Legally Reviewed by Daniel Setareh on October 2, 2026
A construction site can change from routine to dangerous in seconds. Across Fresno and the Central Valley, crews work on commercial buildings, housing developments, road and utility projects, and large infrastructure jobs, often at height, around heavy equipment, and under tight schedules. When something goes wrong, a worker can face broken bones, burns, head injuries, or worse, along with lost paychecks and medical bills. Most people hurt on a job site have questions about who is responsible, what their options are, and what they should or should not say to an insurance adjuster.
Setareh Law, APLC Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers is a personal injury law firm that serves injured workers and their families in Fresno, California and across the state, with 60 years of combined experience, more than 900 five-star reviews, and seven office locations. Construction accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay a fee only if we get results, and we offer home and hospital visits and se habla español.
⚠ Time-Sensitive Notice for Injured Construction Workers
Most construction injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years, and claims against a public entity can have a deadline as short as 6 months. Do not wait to find out which deadline applies to you.
60 years of combined experience, more than 900 five-star reviews, and no fee unless we get results. Home and hospital visits are available.
Construction Site Injuries in Fresno
Fresno’s construction activity ranges from new homes and shopping centers along corridors like Blackstone Avenue and Shaw Avenue to roadwork, utility trenches, and agricultural and industrial buildings across Fresno County. Each type of project brings its own hazards, and many sites involve several companies working side by side, including a general contractor, subcontractors, equipment suppliers, and the property owner. Hot Central Valley summers add heat and fatigue, and winter tule fog can reduce visibility around trucks and equipment.
That crowded, fast-moving setup is one reason construction cases are more complicated than most injury claims. In many cases, a company other than the injured person’s employer, such as another contractor, an equipment maker, or a property owner, may share responsibility for what happened. Identifying those parties early can make a real difference in what you are able to recover.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Construction injuries tend to follow familiar patterns, and the cause often points toward who may be responsible.
Falls From Heights and Scaffolding
Falls from roofs, scaffolds, floor openings, and unprotected edges can cause spinal, head, and multiple-fracture injuries. Missing guardrails, poorly assembled scaffolds, and inadequate fall protection are common factors.
Ladder Accidents
Ladders can slip, tip, or fail when they are damaged, placed on uneven ground, or used for a task they were not designed to handle. A defective ladder may also raise a product claim.
Electrocution and Burns
Contact with overhead power lines, exposed wiring, or energized equipment can cause cardiac injuries, severe burns, and nerve damage. Explosions and fires add chemical and thermal burn risks.
Struck-By and Caught-In Accidents
Falling tools, swinging loads, shifting materials, and collapsing walls can strike workers, and some workers are crushed between equipment or materials.
Heavy Machinery and Forklift Accidents
Cranes, excavators, loaders, and forklifts can tip, roll, or hit workers who are outside the operator’s line of sight. Poor training, faulty maintenance, and mechanical defects can all play a role.
Trench and Excavation Collapses
Walls of soil can give way with little warning and bury a worker. Collapses often point to missing shoring, sloping, or other protective systems.
Many accidents involve more than one of these factors, which is why the scene, the equipment, and the site records should be reviewed together.
Third-Party Construction Injury Claims
A third-party claim is an injury claim against a company or person other than your own employer whose negligence or defective product helped cause the accident. On a construction site, that may include a general contractor, a subcontractor who is not your employer, an equipment manufacturer, or a property owner. These claims are built on proof that the other party owed a duty of care, failed to meet it or sold a defective product, and that the failure caused your injuries.
| Feature | Third-Party Injury Claim |
|---|---|
| Who it is against | A company or person other than your employer, such as another contractor, a manufacturer, or a property owner |
| What must be shown | Negligence or a product defect that caused the injury |
| What it may cover | Medical costs, lost income, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages |
| Typical deadline | 2 years for most injury claims, and 6 months to present a claim against a public entity |
Whether more than one party shares responsibility depends on who controlled the site, who supplied the equipment, and what caused the accident.
Who May Be Liable for a Construction Accident
Identifying every responsible party is one of the most important early steps, because each may carry its own insurance coverage.
General Contractors
A general contractor often controls the schedule, the site layout, and safety coordination. When unsafe conditions on the site contribute to an injury, a general contractor that is not your employer may share responsibility.
Subcontractors
Another trade’s work can create hazards for everyone nearby, such as unguarded openings, loose materials, or exposed wiring. A subcontractor that is not your employer may be a target of a third-party claim.
Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers
Defective scaffolds, ladders, harnesses, power tools, and machinery can fail even when used properly. Manufacturers, distributors, and rental companies may be responsible when a defect causes an injury.
Property Owners and Developers
An owner who controls the site or knows about a dangerous condition may share responsibility, particularly for visitors, delivery drivers, inspectors, and others who are not employed on the project.
Cal/OSHA’s own rules recognize that several employers can contribute to a hazard on the same site. Under Labor Code section 6400, citations on multiemployer worksites can be issued to the employer whose workers were exposed, the employer that created the hazard, the employer responsible for safety conditions on the site, and the employer responsible for correcting the hazard. A citation does not decide a civil claim, but the investigation can point to who controlled what.
You do not need to be a construction employee to have a claim. Delivery drivers, inspectors, design professionals, and members of the public who are hurt near a work zone may be able to pursue an injury claim against the responsible parties directly. If a government agency owns or operates the project, special notice rules and a much shorter deadline apply.
Cal/OSHA and Construction Safety Rules
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, sets and enforces workplace safety standards, including rules for scaffolds, fall protection, excavations, electrical hazards, and machinery. Workers who see unsafe conditions can file a workplace safety complaint with the agency.
When a serious injury or death occurs, employers are required to report it. Under Title 8, section 342 of the California Code of Regulations, that report is due immediately, and no later than 8 hours after the employer knows or should have known about it, with a limited extension to 24 hours when exigent circumstances exist. These reports and any resulting inspection can create records that may become important evidence. Safety violations are not the only way to prove a case, but they can help show what a company knew and what it failed to correct.
What to Do After a Construction Accident in Fresno
The steps you take in the first days can protect both your health and your rights.
1. Get Medical Care Right Away
Call 911 for any serious injury and tell every provider that the injury happened at work. Adrenaline can hide pain, and head, back, and internal injuries are not always obvious.
2. Report the Accident
Tell your supervisor or the site manager what happened and ask that an incident report be made. Note who you told and when.
3. Keep Every Record
Save medical bills, prescriptions, work restriction notes, pay stubs, and messages about the accident. These records help show the full cost of the injury.
4. Document the Scene
If you are able, or a coworker can help, photograph the area, equipment, warning signs, and your injuries. Note the names of the companies working on the site.
5. Identify Witnesses
Write down the names of coworkers and others who saw what happened or who know about the conditions beforehand. Memories fade quickly.
6. Talk to a Lawyer Before Statements
Insurance adjusters may ask for recorded statements early. You can decline until you have spoken with an attorney, and you should avoid posting about the accident online.
Hurt on a Fresno Job Site? Talk With Setareh Law Today
Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we get results. Home and hospital visits are available.
Evidence That Can Strengthen a Construction Accident Claim
Construction cases depend on records that are often controlled by the companies involved. Useful evidence can include the incident report, photographs and video of the scene, site logs and daily reports, safety meeting records, training and certification records, equipment inspection and maintenance files, contracts that show who controlled the work, and any Cal/OSHA inspection documents. Phone photos and messages from coworkers may also show conditions that existed before the accident.
Medical records are just as important. They link each injury to the accident, show the care you needed, and support future treatment costs. Keep every bill, prescription receipt, work restriction note, and record of missed shifts. Because job-site cameras and equipment can be overwritten, repaired, or removed, an attorney may send a written request asking the companies involved to preserve this evidence.
Common Injuries in Construction Accidents
Construction injuries are often severe because of the heights, weights, voltages, and forces involved. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries and concussions, spinal cord injuries that can lead to partial or full paralysis, broken bones and crush injuries, severe burns from electrical contact or fires, amputations, eye injuries, hearing loss, and internal organ damage. Repetitive strain and exposure to hazardous materials can also cause harm over time.
These injuries may require emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment, and some workers cannot return to the same job. A fair evaluation looks at both current bills and long-term needs, including how the injury may affect your ability to earn a living in the future.
Compensation Available After a Construction Accident
In a third-party claim, an injured worker or visitor may be able to pursue several categories of damages.
| Category | What It May Cover |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and future treatment. |
| Lost income | Wages missed during recovery and reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to your trade. |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, and the effect of the injuries on daily life. |
| Loss of enjoyment of life | The loss of activities and routines you enjoyed before the accident. |
| Property damage | Tools, equipment, and personal property damaged in the accident, where applicable. |
| Wrongful death damages | When an accident is fatal, eligible family members may pursue funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship. |
Every case is different, and results depend on the facts, the injuries, and the insurance available.
