Springfield Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction is vital to Western Massachusetts' economy, yet it remains one of the most dangerous industries in the Commonwealth. In 2023 alone, 37 construction-related fatalities were recorded, making up the single largest share of workplace deaths in Massachusetts. Behind each statistic is a family facing sudden medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about the future. At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, our Springfield construction accident attorneys fight to turn that uncertainty into security.

Get in touch with our Springfield personal injury law firm offices for a free consultation if you or your loved one has been injured at a construction site.

Massachusetts law recognizes two distinct paths to financial recovery after a construction injury:

• Workers' compensation (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 152) provides no-fault benefits, medical care, partial wage replacement, and, in catastrophic cases, permanent impairment and loss-of-function payments. You have four years from the date your employer's insurer denies your claim to appeal.
• Third-party personal injury lawsuits allow you to seek full tort damages when someone other than your direct employer, such as a general contractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or negligent driver, caused or contributed to the accident. Under Chapter 152 § 15, you may accept workers' benefits and pursue the at-fault party.

Because these avenues can proceed simultaneously, strategic coordination is essential to avoid conflicts that consume your settlement. An experienced construction accident attorney ensures that every source of compensation is maximized and that lienholders are negotiated down or waived whenever possible.

Local projects, from I-91 interchange improvements to apartment renovations in the Metro Center, regularly expose workers and bystanders to dangers such as:

• Falls from scaffolds, ladders, and roofs
• Struck-by incidents involving swinging beams or falling debris
• Trench collapses and cave-ins on utility and road-widening jobs
• Electrocutions during the demolition of aging industrial sites
• Heavy-equipment rollovers on uneven ground
• Toxic-substance exposures from asbestos, silica dust, or paint solvents

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that work-related deaths dipped to 5,283 nationally in 2023. Yet, construction remained a top contributor because "falls, slips, and trips" are the most common fatal events.

Knowing which benefits are available—and when—is critical:

• Workers' Compensation Benefits
  • All reasonable and necessary medical treatment
  • 60 percent of the average weekly wages for total disability
  • Up to five years of partial-disability payments if you return to a lower-paying light-duty job
  • Vocational rehabilitation services
  • Dependents' benefits in fatal cases
• Third-Party Lawsuit Damages
  • Remaining wage loss and future earning-capacity loss not covered by workers' comp
  • Full value of pain, suffering, mental anguish, and loss of life's enjoyment
  • The comp does not cover scarring and disfigurement damages
  • Loss-of-consortium damages for spouses or close family members
  • Punitive damages can be awarded when gross negligence or willful OSHA violations are shown

Massachusetts's personal injury statute of limitations is three years from the date of injury, or from the date you discovered the injury if it was not immediately apparent. Missing this deadline almost always bars recovery, so prompt legal advice is paramount.

Springfield's state courts (Hampden Superior and Springfield District) apply statewide rules, but local practice nuances matter. Hiring counsel who regularly appears in these venues delivers advantages:

• Familiarity with judges' scheduling preferences and motion-practice quirks
• Relationships with Springfield-area vocational experts, life-care planners, and medical specialists at Baystate Medical Center or Mercy Medical Center
• Access to local investigators who can reach job sites within hours to photograph hazards before cleanup crews sanitize the evidence
• Knowledge of regional union safety protocols (e.g., Carpenters Local 336, Laborers' Local 596) that can bolster negligence theories

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers' construction-accident playbook is honed by decades of representing injured workers across Hampden County:

• Rapid Site Preservation. We send spoliation letters and, when necessary, seek emergency court orders to prevent demolition or alteration that would destroy critical evidence.
• OSHA and DIA File Retrieval. Federal inspection reports and Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents records often reveal repeat safety violations that convert simple negligence into evidence of recklessness.
• Engineering and Human-Factors Analysis. Retained experts reconstruct falls, pinch points, and electrical arcs to demonstrate to juries how the injury occurred and whythe defendant's shortcuts violated industry standards.
• Lien Negotiation. Our attorneys routinely reduce or extinguish workers' compensation and group health liens, allowing clients to keep more of their settlement.
• Structured Settlement Design. For severe traumatic brain injury or spinal-cord paralysis, we coordinate structured annuities and Special-Needs Trusts so lifetime care is funded without jeopardizing public-benefit eligibility.

Every case is unique, but a full civil recovery may include:

• Past and future medical expenses, including prosthetics and home modifications
• 100 percent of lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Physical pain and chronic limitations are especially relevant for trades requiring full mobility
• Emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and loss of sleep
• Permanent scarring or limb loss, which juries often value highly
• Loss-of-consortium claims for spouses and dependent children
• Wrongful-death damages, such as funeral costs and the financial value of the deceased worker's services to the family

Unlike workers' compensation, these damages are not capped and account for the total harm you (and your family) have suffered.

Time rules vary, and missing one can end a claim before it starts:

• Personal-injury and wrongful-death suits: 3 years from injury or death
• Product-liability claims: 3 years, but a separate statute of reposebars suits more than 6 years after the product first entered the stream of commerce
• Workers' appeals: 4 years from the date of the accident; notice to the employer should be given "as soon as practicable"
• Claims against public entities (e.g., MassDOT road crews): 2-year presentment notice under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act before filing suit

Because determining which deadline applies can be complicated, especially when multiple defendants are involved, contacting an attorney immediately protects your rights.

Q: "Can I sue my employer?"
Under Chapter 152, the workers' comp "exclusive remedy" typically bars direct lawsuits against your employer. Still, exceptions may exist when your employer fails to carry workers' compensation insurance or intentionally injures you.

Q: "What if I am an undocumented worker?"
Immigration status does not disqualify you from Massachusetts workers' benefits or third-party lawsuits.

Q: "Do I need to prove fault to collect workers' comp?"
No. Workers' comp is a no-fault system; you only need to show the injury arose "out of and in the course of" employment.

Q: "How long will my case take?"
Straightforward commercial cases can be resolved in months, while complex third-party suits may take 12–24 months or longer, especially if a trial is required.

Q: "What does it cost to hire Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers?"
We handle construction accident cases on a contingency fee, and there is no attorney's fee unless we obtain compensation for you.

• OSHA Springfield Area Office: 1441 Main Street, Suite 550, local enforcement of federal safety standards
• Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (MassCOSH): training and worker-centered advocacy
• BLS CFOI Database: annual injury and fatality statistics to benchmark safety progress

Learning and enforcing these resources can prevent injuries, but knowing your legal options is the best protection when prevention fails.

If you or a loved one has been injured on a Springfield construction site, call JeffreyGlassman Injury Lawyers at (413) 278-0645 or complete our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our attorneys will listen to your story, explain your rights, and launch an immediate investigation while the evidence is fresh and witnesses' memories are clear.

Remember, under Massachusetts law, you may have as little as three years, or even less, if government agencies are involved in the act. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can begin building a case to secure the medical treatment, wage replacement, and long-term financial stability you deserve.

Springfield Office

1500 Main St, 8th floor
Springfield, MA 01115
Phone: (413) 278-0645