A construction site injury can upend your health, your income, and your family’s security all at once, and a Philadelphia construction accident lawyer at Wapner Newman is ready to help you pursue full accountability.
Construction is among the most dangerous work in the region, and when a fall, a falling object, or unsafe equipment injures you, more than one party may owe you compensation. We have fought for injured workers and their families across Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1978.
You concentrated on doing your job safely, and someone else’s carelessness put you in harm’s way. Call us at 800-529-6600 for a free consultation to learn what your claim may be worth.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONWhy Choose Wapner Newman for Your Philadelphia Construction Accident Case?
What Counts as a Construction Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?
A construction accident claim is a personal injury case that seeks compensation from a party whose negligence caused an injury on or around a construction site. This is separate from any benefits you may receive through your employer. When a third party such as a property owner, a general contractor, a subcontractor, or an equipment maker contributed to your injury, you may have a claim against that party in addition to those benefits.
That distinction matters, because a third-party claim can reach categories of compensation that workplace benefits do not, including pain and suffering. Injured workers are often told that a single source of recovery is all they have, which is not always true.
Sorting out who is responsible, and which claims are available to you, is exactly the review we provide at no cost. The sooner we start, the more of the evidence we can protect.
What Are the Most Common Construction Accident Injuries?
The most common construction accidents trace back to a set of hazards so well known that federal regulators call them the leading causes of death in the industry. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration groups them as the Focus Four: falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in or caught-between incidents, and electrocutions. When contractors ignore the safeguards meant to control these hazards, workers pay the price.
The injuries we see most often include:
- Falls from heights, from scaffolds, ladders, and roofs, which OSHA addresses through fall protection standards that are frequently violated.
- Struck-by injuries from falling tools, materials, or swinging loads.
- Caught-in or caught-between injuries involving trench collapses, machinery, or heavy equipment.
- Electrocutions and burns from exposed wiring, power lines, and faulty equipment.
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries that can change a person’s abilities for life.
Any one of these can lead to surgeries, permanent limits, and a long road back to work, if a return is possible at all. We build claims that reflect the true weight of these injuries.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Construction Site Injury?
Responsibility for a construction site injury frequently extends well beyond the injured worker’s own employer. A typical job site brings together property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and equipment suppliers, and each of them owes duties that, when ignored, can cause serious harm. Identifying every negligent party is what makes a third-party claim possible.
Parties who may share responsibility include:
- Property owners who allowed known hazards to persist on the site.
- General contractors and subcontractors who failed to follow safety rules or coordinate the work safely.
- Equipment manufacturers whose defective machinery, tools, or safety gear failed.
- Other contractors on site whose crews created the danger that hurt you.
When several parties share the blame, Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rules decide how responsibility is divided, and you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. We pursue each party whose negligence played a part so that no source of recovery is left on the table.
How We Investigate Construction Accident Cases
A strong construction accident case is built on evidence gathered quickly, before a busy job site changes and paperwork disappears. In our decades representing injured workers in Philadelphia, we have found that scenes are cleaned, equipment is repaired or removed, and records are revised within days of an incident. Moving early is not optional.
Our investigation typically involves:
- Securing incident reports, OSHA filings, and safety records before they can be altered.
- Inspecting the equipment and the site while conditions remain close to how they were.
- Interviewing coworkers and other witnesses while events are fresh.
- Consulting engineers and safety professionals who can explain what failed and why.
We then connect that proof to the full cost of your injury, from your medical needs to the wages and future you have lost. Careful, early work is what turns a difficult claim into a recoverable one.
Where Do Construction Accidents Happen in and Around Philadelphia?
Construction accidents happen wherever the region is building, and Philadelphia has been building steadily for years. High-rise projects rise across Center City, road crews work the Schuylkill Expressway, I-95, and Roosevelt Boulevard, and residential development pushes through neighborhoods like Fishtown and Northern Liberties. Each of these sites brings its own mix of heights, heavy machinery, and tight timelines that raise the risk when safety is cut short.
The settings where we see the most serious injuries include:
- Commercial high-rise and office construction, where falls from height and crane or hoist failures cause catastrophic harm.
- Road and highway work, where crews face passing traffic along with heavy equipment.
- Residential and mixed-use development, where fast schedules can push safety aside.
- Renovation and demolition projects, where older structures hide unexpected dangers.
