Construction Site Injury Liability Defense Lawyer in Atlanta
Not every injury that occurs on a jobsite or construction site is solely the fault of the injured worker or necessarily covered by workers’ comp. There are near daily instances of Atlanta construction site workers being injured in situations that justify second-party claims – or at the very least, they pursue one.
This can put construction companies, property owners and other contractors or subcontractors on the job in a bind. Do you rely solely on your own insurance provider to defend you, or do you seek counsel elsewhere? If you’re facing this type of construction site situation and are looking for answers, Atlanta insurance defense lawyer Cameron Hawkins is here to help.
Our law firm has extensive experience working with insurance companies and private businesses to defend the interests of policyholders and business owners facing construction site civil litigation.
Who Might Share Liability After Construction Site Accidents?
Construction Company
The company directly responsible for the construction project is often the first entity considered liable for construction site injuries. Construction businesses have a duty to maintain a safe construction site, provide safety equipment to employees and ensure all safety regulations are followed on the construction site. This usually extends to contractors and subcontractors working on the construction site.
Property Owners
The owners of the property on which the construction is occurring can also be held responsible for injuries if they failed to disclose potential hazards, maintain a safe environment or if they exercised control over the construction site or work.
Liability can become complicated in these scenarios, and different defendants may attempt to show another defendant was primarily or solely responsible for what happened on the construction site.
Contractors and Subcontractors
Contractors and subcontractors have a duty to ensure the safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their work. They could be held liable for any construction site injury caused by their negligence.
Architects and Engineers
Architects and engineers may also face liability if an injury is caused by a design flaw or failure to follow the design specifications or safety regulations.
Equipment Manufacturers
If a construction site injury was caused by defective equipment, the equipment manufacturer could be held responsible.
Why Would a Business Consider Hiring an Independent Defense Lawyer for Construction Site Cases?
Legal Expertise
Construction site liability can be complex. Litigant offices benefit from legal representatives who understands the intricacy of these regulations and standards, especially as they pertain to safety and employer/property owner responsibilities.
Insurance companies often excel at identifying appropriate local defense counsel who understand the legal landscape, municipal rules, courts and judges in their jurisdiction. However, there are occasionally situations where a policyholder doesn’t feel entirely confident in the insurance company’s defense team.
Consulting with an independent Atlanta lawyer who has experience in construction site law may put your mind at ease and give you confidence that someone is looking out for your best interests.
Protecting Business Interests
An independent lawyer is entirely dedicated to protecting their client’s interests. Although there are many cases in which the insurance company and the policyholder are aligned in their goals, there are certainly scenarios in which those interests diverge.
An example would be a case in which the insurance company wants to settle against your wishes. Having your own defense attorney can be valuable in pursuing a strategy that puts your goals and preferences first.
Although the insurance company is often an ally, their overriding goal is to protect their own bottom line – and that doesn’t always mean doing what the policyholder wants.
Exerting Control Over Legal Decisions
Hiring an independent lawyer provides the business owner with more control over their defense and the legal decisions that will be made.
Business owners are frequently concerned – understandably so – about being cut out of their own defense. Lines of communication may be far more open between you and a defense lawyer you hire. They will be working for you, not the insurance company.
Confidentiality
Communications with an independent lawyer can be protected by attorney-client privilege. This could provide a more secure environment for discussing strategy and other details of the case.
The decision to hire an independent lawyer should be based on the specific circumstances of the case, including its complexity, the potential financial implications and the degree to which the interests of the business and the insurance company align.
If you’re looking for defense assistance in any construction site liability or civil injury case, the team at the Law Office of Cameron Hawkins is here for you. Call us at 678-921-4225 for a construction site consultation.