Our California construction accident attorneys help construction workers who have suffered workplace and construction site injuries. Unfortunately, California’s construction industry has the second-highest number of work accident fatalities among all industries in the state. Our lawyers fight hard to deliver accident victims and their families fair compensation for their losses.
Construction accidents are commonly caused by
- slip and fall incidents,
- falling objects,
- electrocutions, and
- defective equipment.
Work injuries can include
- burn injuries,
- head and neck injuries, and
- catastrophic injuries like spinal cord injuries.
A skilled personal injury attorney can file a construction accident lawsuit on behalf of injury victims. These legal claims are often based on the following legal theories:
In addition to filing a lawsuit, a construction accident lawyer can assist clients in so many other valuable ways. For example, a skilled attorney can help injury victims by:
- gathering evidence to support a claim,
- managing their ongoing medical care and treatment,
- filing a personal injury claim with an at-fault party’s insurer,
- filing a workers’ compensation claim on their behalf, and
- finding hidden value in a claim to maximize a victim’s injury award.
The Shouse Law Group is a California-based personal injury law firm that represents construction workers injured while on the construction site. Our experienced attorneys work tirelessly for all our clients and seek to get you the maximum compensation possible. Call today to get the legal representation you deserve.
California’s construction industry has the 2nd highest number of work accident fatalities in the state.
What are common causes of construction site accidents and common construction injuries?
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for construction workers to suffer accident injuries while on the worksite. According to California’s Department of Industrial Relations, the construction industry has the second highest number of work fatalities of all industries in the state.1 There were 464 fatalities for the period between 2013 and 2019.2
While the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues several safety regulations to help employers prevent injuries, workers are not immune from construction injuries. Common causes of construction work accidents include:
- falls,
- falling objects,
- workers getting trapped between pieces of equipment,
- electrocutions,
- defective power tools or heavy machinery,
- fires and explosions,
- inadequate safety equipment,
- downed power lines,
- heavy equipment, and
- crane collapses.
California workers can suffer a wide variety of construction site injuries, including both serious injuries and catastrophic injuries. Common construction accident injuries include:
- spinal cord injuries,
- a traumatic brain injury,
- burn injuries,
- broken bones,
- lacerations,
- neck, back, and shoulder injuries, and
- knee injuries.
Note that in some injury cases, a construction site accident can even lead to death, an amputation, or permanent disability.
Who are common defendants in construction accident cases?
Injured construction workers have the right to bring a personal injury lawsuit or a personal injury claim against the party responsible for causing their injuries. Responsible parties in these cases are typically:
- owners of construction sites or other property owners,
- a construction company,
- general contractors,
- subcontractors,
- engineers,
- architects, and
- manufacturers of machinery and work equipment.
If a party contributes to a construction injury, that party normally has to compensate the injury victim for:
- medical bills and medical expenses,
- lost wages,
- lost earning capacity,
- property damage, and
- pain and suffering.
If a person dies because of a construction accident, their family members can likely file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for causing the accident. Damages can include (but are not limited to):
- burial and funeral expenses,
- amounts the deceased would have earned as income, and
- compensation for the loss of the deceased’s companionship and support.
What is the role of an injury lawyer in these cases?
A Los Angeles construction accident attorney serves many purposes in construction accident cases.
Personal injury lawyers look after the health of their clients and can assist in managing their ongoing medical care.
They learn the facts of a particular case and can help in gathering evidence to prove that a party is liable for a construction injury. If necessary, injury lawyers can even hire experts to help explain this evidence to a judge or jury.
Construction accident attorneys can also file two important claims on behalf of their clients. The first is a construction accident claim with the insurance companies of any and all at-fault parties. The second is a claim with an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. In the case of the latter, an injured worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits (including disability benefits).
Finally, attorneys can file a lawsuit in construction injury cases and work to receive favorable verdicts for their clients.
What are the benefits of a construction accident lawyer?
The main benefit of a skilled construction injury attorney is that they can maximize an injury victim’s compensation.
For example, an experienced lawyer will know what a case is worth. As a result, the attorney will not accept a low-ball settlement offer. Attorneys can also find hidden value in a case, which means extra payment for the injured worker.
Note that a construction lawyer will begin managing a case from the moment they accept it. A result is that injury victims can focus on their health and healing and not worry about the daily rigors of their cases.
Note, too, that almost all personal injury lawyers provide free case evaluations. This means a victim can get all of their legal questions answered without spending a dime.
For additional help…
If you or a loved one was injured in a construction site accident, we invite you to contact our law firm/law office at the Shouse Law Group. We take workplace accident cases throughout California from San Diego and Los Angeles to San Francisco and Sacramento.
Our attorneys and legal team provide consultations and legal advice on your claim. We work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation available for your case. And if necessary, we can refer you to a medical provider who works on a lien basis.
- State of California Department of Industrial Relations, “Fatal Occupational Injuries in California,” (2021).
- See same.