Construction accidents happen in seconds. A fall from scaffolding, a struck-by incident, or an electrical hazard can leave you facing catastrophic injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and an uncertain future. When negligence causes your construction accident in Los Angeles, you have legal options beyond workers’ compensation.
At Dordick Law Corporation, our experienced attorneys represent construction workers injured due to third-party negligence. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll construction accidents inflict on workers and their families. Our attorneys fight to hold negligent parties accountable and secure the maximum compensation you deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, contact Dordick Law Corporation today for a free consultation. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your legal rights, and discuss your options for recovery.
Why Construction Accidents Require Experienced Legal Representation
Construction accident claims differ fundamentally from standard personal injury cases. When you’re injured on a construction site, multiple parties may share liability. These include the general contractor, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, and safety supervisors. Determining who bears responsibility requires knowledge of construction industry practices, OSHA regulations, and California liability law.
Construction workers often believe workers’ compensation is their only recovery option. This misconception costs injured workers thousands of dollars in lost compensation. California law allows construction workers to pursue third-party liability claims against negligent parties other than their employer. These claims often yield significantly higher compensation than workers’ compensation benefits alone.
A construction accident attorney understands the distinction between workers’ compensation claims and third-party liability claims. We identify all liable parties, gather evidence of negligence, and pursue maximum compensation through settlement negotiation or litigation. Without experienced legal representation, insurance companies exploit injured workers’ lack of knowledge and offer inadequate settlements.
Common Causes of Construction Accidents in Los Angeles
Construction sites present constant hazards. Understanding how accidents occur helps establish negligence and liability. The most common construction accident causes include:
- Falls from heights—scaffolding collapses, ladder failures, inadequate fall protection, and roof accidents cause serious injuries and deaths
- Struck-by accidents—falling objects, equipment strikes, and vehicle accidents injure workers who lack proper warning systems or protective barriers
- Electrocution and electrical hazards—exposed wiring, inadequate grounding, and failure to de-energize equipment cause fatal injuries
- Caught-between accidents—workers trapped between machinery, in trenches, or under equipment suffer crushing injuries and amputations
- Equipment malfunctions and defects—defective tools, faulty machinery, and poorly maintained equipment cause preventable injuries
- Inadequate safety training or equipment—employers who fail to provide proper training, safety equipment, or hazard warnings bear responsibility for resulting injuries
These accidents often result from contractor negligence, inadequate safety protocols, failure to comply with OSHA standards, or defective equipment. Each scenario creates liability that injured workers can pursue through civil claims.
Understanding Liability in Construction Accident Cases
Establishing liability in construction accidents requires proving four essential elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Construction site operators, contractors, and equipment manufacturers owe a duty of care to workers. This duty requires compliance with OSHA standards, Cal/OSHA regulations, and industry safety practices.
A breach occurs when a party fails to meet this duty of care. Examples include failing to provide fall protection, operating defective equipment, inadequately training workers, or ignoring known hazards. Causation requires showing that the breach directly caused your injury. Damages are the injuries and losses you suffered as a result.
California law recognizes that multiple parties can share liability for a single accident. A general contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, and property owner might all bear some responsibility. Our attorneys investigate thoroughly to identify every liable party and pursue claims against each one.
Third-Party Liability vs. Workers’ Compensation
Construction workers injured due to third-party negligence can pursue claims beyond workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation provides limited benefits. These typically include two-thirds of your average weekly wage and medical expenses. These benefits don’t compensate for pain and suffering, permanent disability, or lost earning capacity.
Third-party liability claims allow recovery for all damages caused by negligence. You can recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, and emotional distress. Third-party claims often result in substantially higher compensation than workers’ compensation alone.
The key distinction is important. Workers’ compensation covers injuries arising from employment. Third-party claims target negligent parties other than your employer. If a defective tool caused your injury, you can sue the manufacturer. If another company’s negligence caused your accident, you can pursue a claim against that company. These opportunities exist alongside your workers’ compensation claim.
Types of Injuries and Compensation in Construction Accidents
Construction accidents cause severe, life-altering injuries. Common construction injury types include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma from falls or struck-by accidents
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis from falls or crushing accidents
- Severe burns from electrical contact or chemical exposure
- Amputations and loss of limb function from machinery or caught-between accidents
- Fractures and orthopedic injuries affecting mobility and earning capacity
- Internal injuries and organ damage from blunt force trauma
These injuries often result in permanent disability. You may require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and home modifications. The financial impact extends far beyond immediate medical bills.
California law allows injured construction workers to recover multiple categories of compensation. Medical expenses include emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, therapy, and future medical needs related to your injury. Lost wages compensate you for income lost during recovery and rehabilitation. Lost earning capacity addresses permanent disabilities that reduce your future income potential.
