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Boston, MA Construction Accidents Attorney
If you were hurt on a construction site in Boston, you usually have two claims: workers' compensation under M.G.L. c. 152, which pays medical care and roughly sixty percent of lost wages regardless of fault, and a separate negligence suit against the general contractor, other subcontractors, the property owner or the maker of defective equipment.
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The short answer for Boston
A Massachusetts construction injury usually proceeds on two tracks at the same time. The first is a workers compensation claim under M.G.L. c. 152, which pays medical care and roughly sixty percent of lost wages regardless of fault but is the exclusive remedy against the worker's own employer. The second, and often the larger, is a third-party negligence suit against the other companies whose conduct contributed to the injury: the general contractor, other subcontractors, the property owner, or the maker of defective equipment or staging. Federal OSHA construction standards at 29 C.F.R. Part 1926 set the safety baseline, and a documented violation helps establish negligence in the third-party case. The two tracks run together, with a workers compensation lien resolved against any third-party recovery. The third-party claim is subject to the three-year limitations period under M.G.L. c. 260 sec. 2A. Jim Glaser Law evaluates Massachusetts construction cases at no cost. Third-party construction matters are accepted on contingency, meaning no attorney's fee unless and until the matter resolves with a recovery to the client; case-related costs and expenses are addressed in the written fee agreement.
The full Massachusetts rules, statutes and typical timeline are on the construction accidents page; this page covers what is specific to Boston.
Courts that serve Boston for construction accidents matters
Boston is served by the Boston Municipal Court, which M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1 divides into eight divisions (Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury), each covering a set of Boston wards, so which division hears a case depends on the neighborhood. Boston is in Suffolk County, so a Superior Court case brought by a Boston resident goes to the Suffolk County Superior Court.
A District Court civil case can be filed in the district where any party lives or has a usual place of business, or in an adjoining district (M.G.L. c. 223, sec. 2). Where the event happened does not decide it.
| Court | What it hears | District or address |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Municipal Court | Civil claims up to $50,000 | divisions by Boston neighborhood |
| Suffolk County Superior Court | Civil claims over $50,000 | 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 |
First steps
- Get medical care and keep every record. Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital are among the hospitals listed for Boston, and the firm requests the records itself once you sign an authorization.
- Know the court: the Boston Municipal Court hears claims up to $50,000 and the Suffolk County Superior Court hears larger ones.
- Call (617) JIM-WINS before you file or appear, so the deadline and the right court are checked against your facts.
Key terms
- Judicial district
- The towns one District Court division serves, as listed in M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1. For Boston, the divisions follow the city wards.
- Venue
- The county or district where a case may be filed. Massachusetts sets it by where the parties live or work (M.G.L. c. 223, secs. 1 and 2).
Talk to the firm about your construction accident matter
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Results as published by Jim Glaser Law on jimglaserlaw.com. Results vary and depend on the facts of each case. See all results
Recent settlementsSettlement summaries from Jim Glaser Law's own case files, without client names.
Lead Carpenter Injured in Fall From Ladder
A lead carpenter in his early 60s fell roughly seven feet from a ladder while on the job, landing on his back, neck, and head on a concrete floor. He reported the injury to his employer right away and, after a single day off, tried to keep working. About two weeks later he could no longer continue, and he sought hospital treatment shortly afterward.
Ironworker Struck by Dropped Beam
A career ironworker in his 40s was helping lower a beam by hand when the crane operator suddenly dropped it. The beam struck his left arm and shoulder. His trade is a physically demanding one, calling for repetitive reaching, pushing, pulling, and carrying, along with frequent heavy lifting.
Client reviews as published on jimglaserlaw.com.
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Common questions from Boston
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Which District Court covers Boston?
Boston is served by the Boston Municipal Court, which M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1 divides into eight divisions (Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury), each covering a set of Boston wards, so which division hears a case depends on the neighborhood.
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Where does a Superior Court case go from here?
A Superior Court case is filed in the county where one of the parties lives or has a usual place of business (M.G.L. c. 223, sec. 1). For someone who lives in Boston, that is Suffolk County, and the Suffolk County Superior Court sits at 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108.
Related Massachusetts legal answers
- Who Pays for a Construction Site Injury in Massachusetts?
- How Many Massachusetts Crashes Happen in Work Zones?
- Can You Work Another Job While on Workers' Comp in Massachusetts?
- Does Workers Comp Cover Your Medical Bills in Massachusetts?
- Can You Be Fired While on Workers Comp in Massachusetts?
Browse every question in the Massachusetts legal answers library.
This sub-entry constitutes legal information, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Attorney advertising under Mass. R. Prof. C. 7.1 to 7.5. Responsible attorney: Jim Glaser, Massachusetts.