Posted in General
One of the most heavily discussed political issues of the day is how to handle the influx of undocumented immigrants entering the United States. The contentious nature of this political issue can lead to a great deal of uncertainty with regard to how enforcement of immigration is carried out, something that seems to change almost day by day. This can be of particular concern to workers who suffer construction site injuries because that field attracts large amounts of undocumented immigrants.
Many unethical contractors choose to hire undocumented workers, and then seek to threaten or intimidate them using the possibility of deportation to ensure that they do not bring lawsuits against the contractors for injuries. Even undocumented workers employed by honest contractors do not know whether their status will affect their ability to access the United States court system. Fortunately, neither of these issues should concern undocumented workers who have experienced an injury on the construction site at which they work. There are many different kinds of damages that an undocumented migrant may be able to claim, as an attorney, like a construction site accident attorney, can explain.
Fear of Deportation
Unscrupulous employers often mislead undocumented workers into believing that they cannot fight for their rights in court because doing so will result in deportation back to their home country. However, this is not actually the case. Numerous federal court decisions from across the country support the idea that undocumented immigrants need not fear deportation just because they file a suit in civil court. Civil courts will not report undocumented immigrants who file cases, and discovery into a person’s immigration status is usually not allowed by the court since it is seldom relevant to the civil suit.
This safeguard exists because courts respect the rights of undocumented immigrants as human beings. If courts were to report undocumented immigrants who brought civil suits, it would prevent them from accessing the court system. This would allow unethical contractors to abuse undocumented workers and violate their rights without reproach. Courts will not countenance such abuse.
The Right to Sue
Apart from concerns about deportation, many undocumented workers question whether they even have the right to bring civil suits in the first place since they are not U.S. citizens. However, there have been multiple cases across the country where the courts have ruled that undocumented workers who are injured on the job still have the right to a safe work environment and the ability to collect for injuries, even if they are in the country illegally.
Have You Been Injured? Let Our Firm Help
Regardless of your immigration status, if you have been injured on a construction site, you may have the right to full and fair compensation for your injuries. Seek the aid of an experienced construction accident attorney today. Call a qualified firm to find out how an accomplished legal team can help you get the financial compensation you deserve under the law.
If you have sustained an injury in a construction site accident and you believe your employer was negligent, it is essential that you contact a workers’ compensation injury lawyer from Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt , immediately so a legal professional can examine all the options available to you.