Pain and suffering damages recognize the physical agony and emotional distress you endure. Permanent disability and disfigurement damages account for lasting changes to your body and quality of life. In cases where a construction accident causes death, surviving family members can pursue wrongful death damages. These cover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.
The total compensation available depends on injury severity, medical expenses, lost wages, permanent disability status, and the strength of liability evidence. Serious construction accidents often result in six-figure or seven-figure settlements and verdicts. Our case results demonstrate the substantial compensation we’ve recovered for injured construction workers.
How Dordick Law Corporation Handles Your Construction Accident Case
Our approach to construction accident representation combines thorough investigation, expert coordination, and aggressive advocacy. We begin immediately after you contact us. We preserve evidence before it disappears and gather witness statements while memories are fresh.
We investigate the accident scene thoroughly. We document conditions, equipment, and safety violations. We obtain police reports, OSHA investigation files, and employer safety records. We interview witnesses and identify all parties who may bear liability. We work with construction safety experts who review industry standards and identify negligence.
We coordinate with medical experts and specialists who document your injuries and project long-term care needs. Life care planners develop detailed assessments of future medical and support requirements. Economic experts calculate the full value of your damages, including lost earning capacity over your lifetime.
We identify all liable parties. These include contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, and safety supervisors. We pursue claims against each party responsible for your injuries. We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies, presenting compelling evidence of liability and damages to maximize settlement value.
When insurers refuse fair offers, we prepare thoroughly for trial. We present complex medical evidence clearly to juries. We demonstrate how negligence caused your injuries and how those injuries impact your future. We fight for maximum compensation through litigation when necessary.
Throughout the process, we maintain open communication with you. We keep you informed of case developments, answer your questions promptly, and involve you in major decisions. We understand the emotional toll of construction accidents and treat each client with compassion and respect.
We represent construction accident victims on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront fees, no hourly charges, and no costs unless we recover compensation for you. We advance all investigation, expert, and litigation expenses. We recover these costs only if your case succeeds. This arrangement aligns our interests with yours—we only profit when you recover money.
Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Accidents
What should I do immediately after a construction accident?
Seek medical attention first, even if your injuries seem minor. Some serious injuries don’t manifest symptoms immediately. Report the accident to your employer and document the incident in writing. Take photographs of the accident scene, equipment, and your injuries. Gather contact information from witnesses who saw the accident. Preserve evidence—don’t allow the scene to be cleaned up or equipment to be repaired. Contact an experienced construction accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can advise you on protecting your rights and preserving evidence for your claim.
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim?
California law provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. This means you have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. Workers’ compensation claims have different timelines. You must report your injury to your employer within 30 days and file a claim within one year of the injury date. However, the statute of limitations for third-party liability claims is two years. Don’t delay—contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights.
Can I sue my employer for a construction accident?
California’s workers’ compensation system provides exclusive remedy protection for employers. This means you generally cannot sue your employer for a construction accident, even if the employer’s negligence caused your injury. However, important exceptions exist. You can sue third parties—contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, and other companies whose negligence contributed to your accident. You can also pursue claims against your employer in limited circumstances, such as when the employer intentionally caused your injury or violated specific safety statutes. An experienced attorney can identify all available claims in your situation.
What is the difference between workers' compensation and a personal injury lawsuit?
Workers’ compensation provides limited benefits. These typically include two-thirds of your average weekly wage and medical expenses. You don’t need to prove negligence to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, workers’ compensation doesn’t compensate for pain and suffering, permanent disability, or lost earning capacity. Personal injury lawsuits against third parties allow recovery for all damages caused by negligence. You can recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, and emotional distress. Third-party claims often result in substantially higher compensation than workers’ compensation alone. You can pursue both workers’ compensation and third-party claims simultaneously.
How much compensation can I recover from a construction accident?
Compensation varies widely based on injury severity, medical expenses, lost wages, permanent disability status, and liability strength. Serious construction accidents often result in six-figure or seven-figure settlements and verdicts. Factors affecting settlement value include the extent of your injuries and permanent disability, total medical expenses and future care costs, lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering and emotional distress, and the strength of liability evidence against defendants. An experienced attorney evaluates all these factors and pursues maximum compensation on your behalf. We can discuss your case’s potential value during a free consultation.
What if I was partially at fault for the construction accident?
California follows a pure comparative negligence doctrine under California Civil Code § 1431.2. This means you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you can recover $80,000. Insurance companies often exaggerate injured workers’ comparative fault to reduce settlement offers. An experienced attorney counters these arguments and protects your right to fair compensation even when partial fault exists.
Contact Dordick Law Corporation Today
If you’ve been injured in a construction accident in Los Angeles, don’t face the insurance company alone. Contact Dordick Law Corporation for a free consultation with an experienced construction accident lawyer. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your rights, and discuss your options for recovery. Call (310) 551-0949 or complete our online contact form to schedule your consultation. We’re ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
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