The Damages You Can Recover in a Roofing Accident

The roofing industry is pretty volatile. Accidents are a common occurrence in the industry. In fact, according to recent reports, around 50 roofers die in accidents every week in the US.

This number is alarming. Lack of proper training and supervision remains a common cause of roofing accidents.

In short, negligence leads to accidents. Accidents are a huge problem for roofers because accidents not only result in financial loss but also lead to lawsuits.

Lawsuits can damage the reputation of a business. One way a roofer can protect themselves from lawsuits is by getting roofing contractor insurance.

If the contractor has insurance, they cannot be sued. The losses of the victims will be covered by the insurance company.

Damages a Victim Can Recover in a Roofing Accident

Insurance companies will cover a wide range of damages. It usually covers both economic and non-economic damages.

However, the victim must prove that they sustained losses due to the accident since they bear the burden of proof. Following are some of the damages a victim can recover from the insurance companies:

• Medical Bills
• Pain and Suffering
• Lost Wages
• Loss of Quality of Life
• Punitive Damages

Medical Bills

Medical bills are the most common form of loss that any accident victim will face. The first thing a victim will do following an accident is visit a doctor.

The expenses the victim incurs to fix their body can be claimed as compensation. The victim can simply calculate their medical loss by adding all the bills together. Collecting medical bills is a simple way to prove the losses too.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is a type of non-economic damage. Unlike medical bills, pain and suffering cannot be easily calculated.

Pain and suffering refer to the physical pain and mental agony the victim will suffer due to the injuries. It is best to consult with a lawyer if you are planning to pursue compensation for pain and suffering.

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Lost Wages

Another common form of loss an accident victim will suffer is lost wages. Roofing work is not something you can do when injured.

You can’t choose to work from home when injured, like in the IT industry. So when you are injured, you will miss out on work.

The money you will lose because you didn’t go to work is known as lost wages. You can claim compensation for the money you would have earned if you had gone to work.

Loss of Quality of Life

Sometimes, accidents can result in permanent disabilities. You might not be able to carry out the tasks you previously did anymore due to your disability.

Also, you might not be able to play your favorite sport anymore. This can be considered a loss of quality of life. Note that permanent disabilities can also cause mental problems.

Punitive Damages

This is a rare case scenario. Claiming punitive damages is only possible if the contractor doesn’t have insurance and their negligence is highly despicable.

In such cases, you can pursue punitive damages with the help of an experienced lawyer. Without the help of a reputed lawyer, it is nearly impossible to claim compensation.

When Should You Hire a Lawyer?

If the contractor has insurance, then the insurance company will compensate you for all the losses you incurred.

Mostly, you won’t face any issues. However, if they don’t have insurance, you can file a lawsuit. For that, you will need the help of a lawyer. Hiring a lawyer can maximize your chances of obtaining fair compensation.

Final Thought

Most contractors will have insurance, since it is one of the most common questions asked by customers before hiring a contractor.

However, in instances where they don’t have insurance, you can file a lawsuit. If you are not sure how to proceed, speak with a lawyer. They can guide you in such situations.

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