Westwood Construction Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a construction accident in Westwood? 

We provide ecognized construction accident representation for injured clients throughout Westwood.

If you have been injured on a construction site in Westwood, an attorney can help you pursue compensation from the contractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers whose negligence contributed to the accident. Our Westwood, CA construction accident lawyer at Cohen Injury Law Group handles construction injury claims on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Founding attorney Wayne R. Cohen has represented personal injury clients since 1991. Contact our office for a free consultation.

Construction Accident Lawyer Westwood, CA

A construction accident case is a personal injury claim filed by a worker or bystander who was injured due to unsafe conditions on a construction site. Unlike most workplace injuries, which are limited to workers’ compensation benefits, construction accidents often involve third-party liability claims against general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers whose negligence created the dangerous condition.

Westwood’s ongoing residential development, commercial renovation projects, and infrastructure work along its major corridors create construction zones where workers and the public face daily hazards. OSHA construction standards require employers to maintain safe working conditions, but violations remain common. When those violations lead to injuries, the injured worker or bystander has the right to pursue compensation beyond what workers’ compensation provides. A construction accident attorney in Westwood, CA can evaluate the circumstances of the injury, identify all liable parties, and pursue full damages through a third-party claim.

Types of Construction Accident Cases We Handle in Westwood

Construction sites present a wide range of hazards, and the type of accident determines which safety standards were violated and which parties may be held responsible. We handle construction accident cases throughout Westwood, including:

• Falls from heights. Rooftops, scaffolding, ladders, and elevated platforms are the leading source of fatal and serious injuries in the construction industry. Falls often result from missing guardrails, improperly secured scaffolding, or failure to provide fall protection equipment to workers.
• Scaffolding collapses. Improperly assembled, overloaded, or poorly maintained scaffolding can collapse without warning. Workers on the scaffold and anyone below it are at risk of catastrophic injury when a structure gives way.
• Struck-by accidents. Falling tools, building materials, and unsecured loads dropped from above account for a significant share of construction site injuries and fatalities. Workers on the ground who are not provided with hard hats or exclusion zones face the greatest risk.
• Electrocution injuries. Contact with live power lines, exposed wiring, and improperly grounded equipment causes electrocution deaths and severe burn injuries on construction sites. These incidents often stem from a failure to de-energize electrical systems before work begins.
• Trench and excavation collapses. An unshored trench can collapse in seconds, burying workers under thousands of pounds of soil. These accidents are among the most preventable on a construction site and among the most deadly when they occur.
• Crane and heavy equipment accidents. Crane collapses, tip-overs, and equipment malfunctions can injure operators, ground workers, and bystanders. Defective equipment, operator error, and failure to follow load capacity limits are common contributing factors.
• Toxic substance exposure. Asbestos, lead, silica dust, chemical solvents, and other hazardous materials are present on many construction sites. Prolonged exposure without proper respiratory protection can cause lung disease, cancer, and other serious health conditions.
• Falling object injuries. Debris, tools, and construction materials that fall from upper floors or rooftops injure workers and pedestrians below. Property owners and contractors are responsible for securing materials and establishing safety perimeters around active work zones.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as My Construction Accident Lawyer in Westwood, CA?

Standing Up for Injured Workers and Their Families

Attorney Wayne R. Cohen earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law after graduating with distinction from the University of Michigan. His legal commentary has appeared in CNBC, the LA Times, USA Today, and the ABA Journal. Wayne serves as a Professorial Lecturer at GWU Law School and founded Cohen Injury Law Group. He has represented personal injury clients since 1991, building more than 35 years of plaintiff-side experience. Over his career, attorney Wayne Cohen has recovered millions of dollars for clients with serious injuries.

As Managing Partner, Nicholas E. Cohen oversees case strategy and firm operations. He is a graduate of USC and Loyola Law School Los Angeles.

If you need a personal injury lawyer in Westwood, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group represents injured construction workers and their families exclusively. We do not represent contractors, property owners, or insurance carriers. Every construction accident case is handled on a contingency basis.

What Is Important to Understand About a Construction Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Construction Accident Cases

Construction accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries. Spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, crushed limbs, amputations, and severe burns are all common outcomes of falls, collapses, and equipment failures on job sites. The cost of treating these injuries is often substantial, and many injured workers face permanent disability.

Economic damages in a construction accident case include hospital bills, surgical costs, rehabilitation, prescription medication, assistive devices, and lost wages. When an injury prevents a worker from returning to their trade, diminished future earning capacity becomes a major component of the claim. Noneconomic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the broader impact the injury has had on the worker and their family. In cases where a construction accident results in a death, the worker’s family may pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties.

What Are Important Aspects of a Construction Accident Case?

Construction injury claims involve factual and legal issues that require specific attention from the outset.

• Third-party liability is what separates a construction accident claim from a standard workers’ compensation case. While workers’ compensation covers medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, a third-party claim allows the injured worker to pursue full damages, including pain and suffering, from a negligent contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer.
• Identifying all responsible parties is one of the most important steps. A general contractor, a subcontractor, the property owner, an equipment rental company, and a product manufacturer can all share liability depending on the facts.
• OSHA violations are strong evidence of negligence. If a contractor failed to provide fall protection, failed to shore a trench, or allowed workers to operate near live electrical systems without proper safeguards, those violations can establish the duty that was breached.
• Workers’ compensation does not prevent you from filing a separate civil claim against a third party. The two claims can proceed at the same time, and recovery from one does not eliminate the other.

What Is the Construction Accident Case Timeline?

Construction accident cases can take longer to resolve than other personal injury claims because the liability questions are often more complex and the injuries more severe. A general outline follows.

• Medical treatment and stabilization come first. Many construction injuries require emergency surgery, extended hospitalization, and months of rehabilitation before the injured worker reaches maximum medical improvement.
• Your attorney investigates the accident, reviews OSHA inspection reports and citations, gathers witness statements, and identifies every party whose negligence contributed to the injury.
• Once treatment is complete, your attorney calculates the total value of the claim and sends a demand to the responsible parties and their insurers.
• If settlement negotiations do not produce a fair result, your attorney files a civil lawsuit. Discovery, depositions, and trial preparation follow.
• California provides a two-year statute of limitations under CCP 335.1 for personal injury claims, including construction accident cases.

What Should You Bring to Your Construction Accident Consultation?

Gathering your documentation before the first meeting allows your attorney to begin building the case immediately.

• Any OSHA reports, incident reports, or safety violation records from the job site
• Photographs of the accident scene, the equipment involved, and your injuries
• Medical records and bills from emergency treatment and ongoing care
• Documentation of lost wages and any changes in your employment status
• The names of your employer, the general contractor, and any subcontractors working on the site

Your attorney will review the available materials, explain how California personal injury law and workers’ compensation interact, and outline the next steps in pursuing your claim.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Construction Accident Cases?

California law and federal safety regulations both apply to construction accident claims. The following resources provide a starting point for locating the applicable statutes and standards.

• CCP 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California, including construction accident cases.
• California Civil Code 1714 defines the general duty of care that contractors, property owners, and all other persons owe to others.
• The California Courts Self-Help Center provides guidance on filing a personal injury lawsuit and what to expect during the litigation process.
• OSHA’s construction industry page provides federal safety standards, compliance resources, and enforcement data applicable to construction job sites.
• OSHA’s fall protection resources address the leading cause of death in the construction industry and outline the employer obligations designed to prevent falls from heights.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured on a construction site in Westwood, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group can help you determine whether a third-party liability claim is available in addition to workers’ compensation. We handle construction accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Your first consultation is free. Contact us to schedule a case review.