Construction sites in Los Angeles are among the most dangerous workplaces in California, filled with heavy machinery, elevated work, and constant activity. When a construction accident injures a worker, a subcontractor, or a passerby, the consequences are often severe and the question of who is responsible can be complicated. If you were hurt on or near a Los Angeles construction site, a construction accident lawyer at Callahan & Blaine, PC can help you understand your rights and pursue full compensation. You can review our full range of injury services on our Los Angeles personal injury page.
Callahan & Blaine, PC has represented injured Californians since 1984, and our practice is led by trial attorney Edward Susolik, recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers. With more than 32 attorneys and a background in insurance and bad faith litigation, our team is prepared to take on construction companies, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and the insurers who defend them.
Why Construction Accident Cases Are Different
Construction injury claims are unusual in personal injury law because of how they interact with workers’ compensation. Many people hurt on a construction site are not traditional employees, and even those who are may have claims beyond the workers’ compensation system. Workers’ compensation covers medical care and a portion of lost wages, but it does not pay for pain and suffering, and it does not depend on proving fault. A personal injury or third-party claim, by contrast, can recover the full range of damages when someone other than your direct employer contributed to the accident. Sorting out which claims apply, and pursuing them together where the law allows, is the heart of a construction accident case.
Common Causes of Los Angeles Construction Accidents
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies four categories, often called the Fatal Four, that account for most construction fatalities. Our Los Angeles construction accident attorneys handle cases across all of these and more.
Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and unprotected edges are the leading cause of construction deaths.
Falling tools, swinging loads, and moving vehicles or equipment strike workers and bystanders alike.
Contact with live wires, faulty equipment, and unmarked power sources causes severe electrical injuries.
Trench collapses and workers caught in or between machinery or materials cause crushing injuries.
A construction accident often traces back to more than one failure, such as a missing guardrail combined with inadequate training or a defective piece of equipment. When a construction company, contractor, or manufacturer fails to follow OSHA regulations and California building codes, that failure can establish the negligence at the center of a claim.
Who Can File a Los Angeles Construction Accident Claim
One of the first questions in any construction case is who is eligible to bring a claim and against whom. Not everyone injured on a construction site is limited to workers’ compensation, and many have more than one option.
- Non-employees, including day laborers, independent contractors, subcontractors, site visitors, passersby, and nearby residents, generally must pursue a personal injury claim rather than workers’ compensation.
- Injured workers with a third-party claim can pursue that claim even while receiving workers’ compensation, when a party other than their direct employer shares responsibility.
- People harmed by defective equipment may bring a product liability claim against the manufacturer, for example when a failed crane part or defective tool causes the accident.
- Bystanders and pedestrians injured by unsafe conditions near a site can file a personal injury claim against the responsible construction company or property owner.
Accepting workers’ compensation does not bar you from pursuing a third party that shares liability for your injuries. Identifying every responsible party is often what determines the full value of a construction accident claim.
Common Construction Accident Injuries
The forces involved in a construction accident frequently cause serious, lasting harm. Victims may suffer spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, crush injuries, amputations, broken bones, burns, and internal injuries. Many of these conditions require surgery and long-term rehabilitation and can permanently affect a person’s ability to work. When an injury is severe or permanent, our catastrophic injury attorneys account for future treatment and lost earning capacity, and when a construction accident is fatal, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim.
What to Do After a Construction Accident in Los Angeles
The steps you take after a construction accident can protect both your health and your claim. Seek medical attention right away, even for injuries that seem minor, and report the accident to your supervisor or the site manager so an incident report is created. If you are able, photograph the scene, the equipment involved, and your injuries, and get the names of any witnesses. Preserve any equipment or defective parts if you can, since they may be evidence. Because a construction company and its insurer may act quickly to limit their exposure, it helps to speak with a Los Angeles construction accident attorney before giving a recorded statement, so that evidence at an active site is preserved before it changes or disappears.
Meet Edward Susolik, Los Angeles Construction Accident Attorney
Edward Susolik
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Senior Trial Attorney, Callahan & Blaine, PC
Edward Susolik leads the trial practice at Callahan & Blaine, PC and has spent his career representing injured people and policyholders against insurers and corporate defendants. He has been recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers for many consecutive years, and his background in insurance and bad faith litigation helps our Los Angeles construction accident clients hold construction companies, contractors, and their insurers accountable.
Working alongside a firm of more than 32 attorneys, Mr. Susolik and the Callahan & Blaine, PC team prepare each construction injury matter for trial from the start, which gives clients a stronger position in negotiation and a firm ready for the courtroom when an insurer will not offer a fair result.
Damages Available After a Construction Accident in California
California law allows construction accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages through a personal injury or third-party claim. Economic damages cover measurable losses such as past and future medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages address pain, suffering, emotional distress, and the reduced quality of life that a serious injury brings. Where a defendant’s conduct was especially reckless, punitive damages may also be available. These categories of recovery go well beyond what workers’ compensation alone provides, which is one reason identifying a third-party claim matters so much.
How Callahan & Blaine, PC Approaches Your Construction Accident Case
Acting quickly matters, both to preserve evidence at an active construction site and to meet California’s two-year statute of limitations for injury claims. Our team explains how fees work during your first meeting so you can make an informed decision before you decide to move forward.
1Investigation. We obtain incident reports, collect witness statements, review site and video evidence, and work with reconstruction professionals to establish how the accident happened.
2Determining Liability. We identify every responsible party, whether the construction company, a contractor, a property owner, or an equipment manufacturer, and the claims available against each.
3Negotiation. We document your losses and negotiate with the insurers for a settlement that reflects the full extent of your current and future needs.
4Trial. If the insurers will not offer a fair result, our trial-ready preparation means we are prepared to present your case to a jury.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a workers' compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit after a construction accident?
Workers' compensation covers medical expenses and partial lost wages, but not pain and suffering. A personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party, such as a subcontractor or equipment manufacturer, can recover full damages, including pain and suffering. In many construction accidents, both claims can be pursued simultaneously.
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim in Los Angeles?
Personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years of the accident. Workers' comp claims have separate administrative deadlines. Claims against government entities typically require filing within six months. Construction cases require immediate evidence preservation, so contact Callahan & Blaine as soon as possible after your accident.
What compensation can I recover after a construction accident in Los Angeles?
You may recover medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving third-party negligence or extreme misconduct, punitive damages may also be available. Callahan & Blaine will evaluate every factor in your case to pursue maximum recovery on your behalf.
Can a bystander or passerby injured near a Los Angeles construction site file a claim?
Yes. Bystanders, pedestrians, and passersby injured by unsafe conditions near a construction site can file a personal injury claim. Liable parties may include the construction company, property owner, subcontractor, or equipment manufacturer. Callahan & Blaine represent both workers and non-workers injured at Los Angeles construction sites.
Contact the Los Angeles Construction Accident Attorneys at Callahan & Blaine, PC
Callahan & Blaine, PC has represented injured Californians since 1984, and our practice is led by trial attorney Edward Susolik, recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers. With more than 32 attorneys and deep experience in insurance and bad faith litigation, our Los Angeles team is prepared to stand up to construction companies, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and their insurers, and to recover the full compensation our clients are owed.
Construction site evidence can change quickly and California law limits the time you have to act, so do not wait to protect your claim. Contact Us to Submit Your Potential Case, and a member of our team will review what happened and explain the options available to you.
