Construction Accident Attorney

The Key QuestionL&I Isn't Always Your Only Option

If you were hurt on the job, your first — and often only — thought is workers' compensation through Washington's Department of Labor & Industries. L&I matters, and you should file. But it's rarely the whole story on a construction site, where several different companies work side by side.

On a busy site, multiple employers, subs, and suppliers are usually present — which is exactly why a construction injury so often involves a responsible third party that a worker never thinks to look for.

L&I vs. Third-PartyWhat Each Claim Covers

The two claims do different jobs, and having both is often what makes an injured worker whole:

• Your L&I claim provides medical coverage and a portion of lost wages, regardless of fault — but it does not pay for pain and suffering, and it replaces only part of your income.
• A third-party claim can recover the rest: full lost earnings and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages a negligent third party caused.

You don't have to choose one over the other. In many cases you receive L&I benefits and pursue a third-party claim at the same time. L&I may assert a right to be repaid out of a third-party recovery, and coordinating that the right way is one of the most valuable things an attorney does on these cases — done well, it can leave you meaningfully better off than L&I alone.

Common CausesHow Construction Injuries Happen — and Who May Be Liable

The injuries we see on Puyallup-area sites commonly arise from:

• Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and unprotected edges.
• Struck-by incidents — falling tools or materials, or moving equipment and vehicles.
• Caught-in or crushing injuries involving machinery, trenches, or collapses.
• Electrocutions and contact with power sources.
• Defective or poorly maintained equipment and tools.

Each of those points toward a possible third party: a scaffolding company, an equipment manufacturer, a site's general contractor responsible for safety, another subcontractor, or a property owner. Identifying who — beyond your employer — created the hazard is the heart of the case.

Right AwayWhat to Do After a Construction Site Injury

What you do early protects both your L&I claim and any third-party claim:

1. Report the injury to your employer and get medical care promptly — many injured workers in this area are treated at MultiCare Good Samaritan.
2. File your L&I claim. It has its own separate, shorter reporting deadlines, so don't delay.
3. Document the scene — photos of what caused the injury, the equipment involved, and the companies working on site.
4. Get witness information from coworkers and other trades before people move to different job sites.
5. Talk to an attorney before giving any recorded statement, so a potential third-party claim isn't lost.

Washington LawDeadlines & Shared Fault

We handle third-party construction injury claims on a contingency-fee basis — no attorney fee upfront, a fee only if we recover for you. You work directly with Rob Lloyd and Tim Greene.

This page provides general information about Washington law and is not legal advice. Whether a third-party claim exists, and which deadlines apply, depends on the specific facts of your case; contact us to discuss your situation.