Trial Lawyers for Construction
& Workplace â Third-Party & Product Liability
Construction remains one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. – about one in five workplace deaths occur in construction. When general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers cut corners on safety, the consequences are devastating. Our job is to uncover what went wrong, hold every responsible party accountable, and secure full compensation beyond workersâ compensation benefits.
You may have two paths after a jobsite injury: (1) workersâ compensation, and (2) a third-party or products liability claim against those outside your direct employer – such as site owners, architects, other trades, or equipment makers – when their negligence or defective products caused the harm. At McEldrew Purtell we focus on third-party and product liability claims that have resulted in catastrophic injury or wrongful death.
Construction & Workplace Injury Trial Lawyers
With decades of experience in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, our team knows how to move quickly: preserve evidence, secure OSHA and site records, inspect equipment, and coordinate experts in construction safety, human factors, and product design.
Our Results
McEldrew Purtell has a proven track record of maximizing recovery for our clients.
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Navigating Construction & Workplace Catastrophic Injuries: ThirdâParty & Product Liability
This guide is for individuals and families affected by catastrophic injuries or wrongful death arising on construction sites or other workplaces, where someone other than the employer (a third party) or a defective product may be legally responsible.
Ways We Can Help
Construction and workplace incidents caused by third parties or defective products can upend lives in an instant. These cases are uniquely complex – often involving multiple contractors and site owners, equipment manufacturers, layered insurance policies, and detailed safety rules (including OSHA and industry standards). Our construction injury and products liability team moves quickly to secure evidence, identify every responsible party, and pursue full compensation beyond workersâ comp. Weâre ready to stand with you, uncover what went wrong, and fight for the accountability and resources you and your family deserve.
Falls: Scaffolds, Ladders & Roof Work
Falls remain a major source of fatal and life-changing injuries. We pursue claims arising from improper fall protection, unstable scaffolds, defective ladders, and inadequate training or supervision – often implicating general contractors, site safety managers, and equipment suppliers.
Forklifts & Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT)
PIT incidents often involve struck-by events, tip-overs, or crush injuries. Cases may target negligent site operators and, where applicable, defective design (visibility, stability, guarding, warnings) or inadequate maintenance programs.
Crane, Hoist & Rigging Failures
We investigate load charts, rigging plans, ground conditions, and supervision to determine whether contractors or site owners ignored clear safety rules – bringing claims for catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
Electrical, LOTO & Machine Guarding
Electrocutions, arc flash, unguarded points of operation, and missing lockout/tagout procedures are classic third-party failures on multi-employer jobsites. We identify which entity controlled the hazard and why safeguards were missing.
Trenching, Excavation & Structural/Building Collapse
Collapses are frequently preventable with shoring, sloping, and competent-person oversight. We pursue claims against site controllers who failed to enforce OSHA compliance and safe sequencing.
Toxic Exposures & Respiratory Protection
Silica, solvents, isocyanates, and other toxins can lead to permanent injury. We bring third-party and products cases for inadequate ventilation, missing respiratory programs, and defective PPE/containment. Respiratory protection and hazard communication standards often apply.
Defective Tools, Equipment & Safety Products
From nail guns and saws to lifts and fall-arrest systems, product-defect theories (design, manufacturing, warnings) can support separate recoveries against manufacturers and distributors.
Premises Hazards on Jobsites
Property owners and construction managers must maintain reasonably safe conditions, communicate job rules, warn about known hazards, and hire responsible contractors. When they donât, we bring premises and negligent-supervision claims.
Caught-In/Between & Crush Injuries
Severe injuries can occur when workers are pinned by heavy equipment, materials, or collapsing structures. We pursue third-party and product claims arising from unsafe sequencing, missing spotters, faulty traffic or lift plans, inadequate guarding, and defective machines or alarms – holding general contractors, subcontractors, rental companies, and manufacturers accountable.
Donât Just Take Our Word For It
Hear From Our Clients
At McEldrew Purtell, results matter and so does the way we achieve them. While our case outcomes reflect our tenacity in court and at the negotiation table, itâs the voices of our clients that truly capture who we are and why we do this work.
We represent people at the worst moments of their lives: after catastrophic injuries, workplace tragedies, and preventable losses. Through every case, we aim to deliver not just compensation but clarity, confidence, and care.
If youâre considering working with a Philadelphia trial lawyer, we invite you to read what our clients have said about their experiences with McEldrew Purtell. Their words are the most powerful testament to our values, our dedication, and our results.
Learn More
Wrongful Death on a Jobsite: How Third-Party Claims Deliver Beyond Workersâ Comp Death Benefits
Losing a loved one in a workplace incident is devastating. In the immediate aftermath, most families are told, âworkersâ comp will handle it.â While workersâ compensation death benefits are important, they are limited by design. In many jobsite tragedies, another…
Why Philadelphia Construction Cases Are Different: Union Trades, Dense Sites, and Complex Logistics
Construction in Philadelphia isnât like construction everywhere else. Union trade structures, tight urban jobsites, and delivery/hoisting logistics create a web of responsibilities that can make or break a construction injury case. If you or a loved one was hurt on…
Electrocution & Arc Flash: LOTO, PPE, and Machine Guarding Gaps That Prove Negligence
Electrical work is dangerous when employers cut corners. When a worker suffers an electrocution, shock, or arc-flash burn, the root cause is often simple: the company failed to lock out energy, supply the right protective gear, or guard hazardous machinery.…
Disturbingly High Number of Hostile and Threatening Workplaces
A study of 3,066 U.S. workers found that nearly one in five employees face a hostile or threatening environment at work. The unemployment rate may be at a 16-year low in 2017, but the study indicates everything is not well…
FAQs
Get answers to commonly asked questions regarding construction & workplace injuries and learn how we can help with your case.
What is a third-party claim, and how is it different from workersâ compensation?
Workersâ compensation is typically your remedy against your direct employer. A third-party claim targets othersâlike property owners, GCs/subs, architects/engineers, or equipment manufacturersâwhose negligence or defective products contributed to your injury. These cases can provide damages in addition to workersâ comp (pain and suffering, full wage loss, etc.).
Who can be held liable on a construction site?
Depending on control and fault: property owners, site architects, general contractors, subcontractors, and equipment manufacturers may be responsible. Liability often turns on whether they enforced safety standards, communicated job rules, warned about hazards, and hired/supervised responsibly.
What safety rules are most often involved?
Recurring problem areas include fall protection, ladders, scaffolding, powered industrial trucks, respiratory protection, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, and eye/face protectionâall frequently cited OSHA standards. We use these rules to prove notice, feasibility, and causation.
Can I pursue a third-party case if Iâm already getting workersâ comp?
Yes. Many clients have both: workersâ comp for employer-related benefits and a separate lawsuit against negligent third parties or product manufacturers. Coordinating the cases helps maximize overall recovery.
What evidence should I preserve after a jobsite incident?
Photos/video of the scene and equipment, names of witnesses and companies on site, copies of daily reports/JHAs, your medical records, and any OSHA or internal safety findings. We send preservation notices immediately and, when needed, seek court orders for inspections.
Do I need an OSHA citation to win my case?
No. OSHA findings can help, but theyâre not required. We prove negligence and defect through industry standards, expert analysis, and the site partiesâ own documents and training records.