Hyannis Construction Accident Lawyers

Hyannis is evolving from a seasonal tourist hub into a year-round commercial center. New hotels, housing developments, and infrastructure upgrades dot the skyline. Behind every ribbon-cutting stands a workforce of carpenters, ironworkers, roofers, and heavy-equipment operators exposed daily to falls, power-tool mishaps, crane collapses, and trench cave-ins. Construction remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States: in 2023, one out of every five workplace deaths occurred on construction sites, and 38.5 percent of those fatalities involved falls, slips, or trips.

Many Cape Cod projects employ a complex mix of Boston-based general contractors, Hyannis subcontractors, and out-of-state equipment suppliers. When an accident happens, untangling legal responsibilities demands a firm that understands both Massachusetts tort law and the unique dynamics of a coastal building economy.

Scaffolds along Main Street renovations, pitched residential roofs, and unguarded elevator shafts remain the leading sources of severe injuries.

Delivery trucks navigating Route 132 work zones and suspended loads moved by harbor cranes can strike laborers with little warning.

Excavations near Hyannis Harbor’s high water table require constant shoring; trench wall failures can bury workers in seconds.

Storm-hardening projects replace aged utility poles, raising the risk of contact with energized lines or faulty lockout/tagout procedures.

OSHA’s 2024 inspection data confirm that these “Fatal Four” categories account for the majority of construction deaths nationwide.

1. Workers’ Compensation (Chapter 152)
   • No-fault benefits cover medical care and a percentage of lost wages.
   • A claim generally must be filed within four years of becoming aware that a workplace injury is work-related, but prompt reporting (within 30 days) to the employer protects your rights.
   • Employees cannot sue their direct employer for ordinary negligence if they receive workers’ compensation.
2. Third-Party Civil Actions
   • If someone other than the employer caused or contributed to the accident, such as a negligent crane rental company, property owner, architect, or equipment manufacturer, a separate lawsuit may seek full tort damages: pain and suffering, complete wage loss, loss of future earning capacity, and diminished quality of life.
   • Massachusetts applies modified comparative negligence (51 percent bar). A plaintiff who is 50 percent or less at fault may recover, but the award is reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault.
   • The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including construction accidents, is three years from the date of injury.

Our rapid-response investigators document skid marks, scaffold integrity, and OSHA compliance before evidence is altered.

We retain structural engineers and human-factors specialists who model crane swing angles or ladder load capacities, translating complex mechanics into compelling courtroom visuals.

Large-scale Cape projects involve multiple layers of indemnity agreements. We parse master service contracts to identify hidden pockets of insurance coverage.

Catastrophic crush injuries often require long-term orthopedic and neurological care. We work with treating physicians to project life-care costs and future assistive-technology needs..

Workers’ comp pays only a fraction of your lost income and offers no recovery for pain, suffering, or emotional distress. A third-party lawsuit can pursue:

• Total wage loss and future earning capacity: Essential for union journeymen whose craft skills may be permanently limited.
• Past and future medical expenses: Not covered by Section 30 benefits, including prosthetics or exoskeleton devices.
• Pain and suffering: Massachusetts does not cap non-economic damages in construction accident cases.
• Loss of consortium: Spouses may seek compensation for changes in companionship and household services.
• Punitive damages: Available only in wrongful death actions if the defendant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct caused the fatality.

Because liens may attach to settlements (workers’ comp insurer, medical providers), an experienced attorney negotiates reductions to maximize the client’s net recovery.

• Seek immediate medical attention and request transport to Cape Cod Hospital, even if injuries seem minor; adrenaline masks symptoms.
• Notify your supervisor in writing and keep a copy of the incident report.
• Photograph the scene, safety gear, weather conditions, and any visible defects in equipment.
• Obtain contact information for all witnesses, including subcontractors’ crews.
• Do not provide recorded statements to insurance adjusters, including your employer’s carrier, without counsel present.
• Contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers before evidence disappears or statutory deadlines loom.

Timely legal guidance can also protect undocumented workers, who are entitled to benefits regardless of immigration status under Massachusetts law.

Hyannis cases are typically filed in Barnstable Superior Court on Falmouth Road. Juries in this venue often include fishing, hospitality, and construction workers familiar with jobsite hazards, an advantage when explaining industry norms. Our firm’s Boston headquarters is less than 90 minutes away, allowing in-person client meetings and on-site investigations without delay. When coordinated litigation is filed in Suffolk County or federal court, we leverage our cross-jurisdictional experience to streamline discovery.

• A $4.2 million settlement for a roofing apprentice who fell through an unguarded skylight in Plymouth. Liability experts traced faulty anchor-point placement to a national safety contractor.
• A $2.1 million jury verdict for a Hyannis electrician electrocuted by a defective scissor lift joystick. Post-trial motions preserved full damages despite the manufacturer’s bankruptcy filing.
• Numerous confidential six-figure resolutions for laborers injured by trench collapses and concrete-pump hose blowouts on Cape jobsites.

While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, they demonstrate the firm’s ability to secure life-changing compensation.

Generally, no; workers’ compensation remains your exclusive remedy against the employer. OSHA citations, however, strengthen third-party claims by showing a safety culture of non-compliance.

Yes. Under Massachusetts comparative negligence rules, you can recover so long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible. A seasoned lawyer often lowers your assigned fault by uncovering code violations or defective equipment.

Many “1099” arrangements misclassify workers who meet the statutory definition of employees. We analyze jobsite control, payment structure, and the Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law to determine eligibility for benefits and tort recovery.

Most third-party construction cases resolve within 12-24 months. Complex product-defect or multi-party claims can extend beyond that, but strategic mediation often shortens the timeline.

When a fall, collapse, or equipment failure shatters a livelihood, choosing the right advocate is the most important construction decision you’ll ever make. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers offers free consultations and 24-hour hotline support. Let us evaluate liability, preserve evidence, and pursue every dollar the law allows so you can focus on healing and rebuilding.