Construction & Work Site Accident Attorneys in Liberty & Kansas City, Missouri

Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in the country, even with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and employer safety practices in place. Falls, equipment failures, and negligent subcontractors cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries every year.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a worksite accident caused by a third party such as a subcontractor, a property owner, or a defective product, you may have a claim for compensation beyond what workers' compensation provides.

At Dougherty & Holloway, our attorneys have more than 30 years of experience handling third-party claims for individuals injured on construction sites throughout Missouri and Kansas. We can evaluate whether a third-party claim is available in your case and explain how pursuing that claim may affect your existing workers' compensation coverage.

Workers' Compensation vs. Third-Party Claims

If you are injured on a construction site, your employer's workers' compensation insurance will typically cover a portion of your medical expenses and lost wages. However, workers' comp has significant limitations. It does not cover pain and suffering, it often does not fully replace your lost income, and it may not account for long-term impacts on your ability to work.

A third-party claim is separate from workers' compensation. It allows you to pursue compensation from a party other than your employer who contributed to your injury. This could be a subcontractor whose negligence caused the accident, a property owner who failed to maintain a safe site, or a manufacturer whose defective equipment or product caused your injury.

Unlike workers' compensation, a third-party claim can include compensation for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and future earning capacity. Dougherty & Holloway can evaluate your situation and determine whether a third-party claim is available alongside your workers' comp benefits.

Construction & Work Site Cases We Handle

Falls & Structural

  • Falls from roofs, scaffolding, and elevations
  • Falling objects and debris
  • Trench collapses and cave-ins
  • Highway work zone accidents

Equipment & Products

  • Forklift and heavy machinery accidents
  • Work vehicle collisions
  • Defective construction equipment or tools
  • Injuries from dangerous materials and chemicals

Liability

  • Subcontractor negligence
  • Co-employee liability
  • Unsafe equipment provided by a third party
  • Property owner negligence

This list is not exhaustive. If you were injured on a construction or work site due to a third party's negligence or a defective product, contact us to discuss your options.

How We Handle Your Construction Accident Case

Evaluate Your Claims

We review the circumstances of your accident to determine whether you have a third-party claim in addition to workers' compensation. Many injured workers do not realize additional compensation may be available to them.

Investigate the Accident

We investigate the accident site, review OSHA reports and safety records, identify all parties involved, and determine who bears responsibility for the conditions that caused your injury.

Identify All Liable Parties

Construction accidents often involve multiple responsible parties, including subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and general contractors. We pursue every available source of recovery.

Fight for Full Compensation

We pursue compensation beyond what workers' comp provides, including pain and suffering, full lost wages, future earning capacity, and medical expenses not covered by your employer's insurance. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to trial.

Construction Accident FAQ

Can I sue my employer for a construction site injury?

In most cases, workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your employer, meaning you cannot file a separate lawsuit against them. However, if a third party such as a subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer contributed to your injury, you may file a separate claim against that party for additional compensation beyond what workers' comp provides.

What is a third-party claim and how is it different from workers' comp?

Workers' compensation is a no-fault system that provides limited benefits for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. A third-party claim is a separate legal action filed against someone other than your employer whose negligence caused or contributed to your injury. Third-party claims can include compensation for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and future earning capacity, none of which are available through workers' comp alone.

Will filing a third-party claim affect my workers' compensation benefits?

Filing a third-party claim does not eliminate your workers' compensation benefits. However, if you recover compensation through a third-party claim, your workers' comp carrier may have a right to reimbursement for benefits it has already paid. An experienced attorney can help you navigate this process and maximize your total recovery.

What should I do after a construction site accident?

Report the accident to your employer and seek medical attention immediately. Document the scene with photos if possible, including the equipment involved, the conditions at the site, and any safety violations you observed. Do not give a recorded statement to anyone other than your own attorney. Contact Dougherty & Holloway to discuss whether you have a third-party claim in addition to workers' compensation.

Related Practice Areas

Request a free consultation or call (816) 891-9990.

About Dougherty & Holloway, LLC

Dougherty & Holloway, LLC is a personal injury law firm based in Liberty, Missouri, serving clients throughout Kansas City, Clay County, and the surrounding communities in Missouri and Kansas. Our partners, Ed Dougherty and Philip Holloway, bring more than 70 years of combined trial experience to every case we handle.

We focus exclusively on personal injury law, including car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, semi-truck collisions, traumatic brain injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death, slip and fall, nursing home abuse, product defect, construction site, highway and guardrail, and other personal injury claims. Every consultation is free and confidential, and we work on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Ed and Phil personally handle every case from intake through trial. You will never be passed off to a junior associate or a call center. To learn more, read who we are, review our verdicts and settlements, or contact us directly. You can also request a free consultation online or call (816) 891-9990.