Construction Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Construction helps keep the national economy booming. Major projects on highways and in commercial spaces can improve safety, contribute to jobs, and open doors to new economic opportunities. At the same time, the large vehicles used by construction projects pose dangers to workers and everyone else on the roads they share.

According to the FMCSA, large trucks were involved in 4,455 fatal accidents across the U.S. in 2017, which includes construction vehicles, heavy machinery, and flatbeds hauling construction materials. A further 121,000 heavy commercial vehicles were involved in injury-causing accidents.

Whether you were hurt by construction vehicles on a major road or while you just happened to be walking near a job site, you have a right to pursue compensation from the employers and companies responsible for your accident. A construction vehicle accident lawyer can represent your case and help you pursue all compensation available for your injuries.

Contact a personal injury attorney at Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers today to learn how you could recover money for your medical bills, out of pocket expenses, vehicle repairs, and other damages.

Call (855) 971-0559 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation case review with an experienced truck accident lawyer.

Statistics on Construction Vehicle Accidents in the U.S.

There’s no doubt that construction is booming in our country. Construction spending jumped 4.1% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, totaling over $1,297 billion.

However, a construction boom means more construction vehicles on our highways and in our neighborhoods. These massive vehicles can often be dangerous to traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists.

From 1992 to 2010, construction vehicles and mobile heavy equipment were responsible for 7,681 deaths, according to information from The Center for Construction Research and Training, a non-profit dedicated to safety. That’s around 404 deaths each year.

OSHA statistics reveal that two of the top 10 most common violations on construction sites involve “powered industrial trucks” or “machinery and machine guarding.” OSHA’s “fatal four” list of the most common sources of construction fatalities also covers vehicle incidents with its “struck by object” and “caught-in/between” accident categories.

Common Causes of Accidents with Construction Vehicles

A construction vehicle can collide with another vehicle or with a person for any number of reasons. While construction site supervisors and equipment owners do their best to abide by safety regulations, safety violations can still regularly occur.

Common reasons that construction vehicles cause accidents include:

Improper lookout
Failure to yield
Pressing the wrong pedal or switch
Operator inattention
Failure to maintain a safety perimeter
Failure to maintain lane
Following too closely
Operating too fast for conditions
Exceeding weight or size ratings for roadway
Operator was drowsy
The operator was under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Who Is Responsible for Paying My Bills After a Construction Vehicle Accident?

Injury victims can file an accident claim with the insurance provider covering the at-fault party. This claim can allow the victim to recover money for their losses, called “damages.”

Common damages after a construction vehicle accident include:

Medical bills, past, and future
Lost wages
Out-of-pocket expenses
Vehicle repairs
Personal property replacement
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress

So how do you determine who is at fault for an accident? There are several likely parties.

The Employer of the Vehicle Operator

First, under the doctrine of “respondeat superior,” employers can be held responsible for the negligent actions of their employees. If a dump truck driver or a backhoe operator fails to look out before crashing into a car while exiting an alley, the company that employs them will be held responsible for the damages.

The General Contractor of the Job Site

Second, the general contractor who owns the overall job is responsible for the safety of their job site. If it can be proven that the general contractor failed to provide safe conditions, such as a failure to put out adequate fencing or signage, then that company may be responsible.

The Manufacturer of Defective Construction Equipment

Third, the equipment itself may have been faulty. Sometimes, construction equipment malfunctions, such as brakes failing to activate in time. Other times, the design of the machinery was so poorly laid out that the operator may have been blameless in confusing the throttle for the brake.

How Hiring a Construction Vehicle Accident Lawyer Can Help

When you hire a construction vehicle accident lawyer from Auger & Auger, your attorney will get to the bottom of your accident. They will investigate the circumstances and interview eyewitnesses. They will also research cases with similar circumstances to yours.

This work ensures that you can pursue the maximum amount of compensation from all liable parties, increasing the chances that you can make a full financial recovery after your accident.

Insurance defense firms work with insurance companies that have deep pockets. They can afford to pay for expensive legal teams that will use every tactic they can to shield themselves from liability or reduce the value of your claim. They will fight hard to minimize their clients’ financial exposure.

For instance, some will argue that your medical costs were only as high as they were because of a pre-existing condition. Or, they may say that not all of your expenses were for things that were “reasonable” or “necessary” for your recovery.

Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers are not intimidated by high-powered insurance legal teams. We fight for our clients and use every available strategy to get them the compensation they need. If we can’t reach a fair settlement offer, we are willing to take your case to court and argue in front of a jury.

Our assistance not only reduces the amount of effort and stress you spend on your claim, but it also provides you with an opportunity to have someone on your side that is experienced with fighting for the fair compensation that you deserve.

Schedule a Free Case Review

Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers provides seasoned legal representation for construction vehicle crash victims throughout the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Your first appointment is always free. We also never charge you for our services unless we are able to recover compensation for you.

Call (855) 971-0559 or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation now.