How Insurance Companies Handle Construction Accident Claims
Construction claims often involve several insurers, and each has its own interests.
Disputing the Cause
An insurer may argue that the injury was not work related, that it came from a prior condition, or that the worker did not follow site rules.
Pointing to Other Companies
On a multi-contractor site, each company and insurer may point toward someone else, which can slow a claim.
Early, Low Offers
A quick settlement offer may arrive before the full extent of your injuries and future care needs are known.
Recorded Statements
Casual answers about how you feel or how the accident happened can be used later to question your claim.
Having an attorney handle communications with insurers allows you to focus on recovery, and it helps make sure statements and paperwork are accurate and consistent.
Statute of Limitations for Fresno Construction Accident Cases
Deadlines are some of the most important parts of a construction claim, and they can be much shorter when a public entity is involved.
| Type of Claim | Deadline | Clock Starts |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party injury claim | 2 years | Date of the accident |
| Wrongful death claim | 2 years | Date of death |
| Claim against a city, county, or other public entity | 6 months to present a government claim | Date of the accident |
These are general rules, and exceptions can apply. Do not rely on a deadline you have worked out yourself. The California Courts self-help guide on deadlines to sue explains how time limits work in general. Missing a deadline can be irreversible, so contact Setareh Law as soon as you can.
How Setareh Law Handles Your Construction Accident Case
Every case starts with a one-on-one conversation. We listen to what happened, review your injuries and medical needs, and explain how a third-party claim may apply to your situation. If you cannot travel, we can meet you at home or at the hospital.
From there, our team gathers incident reports, photographs, witness accounts, site records, contracts, and medical records, and works with engineers and safety consultants when a case calls for it. We identify each company that may share responsibility, handle communications with insurers, calculate the full value of your losses, negotiate for fair compensation, and file a lawsuit when that is the right step. Because we work on contingency, you pay a fee only if we get results, and Spanish-speaking clients can work with our team in their own language.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fresno Construction Accidents
Do I have a valid construction accident case in Fresno?
You may have a claim if you were hurt on a construction site because of unsafe conditions, defective equipment, or the actions of a company other than your employer. These claims are usually brought against a party other than your employer, such as a contractor, an equipment manufacturer, or a property owner. The right way to find out is to talk with an attorney about what happened, and Setareh Law offers free case reviews.
What is the deadline to file a construction accident claim in California?
Most injury and wrongful death lawsuits against a contractor, manufacturer, property owner, or other party must be filed within 2 years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a city, county, or other public entity may be responsible, a government claim generally must be presented within 6 months under Government Code section 911.2. Because these deadlines can be irreversible, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
How much does it cost to hire a construction accident lawyer in Fresno?
Setareh Law handles construction accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay an attorney fee only if we get results, and your initial consultation is free. We encourage you to ask about fees and costs during your case review so you know what to expect.
Can family members file a claim if a construction worker died in an accident?
In California, certain family members, such as a spouse, domestic partner, or children, and in some cases other dependents, may bring a wrongful death claim against a responsible party other than the employer, such as another contractor, an equipment manufacturer, or a property owner. These claims may recover funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship. The wrongful death deadline is generally 2 years from the date of death.
What if I was hurt on a Fresno job site that is owned by a city or county?
Many Fresno-area projects, such as road, utility, and school work, are owned by a public agency. If a dangerous condition of the agency’s property contributed to your injury, a government claim generally must be presented within 6 months. Private contractors working on the same project can still be responsible for their own negligence, and those claims follow the 2-year deadline. Because the timeline is short, you should get the facts reviewed quickly.
Can a Cal/OSHA citation help my construction accident claim?
It can. Under Labor Code section 6304.5, Cal/OSHA safety orders may be considered in a negligence case against a party other than your employer to help show what safe practice required. A citation does not decide the claim by itself, but the inspection file, photographs, and findings can be useful evidence, so an attorney should request them early.
Talk to a Fresno Construction Accident Lawyer Today
Setareh Law brings 60 years of combined experience, more than 900 five-star client reviews, and seven California offices to every construction accident case. We treat each client as a person first, and we take the time to understand how the accident changed your work and your life.
If you were hurt in a construction accident in Fresno, contact Setareh Law for a free case review, or call (310) 659-1826. There is no fee unless we get results, and se habla español.
