Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in Pennsylvania. Every day, construction workers face significant hazards while building and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps Philadelphia running. When accidents happen on construction sites, the consequences can be devastating, resulting in serious injuries, permanent disabilities, or even death.
The Philadelphia construction accident lawyers at The Oakes Firm understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges injured construction workers and their families face. Our dedicated team of construction accident attorneys has extensive experience representing injured workers throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Call The Oakes Firm today at (267) 310-0656 for your free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced legal team.
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Common Types of Philadelphia Construction Accidents
Construction sites present numerous hazards that can lead to serious injuries. Understanding these risks is the first step toward prevention and knowing your rights if an accident occurs. Our Philadelphia construction accident attorneys regularly handle cases involving:
- Falls from heights, including falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and other elevated work areas (these accidents account for the highest percentage of construction fatalities)
- Scaffold accidents, including collapses, falls, and being struck by falling objects from improperly secured scaffolding
- Trench and excavation collapses, including cave-ins that can trap and crush workers, often resulting in fatal injuries
- Equipment accidents, including injuries caused by cranes, forklifts, bulldozers, and other heavy machinery
- Electrical accidents, including electrocutions, burns, and other injuries from contact with live wires or improperly grounded equipment
- Building collapses, including partial or complete structural failures during construction or demolition
- Struck-by accidents, including workers being hit by falling tools, materials, or debris
- Caught-in-between accidents, including when workers become caught in equipment or crushed between objects
- Explosion and fire incidents, which often result from gas leaks, chemical spills, or improper handling of flammable materials
- Repetitive stress injuries, which may develop over time from performing the same physical tasks repeatedly
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identifies falls, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in/between accidents as the “Fatal Four” – the leading causes of construction worker deaths. Together, these four types of accidents account for more than 60 percent of construction worker fatalities nationwide.
Common Construction Accident Injuries in Philadelphia
The injuries you or your loved one suffered are just as important as the cause of those injuries. These ailments are often severe and life-altering, with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, and amputation injuries being among the serious health conditions construction workers endure.
At The Oakes Firm, we’ve represented Philadelphia construction workers suffering from:
- Traumatic brain injuries, from mild concussions to severe TBIs that cause permanent cognitive impairment
- Spinal cord injuries, including partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifetime care
- Broken bones and fractures often requiring surgery, hardware installation, and lengthy rehabilitation
- Crush injuries resulting in severe tissue damage, internal bleeding, and potential amputation
- Burn injuries from electrical, chemical, or fire sources, which often require specialized treatment and result in permanent scarring
- Loss of limbs, such as traumatic amputations or medical amputations following crush injuries
- Eye injuries and vision loss from flying debris, chemicals, or equipment malfunctions
- Hearing damage due to loud equipment or explosive incidents
- Respiratory conditions from exposure to toxic chemicals, dust, asbestos, or other hazardous substances
- Psychological trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, resulting from serious accidents
These injuries often require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation and, in many cases, result in permanent disabilities that prevent workers from returning to their previous occupations or from working at all.
Have you suffered any of these injuries on a Philadelphia construction site? You may be entitled to significant compensation beyond workers’ compensation benefits. Call The Oakes Firm at (267) 310-0656 today for a free consultation about hiring a Philadelphia construction accident lawyer from our team.
Let The Oakes Firm Explain Your Legal Options After a Philadelphia Construction Accident
Understanding your legal rights after a construction accident is vital for protecting your future. While most people are aware of workers’ compensation, many don’t realize that additional options may be available depending on the circumstances of your accident.
We Assist Clients with Their Third-Party Liability Claims
Workers’ compensation benefits often don’t suffice when you’ve suffered a construction accident. Suing may be an option for you, and The Oakes Firm helps injured workers and other construction accident victims with their third-party claims.
Unlike workers’ compensation, which limits your recovery and prevents you from suing your employer, third-party claims allow you to pursue full compensation from other parties whose negligence contributed to your accident, such as:
- General contractors who failed to maintain safe working conditions
- Subcontractors whose negligence created hazardous conditions
- Equipment manufacturers who produced defective tools, machinery, or safety equipment
- Property owners who maintained unsafe premises
- Architects or engineers whose design flaws contributed to the accident
- Material suppliers who provided defective building materials
Your Philadelphia construction accident lawyer from The Oakes Firm will explain your options for seeking fair compensation. A third-party claim may be the best one, and we are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
We Understand the Multi-Employer Worksite Doctrine
OSHA defines a multi-employer worksite as “a worksite at which two or more entities are performing tasks that will contribute to the completion of a common project.” This definition applies to many construction sites, and multi-employer worksites can mean complex liability for accidents like yours.
Our attorneys understand how to establish liability when multiple parties have responsibility for a construction site. Trust us to identify all liable parties and assess liability fairly and accurately.
Why Choose Attorney Tom Oakes and The Oakes Firm for Your Philadelphia Construction Accident Case
When recovering from a serious construction injury, the attorney you select can dramatically impact your future financial security and access to medical care. Attorney Tom Oakes and his team at The Oakes Firm offer advantages that position us for success in your construction accident case, including:
- Deep Construction Industry Knowledge: Our attorneys have spent years studying construction processes, OSHA regulations, and industry-specific safety standards. We understand critical concepts like fall protection requirements, scaffold safety regulations, and proper trench shoring techniques that general practice attorneys might miss.
