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Were you or someone you love hurt in a construction accident?

If you got hurt on a job site, or a family member did, you are in the right place.

Are you in an emergency right now?

  • Call 911 immediately for any serious injury.
  • Do not move an injured worker unless they are in immediate danger, especially with a suspected back, neck, or head injury.
  • Get the area secured so no one else gets hurt.
  • Get medical care even if the injury seems minor.
  • This page is for after you are safe.

This page covers construction accident claim deadlines and what to do right now. We are the injured person's advocate. We connect you with a lawyer who handles cases like yours, so you get the full settlement your recovery deserves. Always free. Talk to an advocate. We usually reply within minutes, at most one business day.

Construction is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. In 2023, 1,075 construction workers died on the job, and slips, trips, and falls caused about 39% of those deaths (BLS). One out of every five workplace deaths in the United States happens in construction (OSHA).

Why construction accident claims are tricky

OSHA calls the top four causes of construction deaths the "Fatal Four": falls, struck-by incidents, electrocution, and caught-in/between accidents. Together they account for well over half of all construction deaths each year (OSHA). Falls alone cause roughly 37 to 39% of the total.

Workers' compensation usually pays for medical care and some lost wages after a job site injury, no matter who was at fault. It often does not cover pain and suffering or the full value of lost future income. Many companies share a job site: your employer, a general contractor, a subcontractor, an equipment maker, or a property owner. Someone other than your own employer may have caused your injury. A claim against one of those other parties is called a third-party claim, a separate path from workers' compensation. In some cases you may be able to pursue both at once. Talk to an advocate to find out if a third-party claim applies to you. For the broader basics of workplace claims, see our work injury guide.

Protect your case

  1. Get medical care right away, even if the injury seems minor at first. This visit documents your injury.
  2. Talk to an advocate at WeHelpInjured. It is free.
  3. Report the injury to your employer in writing and ask for a copy of the incident report.
  4. Take photos of the scene, the equipment involved, and any missing safety gear, if it is safe to do so.
  5. Write down what happened while it is fresh, including names of coworkers who saw it.
  6. Warning: don't wait! The filing deadline is a trap, and construction cases often carry two clocks: workers' compensation and any third-party claim. Miss either one and waiting kills cases. The longer you wait, the fuzzier memories get and coworker witnesses move on. Talk to an advocate immediately. And important: medical claims can have different, often shorter deadlines. Do not assume the standard rule covers a hospital or doctor case. Find your state on our state pages.

Never do these

What real construction accident cases have paid

These are publicly reported results. They are examples only. No one can promise or predict what any case is worth, and many cases resolve for far less.

Serious construction injuries carry serious lifetime costs, and the system can account for them when a case is handled well.

When the process goes wrong: a true story

Christopher Carter worked as a mining equipment mechanic in Great Falls, Montana. In July 2012, his left foot got pulled into a conveyor belt at a gravel pit. A podiatrist recommended a simple cortisone shot for the swelling and pain. Instead, his insurer kept sending him to different doctors for more exams. More than two years later, he still had not gotten the shot, even though four separate doctors had recommended it. He eventually settled for $46,250 to cover his unpaid bills and future wage loss, and his injury still affects how he walks today (ProPublica). A claims process can stall out even when the medical need is clear. Talk to an advocate so you know which deadlines apply and what to watch for.

What we can help with

We help you understand what documentation supports your claim, learn about state benefits you may qualify for, and figure out whether a third-party claim applies, connecting you with a lawyer who handles cases like yours. All of it is free to you. We never take money from injured people.

Talk to an advocate. A construction accident can turn your life upside down fast.

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