Pittsburgh Construction Accident Lawyers
Helping workers and passers-by who were injured on or near construction sites
There’s constant construction on Pittsburgh’s roads and bridges. New buildings for healthcare, technology, and other businesses seem to be going up constantly. These improvements come with a price. Construction accidents are a leading cause of deaths and catastrophic injuries. The public and private enterprises that own and control these construction projects have a duty to ensure the safety of their own workers, contractors and subcontractors, drivers, and pedestrians.
At Carmody and Ging, Attorneys at Law, our Pittsburgh construction accident lawyers understand the OSHA regulations, local building codes, and industry standards that govern construction work in Western Pennsylvania. We work with investigators, construction professionals, product safety professionals, and others to show how construction accidents happen and who is responsible. We file personal injury claims, workers’ compensation claims, product liability claims, and wrongful death claims. We have a strong record of settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases – some for millions of dollars.
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What would you like to know?
- Why are construction workers injured at work?
- What are the dangers of construction zone accidents in Pittsburgh?
- What injuries do construction accidents cause?
- What causes injuries to pedestrians at Pittsburgh construction sites?
- What type of construction accident claim should I file in Pittsburgh?
- How much time do I have to file a construction accident claim in Pittsburgh?
- Do you have a construction accident lawyer near me?
Why are construction workers injured at work?
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), more than 11 million workers were employed in the construction industry in America in 2019. Falls are a leading cause of work-related deaths in construction. Other types of building construction fatalities include being struck by an object, electrocutions, and being caught in-between accidents.
At Carmody and Ging, our Pittsburgh construction accident lawyers represent employees and contractors who suffer any type of catastrophic, permanent, or serious injury due to the following:
- Vehicle accidents. Construction workers may be injured by motorists and other drivers who enter the construction site when the drivers should have been directed away from the site. Many vehicle accidents at construction sites involve construction vehicles such as bulldozers, cranes, and trucks.
- Being struck by an object. Workers can be injured if they are struck by falling debris, tools, or equipment, or if they are pinned against any type of machinery or equipment.
- Falls from different heights. Workers on ladders, scaffolds, and higher floors of a building who fall are likely to suffer catastrophic injuries or die. Landscape workers such as workers who cut branches from trees are also at risk of falls from heights.
- Falls from level ground. Construction workers often work on constantly shifting ground that is uneven and filled with objects and debris. Even minor falls can cause a lifetime of pain.
- Defective machinery, equipment, and tools. When forklifts, scaffolds, power tools, and other equipment fails; workers can fall, be electrocuted, and suffer burns and rashes, respiratory ailments, and other serious injuries. Many construction workers develop repetitive stress injuries.
Our personal injury lawyers are skilled at showing how your accident happened and who is responsible.
What are the dangers of construction zone accidents in Pittsburgh?
Pennsylvania is constantly improving and repairing its roads; there’s a reason the Turnpike is filled with cattle shoots. Construction companies regularly build new roads, expand roads, and repair roads throughout the region, and utility companies often need to make roadside repairs.
There are standard procedures that construction companies should take before roadway construction starts and while it’s in progress to protect the driving public and to protect the workers at the construction site. The most common dangers include:
- Missing or broken warning signs about upcoming projects
- Failure to place traffic cones near sites
- Failure to provide ingress and egress points (entrances and exits) for construction vehicles
- Inadequate lighting
- Failure to secure roadways from potential debris
We review whether the construction company followed the construction regulations established by federal agencies, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and Allegheny County.
While many accidents are caused by construction companies, negligent drivers should be held accountable for any accidents they cause due to – improper merging, speeding, tailgating, or other types of traffic violations.
What injuries do construction accidents cause?
Our Pittsburgh construction accident lawyers represent workers, pedestrians, drivers, and others who suffer:
- Hearing or vision loss
- Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Wrongful death
At Carmody and Ging, we will review your medical condition with your physicians and our network of doctors when necessary. Many construction accident victims require surgery and long-term rehabilitative care, and we want to ensure that we demonstrate the full extent of your injuries and losses to a jury.
What causes injuries to pedestrians at Pittsburgh construction sites?
New buildings are also going up throughout Pittsburgh, and pedestrians are at risk simply walking near construction sites. Construction companies should enclose sites so pedestrians can’t access them. There should be warnings and directions for where the pedestrians can walk safely, so they don’t fall and so they’re not struck by an object or machinery. All building should have proper safety scaffolding, too, so that pedestrians can still access sidewalks where possible.
What type of construction accident claim should I file in Pittsburgh?
At Carmody and Ging, our construction accident lawyers file personal injury claims, product liability claims, workers’ compensation claims, and wrongful death claims. The type of claim and who is responsible vary depending on whether the person injured lived or died, was an employee or a non-employee, and how the accident happened.
- Personal injury claims. Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicycle riders, and contractors can all file a personal injury claim against the construction site owner. Additional defendants may include general and subcontracting companies, architects, engineers, and others. Victims can demand payment for all their medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, property damage, and loss of consortium.
- Workers’ compensation claims. Employees can file Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claims against their employer. These claims include payment of all the employee’s medical bills, temporary disability benefits, and permanent disability benefits. There is no need to prove fault. Spouses and children can claim death benefits if a worker died while doing his/her job.
- Product liability claims. Employees, contractors, and non-workers can all file a product liability claim if a defective tool, machinery item, or equipment item was defective, and the defect caused your injuries or the death of a loved one. Damages are generally the same as for a personal injury claim.
- Wrongful death claims. Families of a loved one killed in a Pittsburgh construction accident can file a wrongful death claim against the construction company, manufacturers of defective products, and other defendants. Damages generally include funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and the value of the emotional support and guidance the loved one would have given the family members.
Our attorneys can explain which is the correct claim for you.
How much time do I have to file a construction accident claim in Pittsburgh?
The best course of action after a construction accident is to contact us immediately. We need to investigate the accident and speak to witnesses promptly. Our Pittsburgh construction accident lawyers want to ensure you are seeing the doctors you should.
There are different time limits for workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims. As soon as you contact us, we’ll let you know what time limits apply for your claim.
Do you have a construction accident lawyer near me?
Carmody and Ging is located at 801 Vinial Street in Pittsburgh, on the 3rd floor of the Deutschtown Center building. Our office is across the street from Penn Brewery. There is plenty of nearby parking. If you can’t travel by car, there’s a bus stop on Troy Hill Road, around the corner. For employees who cannot come to our office for medical reasons, we can talk by setting up a video conference or by coming to see you in the hospital or rehab facility.
We’ll explain whether you can file a workers’ compensation claim or whether you need to file a personal injury claim.
Get help from our Pittsburgh construction accident lawyers today
Injuries change lives. You need medical help now. You’re worried about your medical bills and living expenses. Carmody and Ging is ready to help. We’ve been fighting for personal injury clients and employees for 30 years, and our lawyers are connected to the Allegheny community. We’ll help you begin your life again. To schedule a free consultation with a respected Pittsburgh construction accident attorney, please call 412.281.2929 or fill out our contact form. Proudly serving the injured throughout Western Pennsylvania.