Construction accidents happen quickly but can have lasting effects. If you or a loved one was injured on a Niceville construction site, you may have rights beyond workers’ compensation. The Bruner Law Firm represents injured construction workers in Niceville, pursuing compensation for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Our team has over 30 years of experience handling construction accidents. We understand workplace injuries and the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact our Niceville personal injury lawyers at (850) 605-0672 or complete our online form.
Why Construction Accidents Require Immediate Legal Action
Construction sites pose serious hazards that can cause severe injuries. After an accident, workers must decide whether to rely solely on workers’ compensation or also file a personal injury lawsuit against negligent third parties.
Workers’ compensation covers medical care and lost wages but limits benefits and bars suits against employers. If a contractor, subcontractor, equipment maker, property owner, or other party was negligent, you may pursue additional compensation through a personal injury claim.
Third-party claims can recover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent disability—damages not covered by workers’ compensation. Quick action matters since Florida law sets strict filing deadlines, and evidence can fade fast.
The Bruner Law Firm investigates construction accidents, identifies liable parties, and builds strong cases. Our firm represents injured workers across Okaloosa County, Panama City, Santa Rosa Beach, and Fort Walton Beach.
Common Construction Accidents in Niceville
Construction workers in Niceville face many job site hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ranks construction among the most dangerous industries. Below are some of the most common construction accidents in the area:
- Falls from Heights and Scaffolding Collapses
- Struck-By Accidents and Falling Objects
- Electrocution and Equipment Failures
If you’ve been injured in any of these accidents, contact The Bruner Law Firm to learn about your legal rights and possible compensation.
Types of Injuries from Construction Accidents
Construction accidents often cause serious, life-changing injuries that require extensive medical care and rehabilitation.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Range from concussions to severe brain injuries, causing memory loss, cognitive issues, and sometimes permanent disability.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Can lead to partial or complete paralysis, affecting mobility and independence, often requiring lifelong care.
- Broken Bones and Fractures: Common on job sites; some heal fully, while others cause chronic pain and limited movement.
- Severe Burns: Result from electrical contact, fires, or chemicals, often needing surgery and long-term treatment, with lasting scarring.
- Amputations and Permanent Disabilities: Caused by machinery or crush injuries, leading to loss of limbs and major lifestyle changes.
The Bruner Law Firm has represented clients with each of these injury types, helping them recover compensation for medical care, lost income, and long-term needs.
Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury Claims
Understanding the difference between workers’ compensation and personal injury claims is important for construction accident victims.
Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault insurance system. It provides medical benefits and wage replacement to injured workers. This applies regardless of who caused the accident. In exchange, workers typically cannot sue their employer. Workers’ compensation benefits include:
- Medical expense coverage
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits during recovery
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits if unable to return to work
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) awards for permanent impairment
- Death benefits for families of workers killed on the job
However, workers’ compensation has significant limitations. Florida law caps benefits. The system does not compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. For detailed information on workers’ compensation benefits, consult with our experienced team.
Personal injury claims allow you to sue negligent third parties. These include contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, or property owners. You can recover all damages resulting from their negligence. These claims can be recovered:
- All medical expenses, including future treatment
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability awards
- Loss of consortium (impact on family relationships)
- Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
In many cases, injured workers can pursue both workers’ compensation and a workplace injury claim simultaneously. Workers’ compensation covers immediate medical needs and wage replacement. A personal injury lawsuit pursues full compensation from negligent third parties. Our Niceville workplace injury lawyers can help you understand your options.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Construction Accident
Several parties may share responsibility for a construction accident. Identifying them is key to maximizing recovery.
Employer Negligence and Safety Violations
Employers must provide safe conditions, proper equipment, and training. Failing to follow OSHA standards or pressuring workers into unsafe tasks creates liability. While you generally cannot sue your direct employer, you may have claims against other employers on multi-employer sites.
Contractor and Subcontractor Responsibility
Contractors and subcontractors must maintain safe work sites, supervise crews, and enforce safety rules. Negligence in supervision, training, or equipment use can create liability.
Equipment Manufacturer Defects
Manufacturers may be liable for defective tools, machinery, or scaffolding due to design flaws, manufacturing errors, or a lack of warnings. Product liability claims against equipment manufacturers can lead to significant compensation.
Florida Construction Accident Laws and OSHA Regulations
Florida law and federal OSHA regulations establish safety standards that construction employers must follow. Understanding these requirements helps determine negligence in accident cases.
Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims
Under Florida Statute § 440.11, employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides benefits to injured workers. Florida also allows third-party liability claims when someone other than the employer causes the injury.
OSHA Safety Standards
OSHA Standards set mandatory construction site requirements, including:
- Fall protection for work above 6 feet
- Scaffolding inspection and maintenance
- Electrical safety and grounding
- Equipment operation and maintenance protocols
- Hazard communication and worker training
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) standards
Violating OSHA standards constitutes negligence per se, meaning the violation itself proves negligence without further evidence, strengthening personal injury claims.
Statute of Limitations
In Florida, workers must report injuries within 30 days to file for workers’ compensation. For third-party personal injury claims, the statute of limitations is:
- 2 years for injuries on or after March 24, 2023
- 4 years for injuries before that date
Acting promptly preserves legal rights and allows timely evidence collection.