- Established Relationships with Construction Experts: We’ve built a network of construction safety professionals, site supervisors, engineers, and medical specialists who provide key testimony about safety violations and injury severity. These expert relationships strengthen our ability to prove exactly how your accident occurred and who bears responsibility.
- Proven Track Record Against Major Construction Companies: We’ve successfully challenged major construction companies, contractors, and their powerful insurance carriers. The Oakes Firm has obtained more than $75 million in construction accident cases, securing multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for Philadelphia construction workers with life-altering injuries.
- Experience with Union Matters: Our team understands the unique considerations for union construction workers, including how to maximize benefits while protecting union standing and navigating the intersection between union agreements and injury claims.
- Commitment to Full Compensation Beyond Workers’ Comp: While many firms settle for limited workers’ compensation benefits, we aggressively pursue third-party claims that can multiply your recovery by addressing pain and suffering, full income replacement, and family impacts.
- Direct Attorney Involvement at Every Stage of Your Case: Unlike firms where paralegals handle most of your case, our experienced construction accident attorneys oversee every aspect, from initial investigation through settlement negotiations and trial preparation.
- Financial Resources to Match Defendant Corporations: We have the financial strength to advance the substantial costs of construction accident litigation, including expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, and comprehensive medical documentation, without asking clients for upfront expenses.
Attorney Tom Oakes is a seventh-generation Philadelphian. He cares about this city, and he and his team appreciate the grittiness that construction workers are known for. You’ve helped build our city; now it’s time to let The Oakes Firm serve you.
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Let The Oakes Firm Handle Your Construction Accident Claims Process in Philadelphia
Pursuing a construction accident claim involves several critical steps, each requiring careful attention to protect your rights. Your lawyer will lead and help with:
Immediate Steps to Take After the Construction Accident
It is critically important that, in the immediate aftermath of a construction accident, you:
- Seek medical attention immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries
- Report the accident to your supervisor as soon as possible
- Document the accident scene with photos if you’re able
- Collect contact information from witnesses
- Keep detailed notes about how the accident occurred
- Do not give recorded statements to insurance companies
- Contact an experienced construction accident attorney promptly
Your Philly construction accident lawyer from The Oakes Firm will take over many of these duties, including documenting the scene and helping you give any necessary recorded statements. The sooner you hire us, the sooner we can help.
Building Your Case for Maximum Compensation
Proving liability and establishing the full extent of damages requires substantial evidence, detailed documentation, and expert support, which may include:
- Detailed medical evidence documenting all injuries
- Expert testimony regarding violations of safety standards
- Evidence of safety shortcuts or regulatory violations
- Testimony from medical and mental health professionals about your injuries and pain and suffering
- Economic analysis of lifetime lost earnings
- Testimony from vocational experts regarding your professional limitations after the accident
We know what winning cases take. Let a Philadelphia construction accident attorney from The Oakes Firm build yours.
Negotiation and Litigation (If We Need to Take Your Case to Court)
While many cases settle through negotiation, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. We are ready to file lawsuits and start preparing for court at a moment’s notice, and we will be ready if any liable parties rebuff our settlement demands.
Compensation Available for Philadelphia Construction Accident Victims
The compensation available in construction accident cases depends on the specific circumstances, severity of injuries, available insurance coverage, and possibly other factors. Our attorneys are prepared to demand compensation for your:
- Current and future medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, specialized equipment, and ongoing treatment
- Lost income, including both income already lost and future earnings you’ll miss due to injury
- Diminished earning capacity, which is when injuries prevent you from earning what you could have before the accident
- Pain and suffering, which can include physical pain and discomfort resulting from your injuries
- Emotional distress, which may include psychological impacts like anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Permanent disability, which warrants additional compensation for permanent physical limitations
- Loss of life enjoyment, which occurs when injuries prevent participation in activities you previously enjoyed
- Vocational rehabilitation, which is training for new employment if you cannot return to construction work
You might even deserve punitive damages if your case involves extreme negligence or willful safety violations. Trust that The Oakes Firm will leave no harm unaccounted for when constructing your case.
There Are Time Limitations for Filing Construction Accident Claims in Philadelphia
Under Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, personal injury lawsuits against third parties must be filed within two years of the accident. There is no exception for construction-related cases. Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death.
Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation, regardless of how severe your injuries are or how clear the liability may be. Consulting with a construction accident attorney as soon as possible after an injury ensures that all deadlines are met and your rights are protected.
Contact The Oakes Firm Today for Your Free Consultation About a Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a construction accident injury in Philadelphia, the experienced legal team at The Oakes Firm is ready to fight for your rights. We understand the challenges you’re facing, and we’re committed to helping you secure the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Call The Oakes Firm today at (267) 310-0656 for your free, no-obligation consultation with a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and help determine the best path forward—all at no cost unless we win your case. Remember, there’s no risk in calling to learn about your rights. Our team is standing by to provide the guidance and powerful legal advocacy you need during this challenging time.