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What amount of compensation is available for a victim severely injured while working on a construction site?
Construction sites are exceptionally dangerous areas for workers and passersby alike – making it increasingly important for supervisors and managers to work diligently to avoid accidents and injuries.
In one recent $2.8 million accident settlement involving a Berger, New Jersey victim, a day laborer was forced to undergo a total leg amputation after falling three stories during a stucco project. According to the details of the settlement, the victim was working on the afternoon of July 26, 2011, applying stucco to the side of a building located in Fort Lee, New Jersey. As a result of the mishap, the victim fell to an alleyway below, permanently shattering his leg which was eventually removed.
Since the amputation, the victim has had to learn to walk with a prosthetic and will permanently require the assistance of a cane or walker. Moreover, it is unlikely he will be able to return to any employment position within the construction industry – which has been his trade for his entire lifetime.
Despite the seemingly lucrative settlement, the victim’s counsel voiced concerns over the lifelong costs of the victim’s injuries, which will require regular care and oversight of orthopedists and internists alike. Moreover, the victim has likely lost the opportunity to continue as a productive wage-earner, which is a compensable loss under New Jersey personal injury laws.
In addition to medical expenses and lost wages, construction accident victims may also be entitled to compensation for emotional suffering, mental anguish, and pain and suffering. In some cases, a victim’s immediate family may also be able to recover for the loss of relationship and/or companionship incurred due to the accident.
If you are facing a painful and difficult situation following a recent injury, please do not hesitate to contact the Essex County, New Jersey trial lawyers of Nagel Rice LLP today. Serving clients throughout New York City and New Jersey, we can be reached at: 973-618-0400 or 212-551-1465.