St. Louis Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction keeps St. Louis growing, but the people doing the work face dangers most jobs never involve, like falls from heights, heavy equipment, scaffolding failures, and job sites where one contractor’s shortcut puts everyone at risk. When a construction accident leaves a worker seriously injured, the consequences are far-reaching. 

Workers’ compensation may cover part of the loss, but it rarely covers all of it. In some cases, a third party may be liable, which opens the door for additional types of compensation. The St. Louis personal injury lawyers at Drafahl Law Firm understand every available path to compensation and will pursue the full recovery their injuries demand.

Reach out today at (314) 300-6260.

What Sets Drafahl Law Firm Apart in Construction Injury Cases? 

Construction cases can be complicated because of worker’s compensation rules and third party lawsuits. You need a firm that understands how they work. Drafahl Law Firm brings:

• Recognition among The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
• A track record insurers know; our reputation as a trial firm frequently helps motivate stronger settlement offers
• A Super Lawyers rating reflecting the respect of the legal profession itself

Our team has decades of experience and knows how to pursue all available paths of compensation for you and your family. 

How a Lawyer Strengthens Your Construction Accident Case

Construction accident cases involve layers most injury claims don’t – workers’ compensation, third-party liability, and multiple companies on a single site all pointing at one another. A lawyer strengthens your case by:

• Identifying every source of recovery, including third-party claims

• Investigating the site quickly, before conditions change, equipment is repaired, and the hazard that hurt you disappears
• Handling OSHA findings and safety records that can establish if any rules were broken

Construction defendants and their insurers defend these cases aggressively. A lawyer makes sure your case is taken seriously and you have a chance to pursue appropriate compensation. 

Common Causes of Construction Accidents

Construction sites concentrate more hazards in one place than almost any other work environment, and certain types of accidents account for most serious injuries. The following are the causes of the many construction injury cases. 

Falls From Heights

Falls from heights are one of the leading causes of construction fatalities. Workers fall from roofs and unprotected edges where required guardrails or fall protection were never installed. Even a fall from modest height can cause life-changing injuries.

Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffolds are only as safe as their setup. Improper assembly, missing guardrails, and equipment failure can send workers to the ground. 

Ladder Accidents

Ladder injuries are among the most common on any site. Defective ladders, improper setup on uneven ground, and falls while climbing or working cause fractures, head injuries, and worse.

Struck-by Accidents

Workers are struck by falling tools, building materials dropped from above, moving equipment, and vehicles operating on or around the site. Workers often never even see this danger coming. 

Caught-In or Between Accidents

Some of the most severe construction injuries happen when a worker is caught in a trench, pulled into machinery, or pinned by a collapsing structure. These accidents frequently cause crush injuries, amputations, and fatalities.

Electrocution

Contact with overhead power lines, exposed wiring, and faulty equipment makes electrocution a constant construction hazard, one that safety protocols are specifically designed to prevent and too often don’t because someone made a mistake or decided to cut corners. 

Heavy Equipment Accidents

Cranes, forklifts, excavators, and bulldozers are essential to construction, but they are dangerous when operated carelessly, maintained poorly, or used near workers on foot. Equipment accidents tend to cause catastrophic harm. 

Explosions and Fires

Gas leaks, flammable materials, and electrical faults can trigger explosions and fires that injure everyone nearby.

Construction sites can be incredibly dangerous, and if you’re injured on one, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. 

Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury Claims

Injured construction workers often have two potential paths to recovery, and understanding the difference between them is essential. 

If a loved one died in a construction accident, we urge you to reach out to our St. Louis wrongful death lawyers today to get them the justice they deserve.

Workers’ Compensation Claims 

Workers’ compensation is available to most employees injured on the job regardless of who was at fault; there is no need to prove negligence. It provides medical expenses, partial wage replacement, and disability benefits. Those benefits are valuable but limited, as they don’t cover the full scope of what a serious injury costs. 

Personal Injury Lawsuit 

A personal injury claim becomes possible when a third party, someone other than your employer, caused or contributed to the accident, such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner. Unlike workers’ comp, a personal injury claim can include pain and suffering, full lost wages, future earnings, emotional distress, and other damages unavailable through workers’ compensation. 

The two paths aren’t mutually exclusive. In many construction cases, both claims proceed simultaneously; workers’ comp provides immediate support while the third-party claim pursues the more comprehensive recovery. 

Workers’ Compensation Notice Deadline

You must report your accident to your employer as soon as possible. Under Missouri law, you generally have 30 days to notify your employer of your injury, and missing that window can put your workers’ compensation benefits at risk. Whenever possible, provide the notice in writing and keep a copy for your records, so there’s never a dispute about whether or when you reported it. 

Once your employer receives notice, they should arrange authorized medical treatment and report the injury to the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. If your employer fails to take those steps, or discourages you from reporting at all, that’s a strong sign you should speak with an attorney right away.

Personal Injury Lawsuit Statute of Limitations

Missouri gives injury victims more time than most states; it’s generally five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That’s the deadline for most construction accident claims against third parties, and missing it typically means losing the right to sue entirely. 

 516.120.  What actions within five years. — Within five years:

  (4)  An action for taking, detaining or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the recovery of specific personal property, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another.

There are a few exceptions, and one worth knowing is that injuries involving a government entity are different. 

Claims against government entities, such as a city or state agency, may require a formal notice of claim within just 90 days of the injury. That’s a dramatically shorter window, and it applies before any lawsuit can even be filed. Since construction projects sometimes involve public property, government contracts, or municipal utilities, it isn’t always obvious at first whether a government entity might be responsible for your injuries. 

Have an attorney review your case as soon as possible. 

Injured on a Job Site? Talk to a St. Louis Construction Accident Lawyer Today

A construction injury shouldn’t cost you your livelihood while the parties responsible are unaffected. Sorting out workers’ compensation, third-party claims, and who actually controlled the hazard takes legal experience, and the sooner that work starts, the more evidence survives from the site.

Drafahl Law Firm is ready to investigate your accident, identify every source of recovery, and handle the legal fight while you focus on healing.

Call today at (314) 300-6260 to schedule a free consultation with a St. Louis construction accident lawyer.