Washington Construction Site Injury Lawyer
When something goes wrong at a construction site, the fallout can be life-changing for a tradesperson or a passerby. You might be searching for a construction site injury attorney because you need straightforward answers to the following questions: Do you have a claim? What could it be worth? How does the process work?. If so, you are in the right place.
At Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC, we work for people across Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Moses Lake, and smaller towns in between. We listen first. We know every job is different and every person brings a story that deserves respect. Our Central Washington construction accident lawyers will meet you where you are, literally and figuratively.
We can visit accident locations, travel to clients who have difficulty getting around, and hold evening or weekend meetings as needed. If you would like a free review of your case from attorneys experienced with construction site injury claims, contact our Washington law offices today. You can also call us at (509) 765-1851.
Who Can Bring a Claim After a Construction Injury in Washington?
Two groups commonly face harm around active builds and roadwork: workers and bystanders.
Injury Claims Brought by Construction Workers
Workers are covered by Washington’s no-fault industrial insurance system. This workers’ compensation system pays medical care and wage replacement without requiring proof that an employer did anything wrong.
Washington adopted its own safety law, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA). The state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) establishes rules that set the baseline for maintaining safe construction sites.
Injury Claims Brought by Bystanders
A bystander hurt by falling debris, unsafe barricades, or equipment leaving the site has a different path to seeking compensation. That person may pursue a standard negligence claim against the entity that created the danger, such as a general contractor, subcontractor, site owner, or vendor.
Washington’s three-year statute of limitations applies to most personal injury lawsuits, including these types of accidents at or around construction sites.
Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Construction Accident
If you lose a loved one in a fatal construction site accident, Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC is here to provide compassionate legal guidance through the process. For fatally injured construction workers, we can assist surviving family members in seeking L&I death benefits. We can also assist all surviving family members in filing a wrongful death lawsuit to seek damages for funeral expenses, grief counseling, and other losses associated with the death of a loved one.
Examples of Construction Site Accidents
Whether you’re a construction worker or someone simply passing by a construction site, an accident can take many forms. Common examples of worksite accidents include:
- Falling objects
- Falls off roofs, ladders, or scaffolding
- Struck-by incidents
- Caught-between incidents
- Vehicle or heavy equipment accidents
- Crane accidents
- Trench collapses
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Electrocution
- Exposure to harmful substances
Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC is here to provide legal representation no matter what has happened. We’re ready to listen and to stand with you until the matter is resolved.
Washington Workers’ Compensation Basics: What Benefits Look Like
An injured tradesperson does not sue an employer for most job-related injuries. Instead, the worker files an L&I workers’ compensation claim. Benefits can include medical treatment, time-loss (a portion of wages while you recover), permanent partial disability awards for lasting impairment, and, in some cases, vocational retraining.
L&I deadlines are firm. In most cases, you must file an accident report no more than a year from the injury date. However, if you suffer from an occupational disease, such as a pulmonary condition from long-term exposure, you generally have two years. The clock starts ticking from the date a qualified provider gives written notice of the condition and tells you it may be work-related.
A construction site attorney with our firm will gather medical records, organize treating-provider opinions, and communicate with claims managers. If L&I denies or closes a claim before you are ready, we will file an appeal with the independent Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA) and guide you through that process step by step.
Third-Party Claims for Injured Workers: When Someone Besides the Employer Is at Fault
Sometimes, a separate company or person causes a construction site injury. Examples include a negligent subcontractor, a crane company that missed critical maintenance, a driver who plows through a cone line, or a defective tool that fails under normal use. In such situations, Washington law permits an injured worker to pursue a third-party claim while continuing to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
A third-party case will pursue categories of damages that are not available in a workers’ compensation claim, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and full wage loss. If there is a recovery from the third party, L&I may assert a lien for benefits it paid. We will address those calculations with you early so you understand what a settlement might mean in net dollars.
The construction site lawyers at Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC will also coordinate the two tracks—the L&I claim and the third-party liability lawsuit—so medical opinions, wage records, and impairment ratings support both. That coordination matters for serious injuries that require long recovery periods or leave lasting functional limits.
Bystanders Hurt Near a Work Zone: Rights, Deadlines, and Accountability
People who never even worked at a construction site can still be hurt by the activity. For example, a pedestrian could be struck by a load swinging over a sidewalk. A cyclist might crash due to poor road trench plating. A driver could collide with heavy equipment that entered an open lane without a flagger. Bystander claims focus on whether the contractor, site owner, or another entity failed to use ordinary care in planning and securing the site.
For bystanders, the three-year deadline to file a civil injury lawsuit applies in most cases. Early investigation helps identify the responsible company, secure witness statements, and verify site records. These records typically include safety meeting minutes and subcontractor scopes of work.
