Did you suffer an injury or illness while on a construction site in Ladue, Missouri? You may have legal options, such as filing for workers’ compensation or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers can help you decide on the best approach for your situation.
Our law firm has over 100 years of combined experience representing accident victims in Missouri, and we’ve recovered more than $100 million for our clients. We’ll use this background to seek the best possible outcome for your construction accident claim.
Contact us at (314) 444 4444 for a free consultation with our Ladue construction accident lawyers today.
How Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Construction Accident Claim in Ladue, MO
Construction accident claims can be especially complicated. You might be eligible for workers’ compensation, but you could also have a valid case against a third party, such as a property owner or an equipment manufacturer. If you want to explore your options fully, you’ll likely need to hire an experienced Ladue construction accident lawyer to guide you.
At Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers, we work tirelessly to help our clients recover the maximum compensation possible. We understand how insurance companies operate and won’t hesitate to push back on unfair practices.
Here’s how our Ladue personal injury lawyers can help:
- Investigating your accident and injuries
- Assessing your legal rights and options
- Determining who’s liable
- Calculating the full value of your claim
- Gathering supporting evidence
- Negotiating a fair settlement
- Filing a lawsuit when necessary
If you have questions about working with our firm, give us a call today to set up a free case evaluation.
Workers’ Compensation After a Construction Accident in Missouri
Most businesses in Missouri are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. That means if you’ve been injured on the job, you can typically file a claim for benefits—even if you are partly at fault for the accident. However, exceptions exist for self-inflicted injuries, horseplay, and any intentional violations of workplace policy that lead to harm.
The benefits you can receive from workers’ comp may include:
- Medical treatment: Coverage for doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation costs related to your work injury. Your employer’s insurance often has the right to choose your medical provider.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Payments to cover a portion of your lost wages while you recover and cannot perform any work.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): Payments if you can still work in a limited capacity but are earning less than your normal wage. TPD makes up part of the difference between your old wages and your new ones.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): A possible lump sum or structured payment if you have a lasting injury but can still work in some way.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Long-term wage support if you are unable to return to any kind of work due to your injuries.
- Death Benefits: If a construction accident leads to a tragic fatality, eligible family members may receive help with funeral costs and partial wage replacement.
While workers’ comp can cover a range of losses, there are limits. It does not offer compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering. That’s why some injured workers decide to explore lawsuits against third parties who may share blame for a construction accident.
Third-Party Personal Injury Claims
Missouri’s workers’ compensation rules generally prevent you from suing your employer if they have coverage (though there are limited exceptions). However, third parties such as property owners, equipment suppliers, or subcontractors could still be held responsible if their actions or inactions caused the accident. You can also potentially file a personal injury claim if you were injured as a passerby or visitor at a construction site.
For example:
- You’re driving a company vehicle to pick up supplies for a construction site when another driver runs a red light and hits you. In this case, you might sue the at-fault driver.
- You’re hurt on a site where an outside subcontractor failed to secure loose materials, resulting in an accident. That subcontractor could be sued as a third party.
- You’re using a piece of equipment that turns out to be defective. You might have a product liability claim against the maker or designer of that equipment.
A third-party lawsuit can include damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life—damages typically unavailable under basic workers’ comp. Our team can investigate whether a third-party claim applies to your situation and pursue both workers’ comp and additional compensation if possible.
How Valuable Is My Ladue Construction Accident Claim?
Each construction accident case is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much it might be worth.
Our legal team will look at:
- The seriousness of your injuries and how long it takes you to recover
- Whether you have grounds for a third-party lawsuit in addition to workers’ comp
- How soon—if at all—you can return to work
- Evidence supporting your claims, such as medical documents and expert testimony
Once we analyze these factors, we’ll be able to provide a clearer idea of what you may receive. This conversation often happens during our free consultation or shortly afterward. We want you to have realistic expectations and a full understanding of your case’s value.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Construction Accident in Ladue?
If you only qualify for a workers’ compensation claim, your benefits will cover certain costs like medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages. But if you have a valid third-party personal injury claim, you might be able to pursue full economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost income or future earnings
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket costs (travel to medical appointments, home modifications, and so on)
These damages are generally straightforward to prove through paystubs, medical invoices, and receipts.
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or disfigurement
In rare situations where the party at fault was extremely reckless or acted intentionally, punitive damages may also be available. These aim to punish the wrongdoer and discourage similar conduct in the future. However, punitive damages in Missouri are not awarded often, and you need strong evidence to support such a claim.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Construction Accident in Missouri?
Even if you’re partly at fault for a construction accident, you can usually still file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp is a no-fault system, which means it generally doesn’t matter who caused the accident.
However, if you’re seeking extra damages through a personal injury lawsuit, Missouri’s pure comparative fault rules will come into play. If the court finds that you bear some blame, your damages may be reduced by your share of fault. For instance, if you’re 20% responsible, you could receive 80% of the final award.
A skilled personal injury lawyer in Ladue can help you push back against unfair blame. The less fault you bear, the more compensation you can potentially receive.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Construction Accident Attorney in Ladue?
Most construction accident attorneys in Ladue, including ours with Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers, represent injured clients on a contingency fee basis.
That means:
- No upfront fees are required to hire your lawyer.
- No hourly billing or flat fees apply.
- You only pay if your attorney helps you secure a financial award, either through a settlement or court verdict.
When your attorney succeeds, they’re paid a percentage of the total recovery. That percentage usually ranges around one-third, but the exact fee might vary. If your lawyer doesn’t secure any compensation for you, you owe nothing in attorney’s fees. This approach allows clients to hire top-rated lawyers no matter their current finances.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Construction Accident Claim in Missouri?
If you’re pursuing workers’ compensation, you must report your accident to your employer within 30 days. The sooner you report, the better. Delays could result in lost benefits or other complications. The deadline to file a claim is generally two years, but it can be extended in limited circumstances.
If you want to file a personal injury lawsuit, Missouri’s statute of limitations typically gives you five years from the date of the accident to file. Some exceptions can shorten or extend this deadline, such as cases involving minors or specific types of defendants. It’s best to consult a lawyer promptly so that you don’t miss your chance to file a valid claim.
Contact Our Ladue Construction Accident Attorneys Today
Were you injured while working on a construction site in Ladue, Missouri? You may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, and you might also have the option to file a third-party claim. At Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re ready to manage your case from start to finish, allowing you to focus on healing.
Call our Ladue construction accident lawyers today or reach out online for your free case assessment, and let us get to work for you.