What Compensation Can You Recover
Construction accident victims may recover various forms of compensation. This includes workers’ compensation benefits and personal injury claims:
- Medical Expenses and Ongoing Treatment
- Lost Wages and Disability Benefits
- Pain and Suffering and Emotional Distress
Wrongful death claims are filed when a construction accident results in death. Surviving family members can recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and damages for loss of companionship and emotional distress. Our Niceville wrongful death attorneys have recovered substantial compensation for grieving families.
How The Bruner Law Firm Handles Construction Accident Cases
With over three decades of experience, The Bruner Law Firm combines thorough investigation, strategic negotiation, and strong litigation to maximize your recovery.
When you contact our Niceville office at (850) 605-0672, we begin with a free consultation to understand your injury, accident circumstances, and legal options.
Our team investigates the accident scene, reviews safety and maintenance records, analyzes OSHA violations, and works with reconstruction and medical experts to build a strong case.
We negotiate assertively with insurers and defendants, often securing compensation without trial. If settlement fails, our trial attorneys present clear, persuasive arguments in court to pursue full recovery.
Throughout your case, we keep you informed, involve you in key decisions, and work on a contingency fee basis; you pay nothing unless we win.
Why Choose The Bruner Law Firm for Your Construction Accident Claim
Founded in 1992 by Vincent Michael Bruner, The Bruner Law Firm has dedicated its practice exclusively to representing injured construction workers. We never represent insurance companies or defendants—our sole focus is protecting injured workers and their families.
Our team of five attorneys includes Drew Bruner, recognized as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, named among America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honor limited to the top 1% of lawyers.
We maintain offices in Fort Walton Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Panama City, and Niceville for convenient client access. Our team is available to meet with you at your convenience.
Our record reflects our commitment: we’ve recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and hold a 5.0 Google rating based on more than 1,700 reviews. Read our client testimonials to see their experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Accidents
What should I do immediately after a construction accident?
Seek medical attention immediately. Do this even if your injuries seem minor. Some serious injuries, like internal bleeding or brain injuries, may not be immediately apparent. Report the accident to your supervisor and employer as soon as possible. If possible, document the scene with photos or video. Note witness names and contact information. Preserve any equipment or materials involved in the accident. Avoid discussing fault or signing documents without legal advice. Contact The Bruner Law Firm for a free consultation as soon as you can.
How long do I have to file a claim?
For workers’ compensation claims, you should report your injury to your employer within 30 days. Claims can be filed within a longer period. For personal injury lawsuits against third parties, Florida law provides a 2-year statute of limitations. This applies from the date of injury for incidents occurring on or after March 24, 2023. Claims from incidents before March 24, 2023, remain subject to the previous 4-year deadline. However, evidence can disappear, and witnesses’ memories fade. Acting promptly is important. Contact our Niceville office at (850) 605-0672 to discuss your specific situation. Learn more about how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida.
Can I sue my employer for a construction accident?
In most cases, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy against your direct employer. This means you cannot sue your employer but receive workers’ compensation benefits instead. However, if multiple employers are present on the job site, you may have claims against other employers. Additionally, you can always sue third parties. These include contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners. Their negligence may have contributed to your injury.
What if I were partially at fault for the accident?
Florida follows a comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages even if you were partially at fault. This applies as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you recover $100,000 but are found 20% at fault, you receive $80,000. This is another reason to contact an experienced attorney. We investigate thoroughly to minimize any suggestion of your fault. We work to maximize your recovery.
How much is my construction accident case worth?
The value of your case depends on many factors. These include the severity of your injury, the extent of medical treatment required, your lost wages, your age and earning capacity, the clarity of the defendant’s negligence, and the strength of available evidence. Severe injuries with clear negligence and strong evidence typically command higher settlements. During your free consultation, we can discuss the potential value of your case. We base this on similar cases we have handled.
Do I need to report the accident to OSHA?
OSHA requires employers to report serious injuries to OSHA within 24 hours. Serious injuries include those requiring hospitalization, surgery, or amputation. Your employer should handle this reporting. You can file a report yourself if your employer fails to do so. OSHA investigations can provide valuable evidence. This evidence supports your personal injury claim. For more information, visit the OSHA reporting requirements page.
What evidence is needed to prove negligence?
To prove negligence, we must establish that the defendant owed you a duty of care. We must show they breached that duty. We must demonstrate that they caused your injury, resulting in damages. Evidence includes accident scene photos, witness testimony, safety records and inspection reports, OSHA violation citations, equipment maintenance logs, expert analysis, medical records, and expert testimony. Our investigation team gathers and analyzes this evidence. We build a compelling case by documenting your personal injury.
How long does a construction accident case take?
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of your case. It also depends on whether it settles or goes to trial. Simple cases with clear liability may settle within months. Complex cases involving multiple defendants, serious injuries, or disputed liability may take 1-3 years or longer. We work efficiently to resolve your case as quickly as possible. For more details, read about how long personal injury cases take to settle.
Contact The Bruner Law Firm Today
If you have suffered a construction accident in Niceville, Florida, do not delay in seeking legal representation. The Bruner Law Firm is ready to fight for your rights. We pursue the compensation you deserve.
Call our Niceville office today at (850) 605-0672 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 to discuss your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
The Bruner Law Firm has represented injured construction workers for over 30 years. Let our experience and dedication work for you. Contact us through our free case evaluation form or call directly.
