Anyone who works in the construction industry knows about the many potential dangers that occur every day. Construction accidents consistently rank second only to transportation accidents among causes of workplace injuries nationwide, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When a construction accident results from negligence, an injured worker may be able to obtain compensation through a third-party lawsuit.

In New Jersey, as in all states, workplace injuries are typically covered under the state’s workers’ compensation system. Administered through the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey workers’ compensation system provides coverage for medical treatment and wage replacement for workers who have suffered work-related injuries. Unfortunately, the benefits provided by the workers’ compensation system often fall short of covering all costs associated with a New Jersey construction accident injury.

Workers’ compensation benefits are available without regard to the cause of an accident. In other words, you are not required to prove that your employer, or anyone else, was negligent, or at fault, to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in New Jersey. However if a third party other than your employer was partially, or entirely at fault in the accident, then you could also be eligible for compensation through a third-party lawsuit.

Construction accidents result from negligence more often than you may realize. Numerous companies may be represented on the same construction site. There may be a general contractor, three or four subcontractors, an equipment leasing company representative and a property owner all giving orders at the same New York or New Jersey construction site.  Any of these parties could be found to have been negligent, and therefore, liable, if you are injured at the site.