Bay Area Subcontractor Construction Site Injury Attorney

There are currently more than 95,000 construction businesses licensed and in operation in the State of California. The California Contractors State License Board lists approximately 285,000 licensees as of 2024, issued in all classifications, which include sole proprietors as well as businesses that do both general contracting and subcontracting, depending on needs. This makes the State of California the largest in the nation for construction businesses. It is essential to understand that, as large as the construction business is in California, there is a need to know the rights of employees who may find themselves hurt on a job where worker’s compensation is involved. Normandie Law Firm can help you understand the processes and your rights.

When you think about construction projects, the subcontractor business that supports those projects in many ways, as well as the use of equipment on the jobsites, you quickly realize that there is an opportunity for injuries to employees that begin with strains and sprains of ankles and other joints, to broken bones and severe injury due to vehicle collisions. If you need a Bay Area subcontractor construction site injury attorney, please call the Normandie Law Firm. We are knowledgeable and very experienced when it comes to subcontractors and worker’s compensation in the State of California.

When you work every day in and around construction sites and equipment, encountering delivery and cement trucks, forklifts and front loaders, and moving over and through other worker’s you realize that the chances for being hurt at work are pretty high. You must be focused on your own safety and be aware of the dangers presented by others if they are not safety conscious. The Normandie Law Firm is prepared to help you with anything you need answered or addressed if you have been hurt at work. We can take your call around the clock and are focused on getting you the information you need so that you can determine what your next steps need to be. If your first call doesn’t answer the questions you have, we will schedule a free initial consultation with a Bay Area subcontractor construction site injury attorney as soon as you have time to meet with them.

In that very first meeting, we will ask you to share with us the details about the incident and your injury, including details about events that took place prior to, and anything else you believe is pertinent information to the claim. We will document that info and explain to you how the worker’s compensation program in the State of California can best be used to get you back to work and get your bills paid. One crucial detail that you need to know when you have an on the job injury is how much time you have to get a claim filed with worker’s compensation in California.

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The Time Limits For Making A Claim To Worker’s Compensation Claim If You Are Injured

The standard time limit for opening a claim with the worker’s compensation program is 30 calendar days. The clock starts on the date of the injury. If your employer doesn’t open a case with the program as a result of your injury, or if they try to prevent you from contacting the worker’s comp system, do not hesitate to contact the Normandie Law Firm. We will assist you in getting your claim opened before the deadline. Claims filed more than 30 days after your injury will be denied, and the time limit is strictly enforced. There are also a couple of exceptions designed to deal with injuries that do not have a single incident root cause and began longer than 30 days ago. This injury type is covered under what is called cumulative trauma.

Time Limits To File When You Have A Cumulative Trauma Injury

Injuries that happen as a result of several incidents over a longer period of time are judged to be a result of cumulative trauma. This kind of injury is still eligible for treatment under worker’s compensation beyond the 30 day limit. A potential example would be repeated injury that, over time, resulted in loss of function in your hands. The time limit for any injury diagnosed from cumulative trauma is one year from the date of the first day of work you missed. Normandie Law Firm will help you in getting your claim filed with worker’s compensation insurance to take advantage of the benefits you have.

The Common Injuries And Hazards On A Construction Site

Many jobs have some common injuries caused by the role you perform and the environment you work in every single day. What is different about construction businesses is that any particular subcontractor could be delivering services specific to the project, and the smallest of construction projects is going to encompass things like heating and cooling, plumbing, electricity, interior and exterior structural service, as well as things like security, low voltage services, landscaping, non-foundation concrete and paving, and painting. Even with all those different jobs being done in a short period of time, there are some injuries they have in common. The injuries and hazards that Normandie Law Firm sees with our clients include:

