Construction Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

Construction Accidents in Massachusetts

Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in any industry. Falls from height, being struck by equipment or falling objects, electrocution, and being caught between equipment and structures are OSHA’s “Fatal Four” leading causes of construction fatalities. When a construction accident occurs in Massachusetts, multiple parties may bear responsibility, the general contractor who controls the site, the subcontractor who employs the worker, the property owner who commissioned the project, and the manufacturer of any defective equipment involved. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey investigates every layer of liability in every construction accident case.

The General Contractor’s Site Safety Responsibility

The general contractor on a construction project has broad responsibility for overall site safety for all workers on the project, not just their own direct employees. Under Massachusetts law and OSHA regulations, the GC must coordinate safety programs, ensure that required fall protection is in place, maintain safe site conditions, and address known hazards promptly. When a subcontractor’s employee is injured because site safety was inadequate, the general contractor is frequently a third-party defendant with direct liability. Attorney Lavey pursues GC liability as a standard element of every construction accident case analysis.

Third-Party Claims Beyond Workers' Compensation

Workers' compensation covers the direct employer’s liability and is the exclusive remedy against that employer. But it does not prevent claims against: the general contractor for site safety failures; the property owner for premises conditions; the manufacturer of defective tools, equipment, or safety devices; the engineer or architect whose plans created a hazardous condition; or any other non-employer party whose negligence contributed to the accident. These third-party claims recover pain and suffering that workers' compensation does not provide. Attorney Lavey identifies and pursues every qualifying third-party claim.

Common Construction Accident Types

• Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and open floor edges without required fall protection
• Struck-by accidents involving cranes, equipment, tools, and falling materials
• Caught-between accidents involving excavation collapses, machinery, and trenches
• Electrocution from contact with power lines and improperly grounded equipment
• Machinery and vehicle accidents in active construction zones
• Chemical and silica dust exposure from demolition and cutting operations

Why Construction Accident Cases Are Complex

Construction accident cases require analysis of multiple contracts, between the owner and GC, the GC and subcontractors, and potentially other tiers, to establish each party’s responsibilities. They require OSHA compliance analysis. They may involve product liability claims requiring engineering expert analysis. And they must be coordinated with ongoing workers' compensation proceedings. Attorney Lavey brings 37 years of experience and the expert network these complex cases require.

Frequently Asked Questions