Pressure to finish on time and under budget is a common thread running through these injuries. When a contractor speeds up the work by skipping fall protection, ignoring a trench safety rule, or rushing an inexperienced crew, the danger lands on the workers. Our job is to trace that decision back to the party responsible and hold it accountable for the harm it caused.
How Is a Third-Party Claim Different From Other Injury Benefits?
A third-party construction accident claim is different because it targets a negligent party other than your employer, and it can reach losses that other injury benefits leave out. Certain workplace benefits may cover a portion of medical costs and lost wages, but they typically do not pay for the pain, suffering, and full loss of quality of life a serious injury causes. A third-party claim can.
This matters because construction injuries are often life-changing, and the gap between partial benefits and full compensation can be enormous. When a subcontractor, a property owner, or an equipment manufacturer caused your injury, pursuing that party directly may be the only path to a complete recovery.
We look at every source of responsibility for your injury, then build the claim that captures the fullest recovery the facts allow. You should not settle for a fraction of what your injury has cost when another party’s negligence is to blame.
Why Choose Wapner Newman for Your Construction Accident Claim?
Injured workers choose us because construction cases are complex, and we have the depth and determination these claims require. Wapner Newman has represented the injured for more than 45 years, and in that time we have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients. Prior results do not predict or promise the outcome of any future case, but they show a firm that stands up to large contractors and their insurers.
What you can expect from us:
- We come to you. If your injury makes travel hard, we will meet you at home or in the hospital anywhere in our service area, arrange your transportation, or meet by video.
- A full team on your side, so your case never stalls and your questions never go unanswered.
- Clear, straight talk about your claim and your choices at every stage.
Our approach to every client reflects a simple idea: serious injuries, serious results. Call 800-529-6600 and let us get to work.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Construction Accident?
A third-party construction accident claim can recover the wide range of losses a serious job site injury causes. Because these injuries are often severe and long-lasting, the value of a claim reflects both the bills you can count today and the costs that will follow you for years.
Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity if you cannot return to your trade.
- Pain, suffering, and the loss of activities you can no longer enjoy.
- The costs of adapting to a permanent disability, such as home or vehicle modifications.
When a construction accident takes a worker’s life, surviving family members may bring a claim under Pennsylvania’s wrongful death law. We measure these losses fully and refuse to let an insurer shortchange what your recovery truly demands.
How Long Do You Have to File a Construction Accident Claim?
In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a construction injury lawsuit under the state’s statute of limitations. If you let that window close, the court can refuse to hear your claim, even a strong one. Some claims, such as those involving a government project or a public entity, carry shorter notice deadlines that can arrive far sooner.
Two years may sound generous, but construction sites change fast and the proof your case needs can vanish just as quickly. Speaking with us soon after an injury protects your deadline and the evidence together. Call 800-529-6600 to find out where you stand.
FAQs Answered by Our Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers
These are questions injured workers ask us most often after a construction site accident.
Can I file a claim if I already receive benefits through my employer?
Often, yes. Benefits from your employer do not prevent you from bringing a separate claim against a negligent third party, such as a subcontractor or an equipment maker. A third-party claim can also reach losses that workplace benefits do not cover, so it is worth having us review your situation.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
You can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. Pennsylvania reduces your award by your share of the fault rather than barring it outright. Insurers tend to exaggerate a worker’s fault, which is one reason having representation helps.
What if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Your immigration status does not erase your right to pursue a construction accident claim in Pennsylvania. Injured workers are generally protected regardless of status, and we handle these cases with discretion. We are glad to talk through your concerns in a free, private consultation.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Your consultation is free, and we handle construction accident claims on a contingency basis. Our attorney fee is a percentage of what we recover for you, so there is nothing to pay up front. If we do not recover for you, you owe us no attorney fee.
Should I give a statement to the insurance company?
Be cautious. Insurers often ask for recorded statements early, and their questions are designed to limit what they pay. It is wise to speak with us before giving any statement, so your words are not used to reduce or deny your claim.
Talk With a Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer Today
A construction accident can take your health and your livelihood in an instant, but you do not have to face the recovery alone. At Wapner Newman, we will identify every responsible party, protect the evidence, and fight for the full compensation you and your family need. Your consultation is free, and you owe no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Call Wapner Newman now at 800-529-6600, or reach us through our contact page to schedule your free consultation. Let us shoulder the legal fight while you focus on getting better.