Image of an injured construction worker

Construction sites are inherently dangerous places. At any given time, the average construction site may have hundreds of people around significant hazards, including open heights, heavy machinery, unfinshed buildings, and dangerous chemicals. As a result, thousands of people are injured in construction site accidents each year, sometimes seriously. Construction workers who are injured in on-the-job accidents are generally limited to bringing claims through Washington State’s workers’ compensation program¹, the exclusive remedy for most workplace injuries. In some cases, however, workers who are injured in construction site accidents may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against 3^rd parties that cause or contribute to these accidents. To determine whether you have a claim, call the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess today at (206) 621-1110 in Seattle or (253) 572-1000 in Tacoma.

Common examples of 3^rd party claims in construction site accidents

There are a myriad of ways that the negligence of a 3^rd party could cause a preventable construction site accident that could cause serious injuries. Some of the most common construction accidents² include the following;

• Claims against construction equipment manufacturers – The construction industry uses thousands of products made by tool and equipment manufacturers that have the potential to cause injury. Under general product liability³ principles, manufacturers could be held liable for injuries caused by defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed products.
• Claims against independent contractors – Many construction companies use independent contractors to accomplish certain specialized tasks at construction sites. Because no employer-employee relationship exists between construction site workers and independent contractors, a construction worker injured by an independent contractor would likely be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit.
• Claims against construction site visitors – Similarly, injuries caused by the negligence of construction site visitors may give injured constriction site workers the right to sue.

In many cases, the recovery a person can obtain through a personal injury lawsuit is significantly more than that which would be available from a workers’ compensation claim, so it is important for victims to ensure that they explore all of their legal options.

Contact a Seattle and Tacoma personal injury law firm today to schedule a consultation

Anyone who has been injured in a construction site accident that they believe was the result of 3^rd party negligence should discuss their options with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. FOR A FREE 15-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS, CALL OUR SEATTLE OFFICE AT (206) 621-1110 OR OUR TACOMA OFFICE AT (253) 572-1000.

¹ https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=19
² https://thesandersfirm.com/construction-accidents/
³ https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=7.72