Get hurt on a job site, and a San Francisco construction accident lawyer can often help you recover a lot more than workers’ compensation by itself. At Shea & Shea, our construction accident attorneys have been trying catastrophic injury cases since 1966. We go after third-party lawsuits that hold negligent contractors, property owners, and manufacturers accountable.
A serious construction injury turns your whole life upside down. The medical bills pile up, your paycheck disappears, and suddenly your family’s future feels shaky. You deserve straight answers about your options and trial lawyers who will actually fight for what you’re owed.
Key Takeaways
- Injured workers can often file a third-party lawsuit in addition to workers’ comp.
- Third-party claims can recover pain, suffering, and full lost earnings.
- Multiple parties may be liable beyond your direct employer.
- California gives you two years to file most injury lawsuits.
- Shea & Shea has tried construction and catastrophic injury cases since 1966.
Common Construction Accidents in San Francisco
The city’s packed high-rise construction makes almost every job site risky. Tight urban lots, deep foundations, and towering cranes only stack the odds against workers.
A San Francisco construction injury lawyer tends to see the same devastating accidents over and over:
- Falls from height — the leading cause of construction deaths nationwide<sup>1</sup>
- Scaffolding collapses requiring a scaffolding accident lawyer
- Crane and heavy equipment accidents involving a crane accident attorney or heavy equipment accident lawyer
- Electrocution and arc-flash burns leading to an electrocution injury claim
- Trench collapse injury from unshored excavations
- Falling objects striking workers below
- Being caught in machinery or between vehicles
These accidents almost never come down to bad luck. Trace them back far enough and you’ll usually find a safety shortcut or an OSHA construction violation at the root.
Catastrophic Injuries These Accidents Cause
The injuries our clients live with are life-altering, not minor scrapes. As a catastrophic injury lawyer, our firm concentrates on the most serious cases.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from falls and impacts
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Amputations from machinery and equipment
- Severe burns from electrocution and fires
- Wrongful death, where a wrongful death attorney helps grieving families file a construction site fatality claim
Injuries this severe call for a serious injury law firm with real trial experience behind it.
Who Is Liable for a Construction Site Accident?
Working out who’s liable in a construction accident means digging into the entire scene. Your employer is rarely the only party at fault, and often isn’t even the one you can sue directly.
Potentially liable parties include:
- General contractors who failed to enforce safety plans
- Subcontractors whose crews created hazards
- Property owners, where a premises liability lawyer proves unsafe conditions
- Equipment manufacturers, through a product liability claim for defective machinery
- Other negligent third parties on the site
Third-party liability is really the backbone of a strong case. A construction site accident lawyer moves fast to preserve evidence, pull the Cal/OSHA reports, and pin down every party whose negligence played a part. Not sure what kind of lawyer do I need? Start with a firm that handles both premises liability and product defects.
Workers’ Comp vs. a Third-Party Injury Lawsuit
A lot of injured workers figure workers’ comp is the end of the road. It isn’t. Getting a handle on the workers’ comp vs. lawsuit question can seriously change what you walk away with.
A workers compensation attorney gets you medical care and partial wage benefits no matter who was at fault. But a third-party injury claim — one filed against someone other than your employer — opens the door to full damages that comp will never cover.
| Feature | Workers’ Compensation | Third-Party Lawsuit |
| Who you claim against | Your employer’s insurer | A negligent third party |
| Fault required | No | Yes |
| Medical expenses | Covered | Covered in full |
| Lost wages | Partial | Full past and future |
| Pain and suffering | Not covered | Recoverable |
| Typical recovery size | Limited | Substantially larger |
Here’s the key part: you can pursue both at the same time. That’s exactly where an experienced construction injury attorney in San Francisco earns their keep.
Compensation Available After a Construction Injury
A well-built construction injury claim can capture the full cost of your accident — the money and the human toll alike. A job site accident lawyer backs up each type of damage with medical and vocational evidence.
Construction accident compensation may include:
- Medical expenses, current and future
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability and disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
In most cases, California gives you two years from the injury date to file a lawsuit, so moving quickly protects your claim. Take a look at how to maximize your claim compensation before you sign off on any early offer.
Why Choose Shea & Shea for Your Construction Accident Case
Shea & Shea has stood up for seriously injured people and grieving families across the Bay Area since 1966. We’re trial lawyers — not a high-volume settlement mill that nudges clients into quick, lowball deals.
Our Bay Area injury attorneys build every construction and industrial accident case as though it’s headed for a jury. That kind of preparation is what has produced significant verdicts and settlements for our catastrophic injury clients.
Insurers keep track of which firms actually try cases and which don’t. So when you search for a construction accident lawyer near me, pick counsel with a track record to back it up. Before you hire anyone, it’s worth reading when to hire a personal injury lawyer and how to vet an attorney.
Contact Shea & Shea for a Free, Confidential Consultation About Your Construction Accident Case
You shouldn’t have to face medical bills and lost income on your own while insurers guard their bottom line. Reach out to Shea & Shea today for a free, confidential consultation with an SF construction accident attorney who gets what you’re going through and knows how to win.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a construction accident lawyer in San Francisco cost?
Shea & Shea works on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing upfront. Your construction accident attorney only collects a fee if we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is always free and confidential.
Can I sue if I already received workers’ compensation for my construction injury?
Yes. Accepting workers’ comp does not prevent you from filing a third-party injury claim against a negligent contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer. Many injured workers pursue both, and a personal injury lawyer coordinates the two so your comp benefits are properly handled.
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim in California?
You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in California. Wrongful death claims also follow a two-year deadline. Deadlines can be shorter when a public entity is involved, so speak with a workplace injury attorney quickly.
Who can be held responsible for a construction site accident?
Liability can extend to general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and other third parties. A San Francisco workplace accident often involves several negligent parties. Identifying each one is central to a strong construction injury claim.
What is my construction accident case worth?
The average construction injury settlement varies widely based on injury severity, lost earnings, and liability. Catastrophic cases involving paralysis, TBI, or wrongful death can reach substantial verdicts. Review what every accident victim needs to know and let our team evaluate your case for free.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.