Construction workers face serious hazards every day: falls, heavy equipment, electrical risks, trench collapses, falling materials, unsafe scaffolds, and dangerous worksite conditions. After a serious injury, workers’ compensation may provide basic benefits, but it may not be the only available claim.
Grossman Law Offices helps injured construction workers in Fresno and across the Central Valley understand every possible path to recovery. That may include workers’ compensation benefits, a third-party personal injury claim, or both.
Call (800) 462-5555 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Quick Facts for California Construction Accident Victims
Can a construction worker sue after a jobsite injury?
Sometimes. Workers’ compensation is usually the main claim against your direct employer. A third-party lawsuit may be possible if a general contractor, property owner, subcontractor, equipment company, or another non-employer party contributed to the injury.
Does workers’ comp block every construction accident lawsuit?
No. Workers’ comp generally limits claims against your direct employer, but it does not automatically prevent claims against negligent third parties.
Can a general contractor be liable for my injury?
Possibly, but California law is specific. Under the Privette doctrine, a hirer is generally not liable for injuries to a contractor’s employees. Exceptions may apply when the hirer retained control and affirmatively contributed to the injury, concealed a dangerous condition, or provided unsafe equipment.
What are OSHA’s construction “Fatal Four”?
OSHA’s major construction hazard categories include falls, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in or caught-between accidents. These risks are common in serious and fatal construction accidents.
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim?
Most California personal injury claims must be filed within 2 years. Claims involving a government entity may require a government claim within 6 months. Workers’ compensation deadlines can be shorter, so early action matters.
What evidence is important in a construction accident case?
Important evidence may include photos, incident reports, Cal/OSHA records, contracts, safety plans, training documents, witness statements, equipment records, subcontractor agreements, and medical records.
What Construction Accident Cases Cover
Construction accident cases often involve more than one company. A worker may be employed by one subcontractor, injured on property controlled by another company, and hurt by equipment supplied or maintained by someone else.
Grossman Law Offices investigates the full jobsite structure so no responsible party is missed. We look at who controlled the work area, who created or knew about the hazard, who supplied the equipment, and who had the power to fix the safety problem.
Our construction accident practice includes:
Third-party jobsite injury claims
Cases involving general contractors, property owners, subcontractors, vendors, and other non-employer parties.
Falls and scaffold accidents
Claims involving ladders, roofs, scaffolds, platforms, openings, missing guardrails, and unsafe fall protection.
Electrical injury claims
Cases involving power lines, unsafe wiring, energized equipment, grounding failures, or electrical burns.
Trench and excavation accidents
Claims involving cave-ins, unstable soil, missing protective systems, and unsafe excavation practices.
Defective equipment claims
Cases involving cranes, forklifts, power tools, lifts, scaffolding systems, machinery, and other defective or poorly maintained equipment.
Wrongful death claims
Claims for families after fatal construction accidents.
How Grossman Law Offices Handles Construction Accident Cases
Free Consultation
We review what happened, answer your questions, and explain your legal options in English or Spanish.
Jobsite Investigation
We identify your employer, the general contractor, property owner, subcontractors, equipment providers, and other companies connected to the worksite.
Evidence Preservation
We move quickly to preserve photos, reports, equipment, inspection records, safety documents, video footage, and witness information.
Medical Documentation
We help make sure your injuries, treatment, restrictions, and long-term needs are clearly documented.
Claim Evaluation
We review whether the case involves workers’ compensation, a third-party civil claim, defective equipment, wrongful death, or multiple claims.
Negotiation or Litigation
We pursue fair compensation through settlement negotiations and prepare for litigation when the other side refuses to take responsibility.
