Construction sites are dangerous places, particularly for employees. If you are injured on a construction site as an employee, you likely can file for workers’ compensation. However, there are cases where employees and civilians who are injured on construction sites can file personal injury claims against a liable party. So, who is liable for a construction site accident in Jefferson Parish? This depends on the circumstances of the accident and whether anyone was negligent.
Negligent employers, product manufacturers, employees, contractors, and property owners may hold liability in a construction accident. Filing a personal injury claim against these parties can help you recover damages, whether the claim is your only method of compensation or can be filed to cover the damages not addressed by a workers’ compensation claim.
Hazards of the Construction Industry in Louisiana
Many industries are prone to workplace injuries throughout Louisiana. There were 173 severe workplace injury reports in 2024, including one in Kenner, eight in Metairie, two in Westwego, one in Grand Isle, and one in Jefferson.
Construction injuries are one of the more dangerous areas of employment in Louisiana. There are dangerous chemicals, new and untested builds, exposed wiring, potentially dangerous tools, machinery, and equipment, and many other hazards.
There were 19 fatalities in the construction sector in 2024 in Louisiana workplaces, and seven of those were caused by exposure to harmful substances. From 2023 to 2024, there were 970 occupational illnesses and injuries in the construction sector reported by Louisiana Works (LAWorks), including 260 where the nature of injury was a sprain, strain, or tear.
Liable Parties in a Construction Site Accident in Jefferson Parish
There are several possible liable parties in a construction site accident in Jefferson Parish, although filing a claim depends entirely on the specific facts of your case and how it was caused. Potential liable parties include:
Product Manufacturers
If your injuries happened because of a malfunctioning or unreasonably dangerous product, the manufacturer, designer, or distributor of the product might be liable. Construction equipment and machinery can cause severe injuries when they malfunction, and these parties should be held accountable if they made a faulty product that caused harm.
General Contractors and Subcontractors
These parties can be held liable for any negligence in maintaining a safe worksite, hiring employees, and warning of inherent hazards. Both construction workers and civilians might be able to hold these parties liable for injuries caused by unaddressed hazards.
Employers and Employees
When you are an employee, you likely cannot file against an employer or coworker for harm they caused, unless they deliberately caused you injury. When you are a civilian, you might be able to hold a construction company liable if its negligence or the negligence of its employees led to your injury.
Employees might have acted negligently when working near civilians, operated a vehicle and caused an accident, or engaged in other negligent acts that caused others harm.
The employer of a negligent construction worker is likely liable through vicarious liability laws, but may also be liable directly. Employers may have failed to train their employees or failed to ensure maintenance on vehicles and equipment. When this negligence causes harm, the employer can be liable.
Property Owners
Property owners are responsible for maintaining their premises and addressing known hazards. When an employee or other party is hurt because of property hazards that should have been addressed, the property owner might be liable.
FAQs
What Is an Accident on a Construction Site?
An accident on a construction site can include falling tools and equipment, structure collapses, electrical hazards, vehicle accidents, machinery malfunctions, and much more. These accidents often harm many employees and contracted workers, and can also have effects on nearby third parties or the environment, depending on the accident.
Employees usually can recover compensation through a workers’ compensation claim, but there may be cases where a third party is responsible. Third-party liability is important for non-employees.
What Are Most Construction Accidents Caused by in Louisiana?
According to LAWorks, most construction accidents in Louisiana were caused by falls, trips, and slips, which led to 330 nonfatal occupational injuries or illnesses from 2023 to 2024. These accidents can be caused by insufficient guardrails and safety features, unsecured wires or carpets, or other unsafe workplace conditions.
There were other causes of construction accidents. Three hundred ten occupational injuries or illnesses were caused by contact accidents, and 150 were caused by overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily conditions.
When Do You Need to Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer in Jefferson Parish?
You need to hire a construction accident lawyer in Jefferson Parish if you were an employee who was injured by the negligence of someone other than an employer or coworker, or if you were a non-employee who was injured in a construction accident and someone else was at fault. An attorney helps you determine whether you have the grounds for a personal injury claim and then works with you to secure the compensation you are owed.
How Do You Prove Liability in a Construction Accident in Louisiana?
You prove liability in a construction accident in Louisiana by gathering evidence of the cause of your accident and injury, such as the incident report, workplace maintenance guides, written safety instructions, footage of the accident, and more. Liability is only necessary when filing a third-party personal injury claim against a negligent party, such as a property owner, a product manufacturer, or a driver. Working with an attorney can help prove liability.
Hire a Construction Accident Lawyer at Ron Austin Law in Jefferson Parish
You can hire a construction accident lawyer to assess whether you have the grounds for a personal injury claim after a construction accident.
At Ron Austin Law, we have nearly 90 combined years of legal experience across our legal team, and have secured more than $1 billion in total for past clients. These past results do not guarantee a future outcome; they show how we work diligently for our clients. We believe in securing justice for those hurt by the carelessness of others, and believe this makes our communities better.If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence on a construction site, reach out to Ron Austin Law today and let us help you secure the financial compensation you deserve.
