Were you injured in a construction accident in Lima, OH? An experienced Lima construction accident lawyer at the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis can help.
Our lawyers have over 150 years of experience between us. With millions of dollars already recovered, you can count on us to recover full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Do you have questions about your legal rights after getting into a construction accident? Contact us or call our law offices in Lima, Ohio at (419) 404-4444 for a free consultation.
How Can the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Help Me Recover Compensation After a Construction Accident in Lima?
You’re entitled to certain legal protections when you work in construction in Lima, OH. Workers’ compensation can be a lifesaver after a construction injury. You may also have the right to file a lawsuit. Either way, you’re likely to face challenges.
Insurance companies aren’t on your side. Even your employer may challenge your right to workers’ compensation. Our Lima personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis can help you get a fair deal.
We’re prepared to fight to maximize the amount of money you receive by:
- Determining who was responsible for your injuries
- Handling all paperwork and insurance filings
- Conducting an independent investigation
- Helping you get an independent medical exam if necessary
- Identifying all options for recovering full compensation
- Protecting you if you’re pushed to return to work too soon
- Representing you at all hearings
- Negotiating with the insurance companies on your behalf
Our Lima personal injury lawyers can help you make the most of your compensation award. To get started, call our team for a free case review today.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Ohio?
Private industry employers in Ohio reported roughly 84,800 non-fatal workplace injuries to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2023. About 4,700 of those injuries occurred in the construction industry. Approximately 2,200 of those construction injuries were serious enough that the victim had to miss work or move to light-duty work.
A long list of risks exists for construction workers. There are virtually countless ways to get hurt on the job.
At the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis, we handle all types of construction accident cases, including those involving:
- Transportation and motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Scaffolding accidents and collapses
- Falls from ladders, roofs, and heights
- Trenching accidents
- Welding accidents
- Nail gun accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Building collapses
- Drilling accidents
- Electrocutions
- Fires and explosions
- Accidents where objects crush workers
- Accidents where workers are caught between two objects
- Crane, forklift, and other heavy machinery accidents
If you or a loved one were injured on a construction site, call our law firm today. We’ll sit down and help you evaluate your options for maximizing your compensation award.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Lima, Ohio?
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents include:
- Ignoring state and OSHA safety rules
- Missing protective equipment
- Failure to maintain equipment in safe condition
- Lack of proper fall protection gear
- Negligent hiring
- Failure to train and supervise employees
- Failure to secure objects
- Failure to clean up spills and other fall hazards
- Exposure to toxic materials or live electricity
- Faulty wiring
If you were injured on the job, it’s important to understand why. The cause of your injuries will determine whether you have rights to compensation outside of workers’ compensation.
How Do I Know Whether I Have the Right to Compensation After a Construction Accident in Ohio?
Nearly every injured construction worker is entitled to some type of compensation. What you have to prove to recover compensation depends on the laws that apply in your case.
Ohio Workers’ Compensation Laws
With extremely limited exceptions, Ohio is a mandatory workers’ compensation state. Most employers must purchase workers’ compensation insurance. Injured employees typically begin by filing a workers’ compensation claim for benefits.
You’re entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if:
- You were classified as an employee, not an independent contractor
- You were injured in the course of employment which means that you were doing something work-related
- You didn’t intend to cause the accident and injuries
You don’t have to prove fault to recover benefits. However, if you file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, you likely lose your right to sue your employer for damages.
Ohio Personal Injury Lawsuits
It’s still possible that you could have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit and be awarded workers’ compensation benefits. To recover damages under Ohio personal injury laws, you must be able to prove that someone other than your employer caused your injuries.
These third-party claims are typically based on negligence.
Negligence means:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached that duty via some careless, reckless, or intentional act
- The breach caused your injuries
- You suffered damages
Construction sites are complex places. Any number of parties may be working on the same project. General contractors, property owners, engineers, and even negligent drivers in car accidents can all be held liable when they cause injuries. Your employer is the only party that is likely protected against lawsuits.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover in a Lima Construction Accident Case?
Factors that are key to determining how much money you deserve include:
- How severe were your injuries?
- How much did you earn before the disability?
- Can you perform any light-duty work during recovery?
- How long will it take for you to recover?
- Will you suffer a permanent disability even once reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI)?
- How much can you earn once you’ve reached MMI?
- Do you have the right to file a lawsuit for damages over what workers’ compensation offers?
Workers’ compensation disability benefits cover a percentage of your lost income while you’re recovering.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Lima?
Workers’ compensation benefits help offset your financial losses.
You may be entitled to the following types of workers’ compensation benefits:
- Medical expense reimbursement
- Disability benefits, including temporary total (TT) compensation benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, permanent total disability benefits, and wage loss benefits
- Living maintenance benefits if you’re participating in certain rehab programs
- Change of occupation benefits if you’re forced to change jobs due to the disability
- Travel reimbursement for medical appointments
- Death benefits to surviving family members
The nature of your workers’ compensation benefits will depend on how the injury impacts your ability to work.
TT compensation benefits are one of the most common types of workers’ compensation benefits. You qualify for TTD benefits after you miss at least seven days of work after your injury.
For injured workers who can file a lawsuit, the following economic or non-economic damages are available:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- PTSD
- Lost quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium and other damages for wrongful death
Our team at the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis can help you get a fair compensation award. Give us a call for a free case review today.
Can I Receive Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Ohio?
Yes. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Even if you share the blame, you can receive benefits.
Personal injury cases are different. You cannot receive compensation under Ohio’s comparative negligence law if you were at least 51% responsible for your injuries. However, if you are found to be 50% or less responsible for the accident, then you can still receive compensation with a part offset for your responsibility for the accident.
For example, if your damages are $100,000, and you are found to be 20% responsible, then you can recover $80,000.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Construction is a dangerous industry. There’s no question that construction workers are vulnerable to all types of injuries.
Our lawyers at Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis often represent clients who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Eye and facial injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Hearing loss
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Seek medical attention right away if you are injured on the job. It’s also important to report your injuries to your employer or supervisor to protect your right to workers’ compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Ohio?
You have to file a formal claim for workers’ compensation within one year of the accident. However, you should notify your employer as soon as possible. Notifying your employer starts the workers’ compensation process. Your employer has 24 hours after they receive notice to inform the workers’ compensation insurance company.
In personal injury cases, you likely lose your right to sue for damages if you don’t file a lawsuit within two years of the accident.
Contact an Experienced Lima Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You may have the right to benefits, but recovering fair compensation isn’t automatic. Contact the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis to learn how an experienced Lima construction accident lawyer can fight to protect your right to full compensation.
