Get a copy of the written incident report.
3. Document Everything. If you can, use your phone to take photos and videos of the accident scene, the equipment involved, any visible injuries, and the hazardous conditions that caused your accident. This evidence can be invaluable later.
4. Get Witness Information. Ask any coworkers or other people who saw the accident for their names and phone numbers. Their statements can help support your claim.
5. Do Not Give a Recorded Statement. Insurance adjusters will call and may sound friendly, but their job is to minimize your claim. They can twist your words to deny or reduce your compensation. Politely decline to give a statement until you have spoken with an attorney.
6. Do Not Sign Anything. Never sign any documents from an insurance company or your employer without having a lawyer review them first. You could be signing away your rights to fair compensation.

Taking these steps provides the strongest possible foundation for your claim. A construction accident lawyer fort lauderdale can guide you through this process while you focus on healing.

Why You Need a Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident Lawyer

After a construction injury, you’re facing a complex legal system, strict deadlines, and insurance companies focused on their bottom line. Trying to handle a claim alone while recovering can be overwhelming and may cost you the compensation you deserve. An experienced construction accident lawyer fort lauderdale is your strongest ally in this fight.

When Should I Hire a Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident Lawyer?

The best time to hire a lawyer is as soon as possible after your accident. You should definitely call an attorney if:

• Your injuries are serious and will require long-term care (e.g., TBI, spinal cord injury, amputation).
• Your workers’ comp claim is denied, delayed, or disputed.
• You are unsure who was at fault for the accident.
• A third party may be responsible (e.g., a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer).
• An insurance company offers a quick, lowball settlement.
• You need to preserve evidence before it disappears from the job site.

The Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Attorney

When you hire an experienced lawyer, you gain a dedicated advocate who will handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on healing.

At DiStefano Law LLC, we bring over 40 years of experience to your case. We will:

• Investigate the accident to determine exactly what happened and who was at fault.
• Identify all sources of compensation, including workers’ comp and third-party personal injury claims.
• Calculate the full value of your claim by working with medical and financial experts to assess all past and future damages.
• Handle all communications with insurance companies, protecting you from their tactics and negotiating for a fair settlement.
• Meet all critical legal deadlines to ensure your right to compensation is protected.
• Maximize your recovery, whether through a strong settlement or by taking your case to trial. Our firm has recovered numerous seven and eight-figure awards for clients, and we apply that same dedication to every case.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Fort Lauderdale?

Missing legal deadlines can permanently bar you from recovering compensation. In Florida, the key deadlines are:

• Workers’ Compensation: You must report your injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident.
• Personal Injury Lawsuit: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit against a negligent third party, according to Florida’s statute of limitations.

Because evidence disappears quickly and investigations take time, it is crucial to contact a construction accident lawyer fort lauderdale as soon as possible after your injury. Don’t wait until the deadline is approaching.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fort Lauderdale Construction Accident Claims

If you’ve been injured on a construction site, you probably have a lot of questions. Here are clear, straightforward answers to some of the most common ones.

How much does it cost to hire a construction accident lawyer?

It costs you nothing upfront. At DiStefano Law LLC, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we cover all the costs of your case, and our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you. If you don’t win, you don’t pay us any attorney fees. This “no win, no fee” promise removes the financial risk of seeking justice.

Can I still get compensation if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Yes. For workers’ compensation, the system is “no-fault,” so you can receive benefits even if you were partially responsible. For a third-party personal injury lawsuit, Florida uses a “pure comparative negligence” rule. This means your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault, you could still recover 80% of your damages. An attorney can work to minimize any fault assigned to you.

What’s the difference between workers’ comp and a third-party claim?

This is a critical distinction:

• Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault claim against your employer’s insurance. It provides limited benefits, covering medical bills and a portion of lost wages. It does not cover pain and suffering, and you cannot sue your employer.
• A Third-Party Claim is a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent party other than your employer (like a subcontractor or equipment manufacturer). It allows you to recover full compensation for all your damages, including medical bills, full lost wages, and pain and suffering.

You can often pursue both types of claims at the same time. A construction accident lawyer fort lauderdale can manage both processes to maximize your total recovery. Learn more about our workers’ compensation services and how we can help.

Take the First Step Towards Justice and Recovery

A construction accident can turn your life upside down, leaving you with physical pain, mounting bills, and uncertainty about the future. You don’t have to face this challenge alone.

For over 40 years, DiStefano Law LLC has stood beside injured construction workers in Fort Lauderdale. We understand how devastating these accidents are, and we know how to fight for the financial security you need to rebuild your life. Your focus should be on healing; let us handle the legal complexities.

We will deal with the insurance companies, investigate your accident, and fight relentlessly for the full compensation you deserve. Our consultations are free, and we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Don’t wait. Evidence disappears, and legal deadlines are strict. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be. If you’ve been hurt on a construction site, now is the time to understand your rights.

Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with our personal injury law team today.

We’re here to listen and to help you move forward. You’ve been through enough—let us take it from here.