New Bedford Construction Accidents Information

How construction accidents cases proceed under Massachusetts law

A construction accident in New Bedford usually runs on two tracks at once, and understanding both is what separates a full recovery from a partial one. The first track is workers compensation under M.G.L. c. 152, which is the exclusive remedy against the injured worker's own employer. The exclusivity rule at M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 24 means the worker generally cannot sue the employer in tort; in exchange, compensation provides medical treatment and wage replacement without the worker having to prove fault.

The second track, and often the larger recovery, is the third-party negligence suit. A construction site is full of parties who are not the injured worker's employer: the general contractor, other subcontractors, the property owner, and the makers of defective equipment. Where one of those parties caused the injury, a New Bedford, Bristol County worker can bring a negligence claim against them in addition to the compensation claim, and that third-party suit is not limited by the exclusivity rule. The standard three-year limitations period under M.G.L. c. 260 sec. 2A governs the third-party claim.

Two more features shape these cases. First, the federal OSHA construction standards at 29 C.F.R. Part 1926 set the safety requirements for the site, and a violation can help establish that a third party was negligent. Second, where the worker recovers from a third party, the workers compensation insurer holds a lien on that recovery under M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 15, meaning it is entitled to be reimbursed out of the third-party proceeds for what it paid in benefits. Coordinating the compensation claim, the lien, and the third-party suit is central to a New Bedford construction matter, and getting the structure right is what maximizes what the worker ultimately keeps.

Massachusetts statutes and case law

• M.G.L. c. 152. Workers compensation; the exclusive remedy against the worker's own employer, providing medical and wage benefits without proof of fault.
• M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 24. Exclusivity; the worker generally cannot sue the employer in tort, in exchange for no-fault compensation benefits.
• M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 15. Workers compensation lien on any third-party recovery; the insurer is reimbursed from the third-party proceeds for benefits it paid.
• M.G.L. c. 260 sec. 2A. Three-year statute of limitations for the third-party negligence claim.
• M.G.L. c. 231 sec. 85. Modified comparative negligence applied to the third-party claim; recovery reduced by the worker's share and barred above 50%.
• 29 C.F.R. Part 1926. Federal OSHA construction safety standards; a violation can help establish a third party's negligence.

Common construction accidents case patterns in New Bedford

1. A fall from height on a New Bedford site, from a scaffold or ladder: a third-party claim against the general contractor or scaffold provider alongside the compensation claim.
2. A struck-by falling object: liability may reach the party that failed to secure the materials or the area below.
3. A caught-between or crush injury in Bristol County: equipment, machinery, and the controlling contractor's safety practices come into focus.
4. An electrocution: liability can involve the property owner, the electrical subcontractor, or an equipment maker.
5. A trench or excavation collapse, or a crane or heavy-equipment incident: serious-injury cases that often combine an OSHA-standard analysis with a third-party suit.

Typical timeline for a New Bedford construction accidents matter

In the first days after a New Bedford construction injury, the workers compensation claim under M.G.L. c. 152 is opened so medical treatment and wage replacement begin, and the scene and equipment are documented before they change. Construction sites move quickly, so photographs, witness identification, and preservation of the equipment involved are urgent. The investigation also begins to identify which parties other than the employer may have been responsible.

Months two through twelve are the dual-track development phase. The compensation claim proceeds for benefits, while the third-party negligence claim against the general contractor, other subcontractors, the property owner, or an equipment maker is developed, often with an analysis of the OSHA standards at 29 C.F.R. Part 1926. The workers compensation lien under M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 15 is tracked throughout so the third-party recovery is structured to account for it.

If the third-party claim does not resolve pre-suit, suit must be filed within three years under M.G.L. c. 260 sec. 2A and proceeds in the appropriate Bristol County court. Construction cases involve multiple parties and expert proof of the safety failure, so the litigation window can be substantial, though most filed cases resolve before trial.

What can be recovered in a construction accidents case

• Workers compensation medical benefits and wage replacement through the M.G.L. c. 152 claim against the employer.
• Third-party damages for pain and suffering, which workers compensation does not provide.
• Past and future medical expenses beyond what compensation covers, through the third-party claim.
• Past lost wages and future lost earning capacity through the third-party claim.
• Loss of consortium for a spouse or family member through the third-party claim.
• A net recovery structured to account for the workers compensation lien under M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 15.

More questions New Bedford residents ask about construction accidents

• Can I sue if I was hurt on a New Bedford construction site, or am I limited to workers comp?

  You generally cannot sue your own employer because workers compensation under M.G.L. c. 152 is the exclusive remedy against the employer, per the exclusivity rule at M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 24. But a construction site involves many other parties, the general contractor, other subcontractors, the property owner, and equipment makers, and where one of them caused your injury, you can bring a third-party negligence claim against them in addition to your compensation claim. That third-party suit is often the larger recovery in a Bristol County construction case.

• What is the workers comp lien and how does it affect my New Bedford third-party recovery?

  Under M.G.L. c. 152 sec. 15, the workers compensation insurer that paid your benefits holds a lien on any recovery you obtain from a third party, meaning it is entitled to be reimbursed from those proceeds for what it paid. Coordinating the compensation claim, the lien, and the third-party suit is central to maximizing what you ultimately keep, which is why these cases are structured carefully from the start.

• Do OSHA violations help my New Bedford construction accident case?

  They can. The federal OSHA construction standards at 29 C.F.R. Part 1926 set the safety requirements for the site. Where a third party (a general contractor, a subcontractor, or a property owner) violated one of those standards and the violation contributed to your injury, it can help establish that the party was negligent in your Bristol County third-party claim.

• How long do I have to file a New Bedford construction accident claim?

  The workers compensation claim has its own notice and filing rules and should be opened promptly. The third-party negligence claim generally must be filed within three years of the injury under M.G.L. c. 260 sec. 2A. Because construction scenes change quickly and equipment can be moved or repaired, early counsel helps preserve the evidence in your New Bedford matter.

• Does Jim Glaser Law handle New Bedford construction accident cases on contingency?

  The third-party portion of a construction case accepted by the firm is handled on contingency, which means 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. These cases often require safety experts and accident reconstruction, and the firm typically advances those costs and is reimbursed from any recovery. The first telephone consultation is offered without charge.