Taunton Construction Accident Attorney

One Site Injury May Lead to Two Different Claims

A construction-site injury can leave a worker facing medical treatment, missed paychecks, and uncertainty about returning to work. Massachusetts workers’ compensation may address a covered employment injury. If negligence by a contractor, equipment manufacturer, driver, or another party contributed to the accident, a separate personal injury claim may also apply. We assess these possibilities together for injured workers and their families in Taunton.

Reporting the accident, obtaining medical care, and preserving information about the site shouldn’t wait. An early legal review can identify possible sources of compensation, clarify what to provide to an employer or insurer, and avoid treating a company’s initial position as the final answer.

Construction Hazards That Can Cause Life-Changing Injuries

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in or caught-between incidents, and electrocution as four primary construction hazard categories. Workers also face risks from elevated surfaces, energized systems, moving vehicles, heavy machinery, and hazardous materials.

We handle matters involving incidents such as:

• Falling debris and unsecured materials
• Scaffolding and ladder falls
• Crane and heavy equipment accidents
• Electrocution and electric shock
• Fires, explosions, and hazardous materials
• Loading and unloading accidents
• Motor vehicle and work-zone collisions

These events can cause crushed or amputated limbs, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, burns, vision loss, hearing damage, and injuries to the back, face, or neck. Some workers lose mobility or develop permanent disabilities. We also represent families after fatal construction accidents and assess claims involving members of the public injured in work zones.

How Workers’ Compensation & Other Liability Claims Fit Together

Massachusetts workers’ compensation generally addresses covered injuries arising from employment. A third-party claim instead seeks to hold someone other than the worker’s employer responsible for negligence that caused or contributed to the accident. Depending on the facts, an injured worker may be able to pursue both claims.

The responsible third party might be another contractor or an equipment manufacturer. In other cases, liability may involve a subcontractor, architect, engineer, property owner, or driver. The analysis can turn on who controlled the work, who owned the equipment, and what caused the incident.

Workers’ compensation and personal injury cases also involve different legal standards and forms of compensation. Medical expenses, lost income, disability, pain and suffering, and other losses may be treated differently under each claim. We examine every available path rather than assuming workers’ compensation is the entire case.

Why Prompt Evidence Preservation Matters

A work site can look different within hours of an accident. Equipment may be moved, temporary structures dismantled, and witnesses reassigned. A prompt investigation can preserve details that explain what happened and who controlled the relevant work.

We investigate incidents using available police reports, company documents, insurance records, medical evidence, and other relevant information. When appropriate, we work with incident-reconstruction professionals and other consultants to analyze the site, equipment, or sequence of events.

Useful records may include:

• Scene documentation: Photographs or video showing the work area, machinery, barriers, scaffolding, debris, or visible hazards.
• Witness information: Names, contact details, and accounts from coworkers, supervisors, drivers, or bystanders.
• Medical documentation: Emergency care, diagnoses, treatment plans, restrictions, and records connecting the injuries to the incident.
• Employment information: Wage records, missed-work dates, job duties, and communications about the accident.
• Equipment records: Inspection, maintenance, ownership, and operating information when machinery or tools were involved.

Reporting an Injury & Protecting Your Filing Rights

An injured worker should report the accident to the employer, seek appropriate medical attention, and retain copies of medical, wage, and insurance records. According to the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, an employee may file a workers’ compensation claim if the employer hasn’t filed one, the insurer has denied it, or at least 30 calendar days have passed since the injury.

Massachusetts generally requires a workers’ compensation claim to be filed with the insurer within four years of when the injured person becomes aware of the connection between the injury or illness and employment. Statutory provisions and case-specific exceptions can affect that period. A personal injury claim follows separate requirements, so one deadline shouldn’t be assumed to govern every part of the case.

More Than 30 Years Serving Clients Across Massachusetts

We have served individuals, families, and businesses throughout Massachusetts for more than 30 years. At Percy Law Group, PC, we handle workers’ compensation and related personal injury cases, investigate construction accidents, and use medical testimony or other professional analysis when appropriate.

Clients remain involved in the decisions that shape their cases. We communicate by phone, email, and text, explain developments in practical terms, and tailor our strategy to the facts of each claim. We can also communicate with Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking clients.

Get a Clear Review of Your Construction Accident

During a free initial consultation, we can review whether workers’ compensation, a separate liability claim, or both may apply. We serve clients in Taunton and throughout Massachusetts, with home or hospital visits available when needed. These cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, so there are no attorneys’ fees unless compensation is obtained.