California Construction Accident Workers' Comp Lawyer

Construction Workers' Compensation Claims in California

Construction is consistently ranked among the most dangerous industries in California and nationwide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry accounts for more fatal work injuries than any other sector in the United States, with falls, struck-by objects, electrocution, and caught-in/between hazards — known as the “Fatal Four” — responsible for the majority of construction fatalities. In California, thousands of construction workers suffer serious injuries every year, ranging from broken bones and spinal injuries to traumatic brain injuries and amputations.

Attorney Eman Yazdchi, a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, has extensive experience representing construction workers injured on the job. Our firm understands the unique hazards of the construction industry and the complex legal issues that arise in construction accident workers' compensation claims.

Common Construction Accident Injuries

Falls from Heights

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, accounting for approximately one-third of all construction fatalities. Construction workers regularly work on scaffolding, ladders, roofs, elevated platforms, and open floor edges. Falls can result in spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, and death. Cal/OSHA regulations (Title 8, Section 1669-1672) require fall protection for workers at heights of six feet or more in the construction industry, including guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems.

Struck-By Accidents

Construction workers face constant risk from falling objects, swinging equipment, moving vehicles, and flying debris. Being struck by a falling tool, a piece of building material, a crane load, or a construction vehicle can cause severe head injuries, crush injuries, broken bones, and internal bleeding. Cal/OSHA requires hard hats on all construction sites and imposes strict requirements for securing tools and materials at heights.

Electrocution

Electrical hazards on construction sites include contact with overhead power lines, exposed wiring, improperly grounded equipment, and energized electrical systems. Electrocution can cause cardiac arrest, severe burns (both external and internal), nerve damage, muscle damage, and death. Even non-fatal electrical injuries can result in permanent neurological damage and chronic pain. Cal/OSHA Section 2946 requires specific safety measures around electrical hazards.

Caught-In/Between Accidents

These injuries occur when a worker is caught, crushed, squeezed, or compressed between two or more objects. Common scenarios include trench collapses (cave-ins), being caught in unguarded machinery, being compressed between equipment and a wall, and being pulled into rotating equipment. Trench collapses are particularly deadly — Cal/OSHA Section 1541 requires protective systems for all trenches five feet or deeper.

Repetitive Stress and Overexertion

Not all construction injuries are sudden. Many construction workers develop cumulative trauma injuries from years of heavy lifting, repetitive motions, vibrating tool use, kneeling, and overhead work. Common repetitive injuries include herniated discs, rotator cuff tears, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee deterioration, and hearing loss from prolonged noise exposure.

Toxic Exposure

Construction workers may be exposed to hazardous substances including asbestos, lead, silica dust, solvents, paints, adhesives, and concrete dust. Long-term exposure can cause occupational diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, silicosis, occupational asthma, and various cancers. Under Labor Code Section 5500.5, occupational disease claims may involve multiple employers, creating complex liability issues.

Special Issues in Construction Workers' Comp Claims

Uninsured Employers

Unfortunately, some construction employers — particularly subcontractors — operate without workers' compensation insurance in violation of Labor Code Section 3700. If your employer is uninsured, you can file a claim with the Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund (UEBTF), which will pay your benefits and then seek reimbursement from the employer. Additionally, under Labor Code Section 2750.5, the general contractor may be liable as the “statutory employer” if the subcontractor is uninsured.

Independent Contractor Misclassification

Many construction workers are misclassified as independent contractors to avoid workers' compensation obligations. Under California's ABC Test (Labor Code Section 2775, established by Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court), a worker is presumed to be an employee unless the hiring entity can prove all three of the following: (A) the worker is free from control and direction; (B) the work is outside the hiring entity's usual business; and (C) the worker customarily engages in an independent trade or business. If you have been misclassified, you are still entitled to workers' compensation benefits.

Third-Party Liability on Construction Sites

Construction sites frequently involve multiple employers, subcontractors, equipment owners, and property owners. When your injury is caused by the negligence of a party other than your direct employer, you may have a third-party personal injury claim in addition to your workers' compensation case. Common third-party defendants include:

• General contractors who fail to maintain safe site conditions
• Other subcontractors whose negligence caused your injury
• Property owners who knew of or created dangerous conditions
• Equipment manufacturers whose defective products caused injury
• Architects or engineers whose design defects created hazards

Third-party claims allow recovery of damages not available in workers' compensation, including pain and suffering, full lost wages (without the two-thirds cap), and punitive damages. Attorney Yazdchi evaluates every construction accident case for potential third-party claims to maximize the client's total recovery.

