Were you hurt in a construction accident in Stuart, FL? You might be entitled to significant compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces; even a small mistake can lead to major injuries.
At Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we work hard to help accident victims recover. Our lawyers have 80 years of combined experience, and we’ve recovered over $200 million for our clients. Our Stuart construction accident lawyers know Florida law, and we’re ready to fight for every dollar you deserve.
Contact our Stuart law office at (772) 444-7000 for a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options.
How Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Construction Accident in Stuart, FL
Insurance companies and construction site owners often focus on reducing their financial liability. Unfortunately, that might mean they’ll try to shift blame or downplay your injuries. You shouldn’t have to handle this fight alone — especially if you’re facing serious medical bills and a long recovery period.
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers is here to help you level the playing field. When you hire our Stuart personal injury attorneys, we can:
- Investigate What Happened: We’ll gather all available evidence, such as photos, witness statements, and official reports, to get the full story.
- Determine Who’s at Fault: We’ll find out who might be responsible for your injuries — whether it’s a site owner, contractor, equipment manufacturer, or a third party.
- Document Your Damages: We’ll keep track of your economic losses, like medical bills and wages, as well as non-economic losses, like pain and suffering.
- Work With Experts: We can consult engineers, safety specialists, and medical professionals to help us build a strong case on your behalf.
- Negotiate for a Fair Settlement: Insurance companies often try to settle for less than you deserve. We’ll negotiate with them and push for a deal that covers all of your losses.
- Take Your Case to Court if Needed: We won’t back down if the other side refuses to offer a fair settlement. Our trial attorneys can bring your case before a jury to seek the compensation you’re owed.
You shouldn’t have to worry about legal details while you heal. Call our Stuart workers’ compensation lawyers today in Stuart, Florida to get started with your free consultation. We’ll explain your options and answer all your questions so you can make informed decisions.
What Are My Legal Options After a Stuart Construction Accident?
Florida construction workers might have several legal paths to pursue after an accident. Even if you aren’t a construction worker, you could still have rights if you were hurt at or near a construction site. Here are some possibilities:
Workers’ Compensation
If you were an employee on the job when you got hurt, you can usually file a workers’ comp claim. Remember that you don’t have to prove fault; you just need to show that the injury happened at work.
You can typically receive benefits like medical bills and partial wage replacement coverage. However, workers’ compensation usually doesn’t cover pain and suffering.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
If someone else’s negligence caused your accident — and you’re not limited to workers’ comp — you might be able to file a personal injury claim.
This route can allow you to seek damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more.
In some cases, you might have to prove that another party was careless and that their carelessness directly caused your injuries.
Third-Party Liability Claims
Even if workers’ comp covers you, you could pursue a separate claim against a third party (you usually can’t sue your employer unless an exception applies) if the injury was caused by defective equipment, unsafe work conditions created by another party, or negligence from someone other than the employer or a co-worker.
Common third-party defendants include property owners, equipment makers, or subcontractors. You can recover damages that workers’ comp won’t pay, such as compensation for non-economic losses.
Every case is unique, so it’s important to talk with a skilled construction accident lawyer about which options fit your situation. Our firm can help you navigate this process from start to finish.
How Much Is My Stuart Construction Accident Claim Worth?
Several elements go into calculating the value of your construction accident claim. Some factors to consider include:
- The severity of your injuries
- Whether you can return to work
- Pain and suffering
- Available insurance policies
- Whether you share fault
Since every case is different, it’s best to contact an experienced construction accident attorney. Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers can assess your situation and tell you how much your case might be worth.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Construction Accident in Stuart?
You can pursue two main types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic. In rare cases, you could also seek punitive damages.
Economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are reserved for very serious cases where the at-fault party acted maliciously or recklessly. These damages aim to punish the wrongdoer rather than compensate you directly.
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers will pursue every category of damages you qualify for. Our goal is to maximize your compensation so you have the best chance to rebuild and move on.
What Does It Cost To Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer in Stuart?
Most construction accident attorneys in Stuart, including ours, work on a contingency fee basis. That means:
- You pay no upfront fees.
- There’s no need to worry about paying by the hour or a big retainer.
- We only earn a fee if we recover money for you.
- You don’t pay attorney’s fees if we don’t settle or win your case.
- Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
- You’ll know this percentage in advance when you sign the agreement.
This approach allows everyone to access top-quality legal help regardless of financial status. We want you to focus on getting better, not on how you’ll pay for a lawyer.
What if I’m Partially To Blame for My Florida Construction Accident?
Florida follows modified comparative negligence for accidents. In most situations, you can still recover compensation even if you share some of the blame, as long as you’re not more than 50% responsible. However, your award will be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
For example, if you’re found to be 20% at fault, your compensation will be deducted by 20%. You generally can’t receive anything if you’re found to be 51% or more at fault.
Insurance companies might push to blame you in order to reduce their payout. That’s one reason why having an attorney is so important. We’ll fight hard to keep you from taking an unfair share of the blame.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Construction Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida law sets deadlines for filing personal injury cases, known as statutes of limitations. In general, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. You could lose your right to seek compensation if you miss this deadline.
However, there can be exceptions depending on the facts of your case. For instance, if your accident involved a government agency, you may have a shorter timeframe. Also, certain injuries might allow more time if you didn’t discover the harm immediately.
You must notify your employer within 30 days regarding any workers’ compensation claims.
It’s best not to wait. Speaking with a lawyer soon after your accident can help protect important evidence and keep your options open.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Stuart Construction Accident Attorneys
If you or someone close to you got hurt in a construction accident in Stuart, Florida, you should know that help is available. Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers has recovered over $200 million for injured clients, and our team has 80 years of combined experience. We’re ready to put our knowledge and resources to work for you.
Contact our Stuart construction accident attorneys now for a free consultation. We’ll review your claim, talk about your legal rights, and develop a plan to pursue the money you’re owed.
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