How Can I Find a Good Attorney for a Construction Accident Case in Miami?

What to Look for in a Miami Construction Accident Attorney

An attorney will take a detailed look at the specific situation beyond the injury itself. Construction accident cases may require an investigation into the job site, equipment, safety procedures, contract relationships, subcontractors, insurance coverage, and whether a third party may have contributed to the accident. There are also considerations to be made if the injured individual was an employee, a contractor, or a third party.

What Should Injured Individuals Look for in a Construction Accident Attorney?

• Experience with serious construction site injuries
• Knowledge of workers’ compensation and third-party liability
• Ability to preserve job site evidence quickly
• Familiarity with contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers
• Clear explanation of attorney fees and case costs
• Direct attorney involvement
• Local Miami-Dade experience

Why Construction Accident Cases Are Different From Other Injury Claims

Construction accident cases can be more complex because a job site may involve multiple companies and overlapping responsibilities. Negligent parties may be contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, engineers, trucking companies, or other third parties, depending on what caused the injury. Additionally, it is important to note that Florida workers’ compensation law may limit claims against an employer, but other parties may still be responsible in some cases.

Because more than one company may be working on the same site, the attorney’s role is to determine who had control, who had responsibility, what safety rules applied, and whether a third party’s conduct contributed to the injury. The attorney also needs to determine if other entities will benefit from an employer’s worker’s compensation immunity.

Questions to Ask During a Construction Accident Consultation

A construction accident consultation should first and foremost help injured individuals and/or their families understand whether a claim may exist. Florida workers’ compensation laws can often prevent a personal injury claim from being made, which can make these types of cases more complicated. Secondly, consultations should answer questions regarding what evidence should be preserved, what deadlines may apply, and how the attorney would approach the claim.

Sample questions include, but are not limited to:

• Have you handled construction accident cases involving similar injuries or job site conditions?
• Is this likely a workers’ compensation matter, a third-party liability claim, or both?
• What companies or parties may need to be investigated?
• What evidence should be preserved immediately?
• Will the attorney personally review the case?
• How are attorney fees and case costs handled?
• What happens if there is no recovery?
• What deadlines may apply under Florida law?
• What steps may be taken in the first 30 days?
• How will medical records, incident reports, photos, witnesses, and job site records be used?

Understanding Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Claims in Construction Accidents

After a construction accident, an injured worker will likely have a workers’ compensation claim. It is important to understand that Florida’s workers’ compensation law is typically the only way an employee can seek damages against an employer for workplace injuries. Furthermore, in the construction industry, typically, independent contractors are generally covered under workers’ compensation law.

Under Florida Statute 440.10, contractors and subcontractors engaged in public or private construction in Florida are required to secure and maintain workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. The statute also provides that when a contractor sublets part of a project to a subcontractor, employees working on that contract may be treated as part of the same business or establishment for workers’ compensation purposes, unless the subcontractor has secured its own coverage.

However, the facts of the case also matter. In some cases, a separate claim may also exist against a third party that was not the direct employer, such as another contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or another company on the job site.

Because of these very specific differences, it is important to hire a construction accident attorney who is well-versed in the law and nuances involved in these types of claims.

Speak with a construction accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss the specifics of your injury. Panter, Panter & Sampedro is available 24/7 and offers free consultations.

Why Consider Panter, Panter & Sampedro for a Construction Accident Case?

Panter, Panter & Sampedro has represented injured persons and grieving families in Florida for more than 30 years. The firm has handled significant construction and workplace injury matters, including cases involving the FIU bridge collapse, partial building collapse, tractor-trailer crushing injuries, and construction workers injured in an electrical accident.

• More than 30 years of representing injured persons and families in Florida
• Serious construction accident and workplace injury case experience
• Board-certified civil trial attorneys
• Direct attorney communication
• No Recovery = No Fee
• Local Miami-Dade presence

“All right hands down to the greatest Law Firm ever since people service here is great people everything guys come give us a visit I just have my file transferred from Morgan and borgan because it’s better over here being bigger is not better. Being better is better. Mitchell thanks for being a blessing to me and my family.” – Alfred Telles

“David Sampedro and his assistant Yani were fantastic during the whole process of our lawsuit. Both very friendly and professional. They explained every step of the process very well and truly care about my husband’s health, and our family. It really felt like we were the only case they were working on. Even since our case we’ve been able to call and ask for legal advice on other matters. Hopefully we don’t need to use their services again, but if we needed to, we would absolutely go to this lawfirm and we highly recommend them as well. The reviews speak for themselves. We are very lucky to have found David and he has helped us significantly during a very hard time in our lives.” – Kelsey Adkins

Watch: How to Choose a Construction Accident Attorney in Miami

The following video features David Sampedro, a Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney with the law firm of Panter, Panter & Sampedro, discussing what injured persons and families should consider when choosing an attorney after a construction accident in Miami based on his decades of experience.

Frequently Asked Questions