Property owners undertake renovation projects for several reasons. For one, homeowners may find it more practical to remodel rather than buy a new home. They perform repairs and upgrades to make the house more suitable to their lifestyle, such as a growing family or need for an office space. Others may choose to add extensions or install new fixtures to increase the home’s potential resale value.
Commercial establishments can also implement renovations to make structures more accessible and appealing. Enhancements also accommodate new equipment and make business operations more efficient.
In these renovation plans, both residential and property owners look to professionals who can transform their desires into reality. Depending on the scale of renovations required, owners may decide to employ one or two workers to complete the job, such as replacing roofs and leaking pipes. When more work is needed, they hire a general contractor to oversee the project and have individual tradespeople work on various renovation aspects.
Reasons To Hire A Slip And Fall Lawyer
With everyone and everything on board, the renovation site can instantly become a flurry of activity with workers intent on completing their job. Unfortunately, all the foot traffic and various equipment can make the site a potential venue for slip and fall accidents. Anyone can trip on tools or cords lying on the ground. Others may fall from ladders or a collapsed roof. They may even slip when floors are messy and slippery.
When someone encounters an accident while doing renovations, you probably need to bring another professional to manage the situation. A slip and fall lawyer is the right person for the job. Here are more reasons to hire a slip and fall lawyer when undergoing renovation:
1. Determine Liability
When someone gets injured on another person’s property, the first thing that slip and fall lawyers do is determine liability. They look into the circumstances of the accident and identify who’s reliable for the mishap. In the case of renovations, this can either be the property owner or the professional hired for the project.
Determining liability is essential as this can help injured persons pursue action against the responsible party.
- Property Owner’s Liability: Under the Premises Liability law, property owners are responsible for ensuring everyone’s safety under their home or building. Regarding renovation, owners are expected to inform contractors and workers of property defects and provide an adequate warning regarding wet floors, paint spills, wiring issues, and other hazards. They can use signages or other warning devices to caution everyone on the renovation site. The extent of the owner’s involvement in the renovation process also determines liability. Those who exert a significant amount of control over the decision-making process and entire renovation process open themselves to a greater degree of responsibility. Their constant presence and inaction when informed of potential slip and fall hazards make them liable should injuries occur among workers.
- Construction Professionals’ Liability: Aside from determining property owners’ potential negligence, slip and fall lawyers will also consider various construction professionals liable for any injury.
Architects and engineers are responsible for injury when there’s a defect in the renovation design. General contractors who fail to provide personal protective equipment and warning signs regarding renovation hazards may also be held responsible for sustained injuries. On the other hand, subcontractors may also be held responsible if their craft’s quality causes harm to fellow workers or home and building occupants in the future.
2. Advise Appropriate Action
Slip and fall accidents results can occur anywhere–at home, in public places, or at work. When it happens while renovating another property, you need to inform your supervisors or property managers about the injury and file an incident report. Lawyers can then advise workers what action to take to recover medical expenses and lost income.
Furthermore, lawyers can assist you in filing for worker compensation. They may even obtain additional evidence to prove a property owner or contractor’s negligence.
Personal injury attorneys can also represent you in court should you decide to file a case so you can receive funds to cover loss of future income and compensate for pain and suffering.
3. Investigate Personal Injury Claims
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common injuries in construction areas. Renovation sites are no exception as it poses several hazards to workers. While property owners and general contractors are often held liable, some of them may not be entirely their fault, especially if they took considerable measures to ensure everyone’s safety in the renovation area.
Some of these claims may turn out to be slip and fall scams that intend to take advantage of a homeowner’s or contractor’s general liability insurance. Construction workers can fake their injuries or exaggerate them, hoping to get money from their claims. Lawyers can investigate these claims’ veracity to determine if another’s negligence indeed caused it or if injuries are a product of a person’s carelessness.
Thus, slip and fall lawyers are as important as the workers in the renovation area. They help manage situations arising from the accident by determining the nature and cause of the injury, ensuring the accountability of negligent parties.
Conclusion
Property owners and various construction personnel need to understand that renovation sites are more than areas that require improvement. These often carry hazards that can cause harm to everyone on the site. Owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and subcontractors all have a degree of liability should accidents occur to anyone while the renovation is underway, which is why they need to take design and safety to new heights.
When slip and fall accidents occur as a work-related injury, personal injury lawyers can lend their expertise in determining who’s at fault. They can establish responsibility by applying premise liability law to compel owners to pay for damages. Or, they can use the construction defects principle to attribute accountability to renovation designers and workers.
They can also investigate personal injury claims arising from slip and fall accidents. They attest to the incident’s actual occurrence and help workers file for claims through worker’s compensation or a personal injury lawsuit.
Lawyers may also establish property owner’s and contractor’s diligence in ensuring the safety and protection of workers. They can evaluate insurance claims and help determine if such claims are indeed caused by negligence or if they’re dubious and made with the intent to harm owners and contractors.
As such, slip and fall lawyers are perfect for any renovation job. They can provide legal assistance to various parties involved in the project. Their expertise is also vital in determining liability and appropriate action for slip and fall accidents.
