A person injured on a job site has several possible courses of action. He may file a workers’ compensation claim, pay for the medical expenses out of pocket, or file a civil suit to recover damages that include an award to make that person whole and to punish the negligent party. Choosing either of these options comes with advantages and disadvantages that depend on several aspects of the case.

The victim’s course of action hinges on liability. Was the injury caused by faulty equipment, or a dangerous jobsite? Was it due to an illegal or dangerous task ordered by the subcontractor, or was the person simply walking by the site when the injury occurred? Did the accident happen during or after construction?

These questions are among others asked and answered in an effort to ascertain liability. The course of action is dependant on liability. For example, if the employer is potentially liable, in Alaska , the injured employer must file a workers’ compensation claim, and try to recoup medical expenses, lost wages, and much with the help of the state and federal system. It the injury is due to faulty equipment, the employee may still file a workers’ compensation claim, but he may also bring civil action against the equipment manufacturer/supplier. If the employee is liable, he may simply file a workers’’ compensation claim or pay out of pocket.

After determining the circumstance surrounding the issue of liability, the plaintiff must identify the defendants. Because of the tangle of subsidiaries, shell companies, and so on, naming a defendant is often a very difficult task. The victim’s case may come to a halt at this juncture, until the real owner of the liable company can be determined.

An Alaska construction accident attorney can assist in every step of this process. He is skilled in sifting through records, evidence, testimony, and reports to find not only the liable party, but the appropriate course of action in each individual case. He is skilled in uncovering the true owners of construction companies and suppliers—the defendants. The construction accident lawyer is also experienced in proceeding with a case against defendants that aren’t named at the onset of trial.

Anyone injured on the jobsite should contact an Alaska construction accident attorney immediately after the injury to get started recovering damages.