• slip or trip and falls resulting in sprains and fractures.
• Broken or fractured bones, including skull fractures, from falling into open holes or trenches, and heavy material falling, like roofing material, ductwork, and vents
• Sprains that damage the connective tissue of joints or full dislocations when moving material across a job site or avoiding an accident
• Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries are due to the amount of lifting and holding heavy material off the ground during installation
• Exposure to prolonged loud noises at a damaging level caused by tools, generators, or heavy equipment
• The hazards you might find, and they may or may not be related to your job and role, are:
• Malfunctioning equipment in common use, leading to shocks or burns from exhaust
• Environmental issues like earthquakes, fires, or flooding

If you have been injured working as a subcontractor, Normandie Law Firm advises that you get a full medical exam when you are treated. The injuries you may have need to be found as soon as possible and treated so you can return to work safely. It is not uncommon for someone who is injured to experience mild forms of shock. It can be challenging to link injuries that are not diagnosed during your initial treatment for your accident. Please do not wait to get examined thoroughly if you have been hurt at work.

How Do I Check To See If My Injury Is Covered By Worker’s Compensation Insurance?

Most of the injuries that an employee experiences at work and doing their job will usually be covered under the worker’s compensation insurance program. There are some examples of injuries that are not covered. They are usually non-work related, in large part because of the actions of the employee. If an employee attempts self-harm at some level, or if found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol is the cause of the injury, the worker’s compensation program will likely not cover the claim. Every company is required by law to purchase worker’s comp insurance and to pay the associated costs of the coverage for every full time employee. The employer is not allowed to stop an injured employee from contacting the program for support or filing a worker’s compensation claim for any injury that happens at work.

What Benefits Am I Getting From Worker’s Compensation In California?

Every employee who is working as a subcontractor in California should have worker’s compensation insurance. Below are the key benefits offered to each employee that is covered by worker’s comp insurance. You may receive injury benefits that include, but are not limited to:

• A total of 1 million dollars in medical care coverage for both hospital and doctor’s costs, the rental cost of medical devices like a cane, wheelchair, braces, or crutches, any prescription medications, therapy, and rehabilitation, all on a per incident basis
• An employee who is unable to return to work until they fully recover from their injuries may get up to 66% of their regular weekly income from the program to support themselves and their families
• If an employee suffers from severe harm and they have long-term limitations or disability due to a workplace injury, the program offers long-term disability coverage
• If an employee has an injury that will stop them from returning to work in their current role, they will be eligible for free vocational training, allowing them to pursue a new career

Filing A Lawsuit After I Get Hurt At Work

Based on the rules for worker’s comp, you cannot sue your employer for being injured at work. Worker’s compensation is insurance and is an exclusive remedy for workplace injuries. What it means is that an employee who is hurt at work and files a claim with worker’s compensation is not going to be permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer over the same incident. The employer or property owner liability in regards to the cause or hazard dealing with your injuries may be something you can sue them for. What you need to do is prove that the owner or employer is guilty of gross negligence.

California law defines gross negligence as willful misconduct or a reckless disregard for the safety of others. Some very basic examples of this include:

• Equipment that is dangerous to use based on its condition, and the company is aware of this.
• The creation of a known hazard on property that is an obvious danger, like an unmarked pit or hole
• The failure to train an employee on the use of dangerous equipment creates a dangerous hazard

If gross negligence is suspected and can be proven, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the entity that is responsible, and the court will award damages. You are still not permitted to sue for damages received, like your medical bills or lost wages that were covered from worker’s compensation, only for things you have not been compensated for. If you suffered an injury and have questions about lawsuits and liability, Normandie Law Firm will help you find the answers.

I Don’t Have The Money To Hire An Attorney

When you hire a Normandie Law Firm Bay Area subcontractor construction site injury attorney, you will not be charged for upfront legal fees or expenses. If we do not win your case, you don’t owe Normandie Law Firm anything for the services rendered in that case. Please do not wait to contact Normandie Law Firm about your questions or concerns while going through the worker’s compensation process. Normandie Law Firm is ready and able to help you.

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