Construction Site Accidents

Construction and job site accidents account for some of the most serious workplace injuries in Pennsylvania and construction workers are often at high risk for serious injury, given the nature of the work they perform, the potentially dangerous machinery and equipment used to perform their work, and the often risky and fragile settings in which work gets done.

Construction Site Accident Attorneys

According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data from 2015, falls account for nearly 40% of all construction worker deaths (including falls from roofs, ladders, cranes, and scaffolding), while 10% of deaths are caused by workers being struck by objects (falling tools and machinery and equipment parts). Electrocutions cause 9% of deaths. Being crushed, caught, or pinned accounts for yet another 7% of construction site fatalities. The dangers of working on these sites can complicate injury claims, but that doesn’t mean that employees should expect any less than a safe work environment, with adequate supervision, communication among all workers, and safe, operational equipment that they and any operators using the equipment have been trained to use.

Get the experienced, competent, and thoughtful counsel of our legal team on your side.

There are often many subcontractors and companies (and all of their employees) working on a job site, under the direction and supervision of one or more general contractors, property managers, or owner representatives. As a result, when a serious injury occurs and the risk of liability becomes apparent, parties often point the finger at others on the job site to shift blame. To work through these challenges, and to determine who bears liability for your work site injury, you need the kind of experienced, competent, and thoughtful counsel we can provide.

In Pennsylvania, OSHA is responsible for investigating most construction accidents. If you have representation, you don’t need to wait and see what OSHA determines caused your accident. Instead, our team can conduct an independent investigation to determine liability and possible courses for financial recovery, which might reveal areas of wrongdoing unaccounted for by OSHA.

Common victims of construction site accidents include: foremen, project managers, painters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, masons, crane and heavy equipment operators, HVAC workers, sheet metal workers, and welders.

The Risky Nature of Working on a Busy Construction Site

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020 alone, there were 148 fatal workplace injuries in Pennsylvania–and that was considered a “down year” for reported injuries! The private construction sector saw the highest number of fatalities. Nationwide, 2020 saw 4,764 fatal workplace incidents.

Construction sites can be particularly dangerous, with employees often working at high heights and with heavy equipment, which are two of the biggest contributors to injuries at the workplace. Despite the inherent dangers of the job, construction site employees have a right to expect safe working conditions, which includes training for all workers, thorough work site coordination, effective communication, and enforcement of safety procedures and inspection protocols. Unfortunately, many injuries occur when these expectations are not met, and as the result of faulty equipment, equipment misuse, lack of training, and inadequate communication and site coordination

Some of the most common workplace injuries on construction sites involve:

  • Falls
  • Slips and trips
  • Electrocution
  • Fires and explosions
  • Compressed gas injuries
  • Equipment failure
  • Equipment misuse
  • Swinging or moving equipment
  • Worker fatigue or inattention
  • Scaffolding accidents
  • Hoist accidents
  • Shaft accidents

Achieving and maintaining the highest level of safety on construction sites is imperative to protecting the millions of Americans who work on them. On many projects, there are scores of subcontractors, vendors, and workers working different jobs to advance the project, which means that strict, well-conveyed safety rules are a necessity for protecting workers. Coordinating work and safety protocols among multiple trades and ensuring that every subcontractor on site is following good safety practices can be a challenge, which is why busy construction sites often become hazardous and all too often workers sustain crippling, life-changing injuries.

Your Benefit Eligibility for Workplace Injuries

Injuries that occur during work are likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. If you suspect fault lies with other responsible parties, then you might have grounds to file a third-party workplace accident lawsuit. Engaging an experienced lawyer from the start will set your third-party case up for success.

Identifying Responsible Third Parties

While workers’ compensation is a no-fault form of insurance designed to help injured workers, the benefits only cover medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, even if you’re not responsible for the injury. Where a third party (i.e., not you, your employer, or a coworker) is responsible for your injury, they can be held accountable in a separate lawsuit outside of workers’ comp.

Third-parties who might be responsible for your construction site injury include:

  1. The property/site owner
  2. The general/prime contractor
  3. Other subcontractors or vendors
  4. Employees or workers of any of the above
  5. The site or project manager overseeing the project
  6. The architect, engineer, or consultant designing the project specifications
  7. Machinery and equipment sellers, distributors, and manufacturers

Pursuing legal claims against third-parties responsible for your injuries can be particularly important because workers’ compensation will not compensate you for pain and suffering. In a lawsuit against a liable third party, that entity may be responsible for compensating you for damages not recoverable from your employer via workers’ comp, including pain and suffering.

Establishing Liability

Since multiple contractors and companies will touch the same job sites, and often work at the same time or in sequence, there can be multiple layers of liability and plenty of finger pointing when an injury occurs. This is why victims should consult with a lawyer who can determine who bears the liability for job site injuries. This will involve identifying: (1) what duty the injured person was owed and by whom; (2) how the duty was breached; and (3) how that breach caused the injuries. These are complex legal matters that require seasoned guidance.

Generally speaking, to prove that another party is liable to you in a construction accident case, you’ll have to demonstrate how they acted negligently (was it on-site, in a failure of training or communication, or by a defectively-manufactured piece of equipment?); how their conduct or equipment caused your accident; and finally, that you suffered harm or injury as a result.

What to Do Following a Construction Site Accident

After an accident, follow these tips to ensure your safety and rights:

  1. Address any medical concerns and injuries with a doctor right away. Not all injuries may be obvious or apparent, and you’ll want to avoid preventable injuries or exacerbating them.
  2. Report the accident and any injuries or damages to your employer, the property owner, and/or a site manager. Be sure to note who you gave the report to and when it was received.
  3. Identify any witnesses to your accident and locate and keep their contact information.
  4. Take photographs of your injuries, the accident scene and surrounding area, and any equipment or special tools that were involved in your accident or that you were using at the time.
  5. Request copies of any worksite accident report and double check the information for accuracy.
  6. Contact an experienced construction site accident attorney who can help you fill out the proper reports, check for inaccuracies in the reporting, and ensure you are compensated for your injuries.

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Contact the Almonti Law Group today to handle your personal injury cases with diligence, compassion, and fire.


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