Construction Accidents in Pennsylvania
A construction injury in Pennsylvania often opens two doors at once: workers' compensation from your employer and a possible lawsuit against a negligent third party.
What you should know
Workers' compensation generally provides benefits regardless of fault but bars suing your own employer. However, if a third party — such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — caused the injury, a separate civil claim for full damages may be possible alongside the comp claim.
What typically causes them
- Falls from scaffolding and heights
- Struck-by falling objects
- Electrocution
- Trench and excavation collapses
- Defective equipment
- Crane and machinery accidents
Injuries we see
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Amputations
- Burns
- Fatal injuries
Steps to take after a construction accidents
- 1
Report the injury to your employer immediately
- 2
Get medical care and follow restrictions
- 3
Document the site and equipment involved
- 4
Identify all contractors on site
- 5
Keep records of lost wages
- 6
Consult an attorney about third-party claims
Workers' comp is usually the exclusive remedy against an employer, but third-party negligence claims can recover pain and suffering that comp does not. OSHA findings can support the case.
Comp covers medical care and a portion of lost wages; a third-party claim can add pain and suffering and full wage loss.
In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (42 Pa.C.S. § 5524). Missing this deadline usually bars your claim entirely, so it is critical to act well before it runs.
Keep reading before you talk to an adjuster
Don't let a Pennsylvania construction accidents ruin your future.
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