Who Is Liable for Injuries on a Construction Site?

Liability for injuries on a construction site can fall on multiple parties, including contractors, subcontractors, property owners, employers, or even equipment manufacturers, depending on the cause of the accident and who was responsible for the unsafe condition.

Construction sites are high-risk environments, and serious injuries can happen when safety protocols aren’t followed. Determining who is at fault can be challenging, especially when several companies or individuals are working on the same project. An Atlanta workers compensation lawyer can help identify all potentially liable parties and explore additional legal options outside of workers’ compensation benefits.

In some situations, injured workers may be limited to workers’ compensation. However, if someone other than their employer contributed to the incident, there may be a valid third-party injury claim that allows for additional compensation, including pain and suffering.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Construction Injury?

At John Foy & Associates, we’ve represented many clients injured on construction sites, and we know how difficult it is to figure out who’s legally responsible. Our job is to dig into every detail and determine who had control over the hazard that caused your injury—and who can be held accountable.

Depending on the circumstances, one or more of the following may be liable:

• General contractors: We often see these parties held responsible when they fail to manage overall site safety or ignore known hazards.
  
• Subcontractors: If someone working under a separate contract creates an unsafe condition, they can be held accountable for injuries to others on-site.
  
• Property owners: In some cases, property owners who knew about dangerous conditions but failed to address them may be liable.
  
• Employers: While workers’ compensation generally covers direct employers, we always look closely to see if they violated key safety protocols.
  
• Equipment manufacturers: If a tool, vehicle, or piece of machinery malfunctioned and caused harm, the manufacturer might be at fault.

We take time to investigate every possible source of liability, because when multiple parties are involved, they often point fingers at each other. Our team focuses on the facts and the law, not distractions.

How Georgia Law Handles Construction Site Injuries

Under Georgia law, most injured workers qualify for workers’ compensation, which covers medical bills and part of their lost income. But we want you to know that workers’ comp isn’t your only option, especially if someone outside your employer contributed to your injury.

As personal injury attorneys serving Georgia for more than 20 years, we understand how to evaluate complex construction accident cases. Third-party liability claims are often the missing piece in getting full compensation. While workers’ compensation provides basic benefits, it doesn’t account for things like long-term pain or the emotional toll of a life-altering injury.

We investigate your case thoroughly to determine whether another party—like a negligent contractor or an equipment supplier—can be held legally responsible alongside your employer.

When Third-Party Claims May Apply

One of the most important things we do in these cases is look beyond the immediate employer. Third-party claims can lead to significantly higher compensation when:

• A subcontractor creates a hazard: We’ve handled cases where one subcontractor’s negligence seriously injured someone from another crew.
  
• A property owner ignores known dangers: When owners fail to correct or warn about safety hazards on their property, we hold them accountable.
  
• Defective equipment fails during use: We have the resources to trace accidents back to faulty design or manufacturing defects, even when the danger isn’t obvious at first.

If any party other than your employer contributed to your injury, you may be entitled to recover damages beyond what workers’ compensation offers.

Evidence That Can Help Prove Liability

We build strong cases by gathering every piece of relevant evidence. When we take on a construction injury case, we look for:

• Photos or videos of the scene: These help preserve what the site looked like before anything was changed or cleaned up.
  
• Witness statements: Testimony from coworkers or others nearby can offer insight into what happened and who was at fault.
  
• OSHA reports: If the site had safety violations or had been reported before, it could support your claim of negligence.
  
• Maintenance and safety records: These help show whether equipment was inspected regularly or if warning signs were ignored.

We act fast to secure these documents before they disappear—and we know how to use them to support your case.

What Injured Construction Workers Can Recover

When a third-party claim is possible, we push to recover full damages. This includes compensation that workers’ comp doesn’t cover, such as:

• Medical expenses: Covering both emergency care and long-term treatment.
  
• Lost wages: For time missed at work, including reduced hours or forced job changes.
  
• Loss of earning potential: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous line of work.
  
• Pain and suffering: For the physical and emotional challenges you face during recovery.
  
• Punitive damages: In rare cases, when the responsible party’s actions were especially reckless or dangerous.

We fight for every dollar you’re owed—because your future shouldn’t be limited by someone else’s negligence.

Talk to Us About Your Construction Injury

At John Foy & Associates, we’re proud to represent hardworking Georgians injured on job sites across the state. We know construction is physically demanding work, and we respect the people who do it. When something goes wrong, we’re here to help you get the care and compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one was hurt on a construction site, don’t try to sort out liability on your own. Let us handle the investigation while you focus on healing. We charge nothing upfront, and you don’t pay us unless we win for you.