Common Construction Accident Causes and Injuries
| Common Cause | Common Injuries |
|---|---|
| Falls involving ladders, scaffolds, roofs, platforms, or openings | Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, paralysis |
| Struck-by incidents involving tools, materials, vehicles, or falling debris | Head injuries, crush injuries, broken bones, internal trauma |
| Electrical hazards involving power lines, wiring, or equipment | Burns, cardiac injuries, nerve damage, fatal electrocution |
| Trench or excavation collapses | Crush injuries, suffocation injuries, fractures, wrongful death |
| Impaired driving | Post-accident testing records, police reports, witness observations |
| Distracted driving | Phone records, onboard cameras, ECM data, witness statements |
| Hazardous material exposure | Respiratory illness, chemical burns, long-term occupational disease |
Who May Have a Construction Accident Claim?
You may have a third-party civil claim if:
- You were injured on a jobsite involving multiple companies.
- A general contractor or property owner contributed to the unsafe condition.
- Another subcontractor caused or worsened the hazard.
- Defective equipment, tools, scaffolding, or machinery played a role.
- A safety violation by a non-employer party contributed to the injury.
- A family member died in a construction accident.
You may only have a workers’ compensation claim if the injury was caused solely by your direct employer or a co-worker employed by the same company. Every case depends on the jobsite facts, contracts, and safety responsibilities.
Construction Accident Damages and Case Value
The available compensation depends on the type of claim. Workers’ compensation provides certain benefits regardless of fault. A third-party civil lawsuit may allow recovery for additional losses.
| Type of Recovery | What It May Include |
|---|---|
| Workers’ compensation medical care | Treatment, surgery, therapy, prescriptions, and related medical needs |
| Temporary disability benefits | Partial wage replacement during recovery |
| Permanent disability benefits | Compensation for lasting impairment |
| Supplemental job displacement benefits | Past and future medical expenses in a civil claim |
| Lost income and earning capacity | Wage loss and long-term income loss in a civil claim |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life in a third-party claim |
| Wrongful death damages | Certain financial and personal losses after a fatal construction accident |
No lawyer should promise a case value without reviewing the evidence. Serious construction cases require a careful look at liability, medical needs, job restrictions, insurance coverage, and long-term impact.
California Construction Accident Deadlines
| Type of Issue | General Deadline or Timing Rule |
|---|---|
| Reporting a work injury | Report it as soon as possible; waiting more than 30 days can put benefits at risk |
| Workers’ compensation claim form | Your employer should provide a DWC-1 form within one working day after learning of the injury |
| Workers’ compensation deadlines | Some deadlines can be as short as one year, depending on the facts |
| Personal injury claim against a third party | Usually 2 years after the injury |
| Claim involving a government entity | Often requires a government claim within 6 months |
| Property damage claim | Usually 3 years after the damage |
| Injured minor | Deadlines may be extended, but the case should be reviewed quickly |
Evidence on construction sites can change fast. Equipment gets repaired, debris is cleared, subcontractors move to new jobs, and witnesses become harder to reach. It is best to act early.
Frequently Asked Questions About California Construction Accident Claims
The Privette doctrine is a California rule that often protects a property owner or general contractor from liability for injuries to an independent contractor’s employees. There are exceptions, so construction accident cases need a detailed legal review.
Evidence may include contracts, safety plans, site rules, inspection records, meeting notes, emails, witness statements, and proof that the contractor exercised control in a way that contributed to the injury.
More than one party may share fault. California allows fault to be divided among responsible parties, and each company’s role should be investigated before settlement.
Yes. A Cal/OSHA citation or investigation record can be useful evidence, but it is not the only way to prove a claim. A case may still exist even if no citation was issued.
Yes, qualifying family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim against responsible third parties. Workers’ compensation death benefits may also be available.
Some cases resolve through settlement. Others take longer because they involve multiple defendants, expert witnesses, serious injuries, or disputed fault. The timeline depends on the evidence, medical recovery, and court schedule.
Free Consultation With a Construction Accident Lawyer in Fresno
Grossman Law Offices has represented injured Californians since 1972 and has recovered more than $500 million for accident victims throughout the Central Valley. We provide direct, personal attention in English and Spanish, and you pay no attorney fees unless we win or settle your case.
If you were injured on a construction site in Fresno or the surrounding area, contact Grossman Law Offices today. We can review your case, explain your options, and help you understand every possible path to recovery.