Your Central Washington construction site attorney will request contracts, project safety plans, and any DOSH inspection files that shed light on what standards applied and who controlled the hazard.
How Much Is My Construction Accident Case Worth?
Your amount of compensation largely depends on the path your case takes.
An L&I claim is designed to pay medical bills, replace part of your wages during recovery, and compensate for permanent impairment. It does not include pain and suffering. The amount hinges on treatment costs, time-loss rates tied to pre-injury earnings, degree of permanent impairment under L&I schedules, and vocational outcomes.
A third-party personal lawsuit adds damages that L&I does not cover. Those may include full wage loss, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the cost of long-term care.
A Personalized Evaluation of Your Injuries
At Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC, our Central Washington construction site lawyers will work with treating providers and life-care planners to build a credible picture of future costs and day-to-day support. If you suffered catastrophic injuries, compensation will cover the costs associated with your acquired disability.
A thorough construction site attorney will keep you informed at every stage of the litigation timeline, including discovery, mediation, and trial.
A Quick Overview of the Construction Injury Claim Process
Obtaining compensation after a construction site injury can be a complex and time-consuming process. This complexity is one of the reasons why you should get legal help immediately. Here is a brief look at how your claim will likely unfold.
Medical Care and L&I Claim Opening
Once you receive treatment, your provider will complete the Report of Accident and submit it to L&I or your self-insured employer. You have one year from the date of the injury for an accident claim and two years from the date of written notice for an occupational disease.
Our team of construction site injury awyers will help ensure that the claim is opened correctly and that your diagnosis and work restrictions are accurately documented.
Investigation and Benefits
L&I will review the provider’s notes and may schedule independent medical examinations. Time-loss, medical authorizations, and vocational services flow through the claim. We will monitor timelines and request corrections when something goes off track.
Third-Party Evaluation
Next, we will identify whether another company or person caused or contributed to the event. If so, you can elect to pursue a third-party claim while the L&I claim continues. We will guide that election and explain how any recovery is allocated under Washington statutes and L&I policy.
Filing Appeals When Needed
If L&I denies or closes benefits too early, we file an appeal with the BIIA, an agency independent of L&I. The Board sets schedules, holds conferences, and may conduct hearings with testimony. We handle filings and arguments so you do not shoulder that burden alone.
Litigation and Resolution
In a third-party or bystander case, we file suit in the appropriate court against the responsible parties. Discovery, depositions, motion practice, and mediation follow. Our construction site attorney team will prepare you for each step, keep you updated on offers, and advise on settlement versus trial based on the facts and your goals.
How We Prove Fault After a Construction Site Accident
At At Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC, we build cases the way good superintendents run worksites: plan the work, work the plan, and document everything.
Our Central Washington construction site lawyer will collect contracts and subcontracts to map responsibilities, request safety meeting minutes, and secure equipment maintenance records.
When the facts point to a defective product, we pursue the manufacturer. When the facts show poor coordination among trades, we focus on the company that controlled the schedule or the method. Every case begins with listening to you, to co-workers, and to witnesses who saw what happened before and after the incident.
Why Choose Our Law Firm After a Construction Accident
At Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC, we are proud to stand up for people who work hard, pay their bills, and want a fair shake when a serious worksite accident changes the course of their lives.
Legal Representation in Plain English
Clients tell us they appreciate how we listen and explain the law in everyday terms. This includes L&I issues as well as personal injury law. Our Central Washington construction accident lawyers will prepare your case with care, present your story with clarity, and push for the result you deserve.
Hablamos Español: Legal Services in Spanish
We also offer legal representation in plain Spanish. Many members of the team at Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC can speak Spanish. We are committed to helping Spanish-speaking construction workers and other members of our community.
We Know the Local Lay of the Land
Our lawyers live here, shop here, and show up at games on weekends. You’ll see us around town, and we’ll say hi without hesitation. We are normal people who chose this work because it helps working people in a tangible way.
Free Consultations with Flexible Schedules
The last thing you want to see after a major injury is another bill. Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC offers free case reviews so you can get legal insight without any sense of obligation. We’re also able to meet you somewhere convenient at a time that fits your schedule if your construction site injuries prevent you from visiting one of our offices.
Contingency Fee Representation
In addition to free consultations, our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. That means clients don’t pay us a dime unless and until we settle their case or win damages in court. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. This is one of the many ways we look out for working-class people all over Central Washington.
Contact Our Central Washington Construction Site Attorneys
We want to hear your story. It doesn’t matter if you are a construction worker or someone who had bad luck while passing a construction site. Our team will handle the legal legwork, allowing you to focus on your health and family. We can deal with L&I appeals as well as pursue third-party claims so you can maximize compensation. For a free consultation with trusted construction site injury attorneys near you, contact our Central Washington law offices today. You can also reach us by calling (509) 765-1851.