Cal/OSHA Violations and Construction Safety

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) enforces workplace safety standards in the construction industry. Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations contains extensive safety requirements for construction activities, including excavation safety, fall protection, scaffolding standards, crane operations, electrical safety, and hazardous substance handling. When an employer violates Cal/OSHA regulations and a worker is injured, the violation can serve as evidence of negligence in both workers' compensation proceedings and third-party civil actions.

Under Labor Code Section 4553, if a worker's injury is caused by the employer's serious and willful misconduct — such as knowingly violating safety regulations — the worker may be entitled to a 50% increase in their workers' compensation benefits. This penalty provision is a powerful tool for holding negligent construction employers accountable.

Benefits for Injured Construction Workers

Injured construction workers are entitled to the full range of workers' compensation benefits, including:

• Medical treatment — All reasonably necessary care, including surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing pain management
• Temporary disability — Two-thirds of average weekly wages while recovering (up to $1,619.15/week in 2024)
• Permanent disability — Compensation for lasting impairment based on disability rating
• Supplemental job displacement — Up to $6,000 voucher for retraining if employer cannot accommodate restrictions
• Death benefits — Up to $320,000 for dependents plus burial expenses

Contact Yazdchi Law — Construction Accident Representation

If you have been injured in a construction accident anywhere in California, Yazdchi Law will fight for the maximum benefits you are entitled to. With experience handling complex construction injury claims involving multiple parties, third-party liability, and serious injuries, Attorney Eman Yazdchi provides the aggressive representation construction workers need. Call (661) 273-1780 for a free consultation — no fee unless we win.

California Cities We Serve

Yazdchi Law represents injured workers in all 690+ cities across California. Find your local workers' compensation page below.

Alameda County

Alameda, Albany, Ashland, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Dublin, Emeryville, Fairview, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Union City

Amador County

Amador City, Ione, Jackson, Plymouth, Sutter Creek

Butte County

Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Magalia, Oroville, Oroville East, Paradise

Calaveras County

Angels Camp, Copperopolis, Rancho Calaveras, Red Corral, Valley Springs

Colusa County

Colusa, Williams

Contra Costa County

Alamo, Antioch, Bay Point, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Kensington, Lafayette, Martinez, Montalvin Manor, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pacheco, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, Rodeo, Rollingwood, San Pablo, San Ramon, Saranap, Tara Hills, Walnut Creek

Del Norte County

Crescent City

El Dorado County

Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Pine Hills, Placerville, Pollock Pines, Rescue, Shingle Springs, South Lake Tahoe

Fresno County

Clovis, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Fresno, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Mendota, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, San Joaquin, Sanger, Selma, Squaw Valley, West Park

Glenn County

Orland, Willows

Humboldt County

Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Trinidad

Imperial County

Brawley, Calexico, El Centro, Heber, Holtville, Imperial, Salton City, Westmorland

Inyo County

Bishop

Kern County

Arvin, Bakersfield, California City, Delano, Inyokern, Kernville, Lamont, Lebec, Maricopa, McFarland, North Edwards, Pine Mountain Club, Ridgecrest, Rosamond, Rosedale, Shafter, Stallion Springs, Taft, Tehachapi, Wasco, Weedpatch

Kings County

Avenal, Corcoran, Hanford, Lemoore

Lake County

Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Lakeport, Lucerne

Lassen County

Susanville

Los Angeles County

Acton, Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Artesia, Avalon, Avocado Heights, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Burbank, Calabasas, Canyon Country, Carson, Castaic, Cerritos, Charter Oak, Charter Oaks, Citrus, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Del Aire, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, East Los Angeles, East Rancho Dominguez, East Whittier, El Monte, El Segundo, Florence-Graham, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Huntington Park, Industry, Inglewood, Irwindale, Kagel Canyon, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lake Los Angeles, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lennox, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Norwalk, Palmdale, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Quartz Hill, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Sherwood Forest, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, South Whittier, Stevenson Ranch, Sun Village, Sunland-Tujunga, Temple City, Topanga, Torrance, Val Verde, Valinda, Valley Village, Vernon, View Park-Windsor Hills, Walnut, Walnut Park, West Athens, West Carson, West Covina, West Hollywood, West Puente Valley, West Rancho Dominguez, West Whittier-Los Nietos, Westlake Village, Westmont, Whittier, Willowbrook

Madera County

Bonadelle Ranchos, Chowchilla, Madera, Oakhurst, Yosemite Lakes

Marin County

Belvedere, Bon Air, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Lucas Valley-Marinwood, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sleepy Hollow, Strawberry, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Tiburon

Mendocino County

Fort Bragg, Point Arena, Talmage, Ukiah, Willits

Merced County

Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos, Merced, Winton

Modoc County

Alturas

Mono County

Mammoth Lakes

Monterey County

Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Monte Forest, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pajaro, Salinas, Sand City, Seaside, Soledad

Napa County

American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, Yountville

Nevada County

Grass Valley, Lake Wildwood, Lake of the Pines, Nevada City, Truckee

Orange County

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Coto de Caza, Cypress, Dana Point, Foothill Ranch, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Las Flores, Leisure World, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, North Tustin, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rossmoor, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda

Placer County

Auburn, Colfax, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Loomis, Meadow Vista, North Auburn, Rocklin, Roseville

Plumas County

Portola

Riverside County

Banning, Beaumont, Bermuda Dunes, Blythe, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Corona, Cypress Lake, Desert Hot Springs, East Hemet, Eastvale, El Cerrito, French Valley, Glen Avon, Hemet, Home Gardens, Homeland, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, Indian Wells, Indio, Jurupa Valley, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, March Air Reserve Base, Mead Valley, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pedley, Perris, Rancho Mirage, Riverside, Rubidoux, San Jacinto, Temecula, Temescal Valley, Thousand Palms, Valle Vista, Vista Santa Rosa, Wildomar, Winchester, Woodcrest

Sacramento County

Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Florin, Folsom, Foothill Farms, Galt, Gold River, Herald, Isleton, La Riviera, North Highlands, Orangevale, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Murieta, Rosemont, Sacramento, Vineyard

San Benito County

Hollister, Ridgemark, San Juan Bautista

San Bernardino County

Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Bloomington, Buckingham Park, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Crestline, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Hesperia, Highland, Joshua Tree, Lake Arrowhead, Loma Linda, Mentone, Montclair, Morongo Valley, Muscoy, Needles, Ontario, Phelan, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Running Springs, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, Wrightwood, Yermo, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley

San Diego County

Bonita, Bonsall, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, Chula Vista, Coronado, Crest, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Harbison Canyon, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, La Presa, Lake San Marcos, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Mira Mesa, National City, Oceanside, Poway, Ramona, Rancho San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Marcos, San Pasqual, Santee, Solana Beach, Spring Valley, Valley Center, Vista, Winter Gardens

San Francisco County

San Francisco

San Joaquin County

Country Club, Country Club Estates, Escalon, Garden Acres, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Mountain House, Ripon, Stockton, Tracy, Woodbridge

San Luis Obispo County

Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Cambria, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Santa Margarita, Shandon

San Mateo County

Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Broadmoor, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Emerald Lake Hills, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Moss Beach, North Fair Oaks, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Woodside

Santa Barbara County

Buellton, Goleta, Guadalupe, Isla Vista, Lompoc, Montecito, Orcutt, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Solvang

Santa Clara County

Campbell, Cupertino, East Foothills, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, San Martin, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale

Santa Cruz County

Capitola, Corralitos, Felton, Live Oak, Lompico, Rio del Mar, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Watsonville

Shasta County

Anderson, Happy Valley, Redding, Shasta Lake

Sierra County

Loyalton

Siskiyou County

Dorris, Dunsmuir, Etna, Fort Jones, Montague, Mount Shasta, Tulelake, Weed, Yreka

Solano County

Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo

Sonoma County

Boyes Hot Springs, Cloverdale, Cotati, Glen Ellen, Graton, Healdsburg, Larkfield-Wikiup, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Roseland, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Windsor

Stanislaus County

Ceres, Hughson, Modesto, Newman, Oakdale, Patterson, Riverbank, Turlock, Waterford

Sutter County

Live Oak, Yuba City

Tehama County

Corning, Red Bluff, Tehama

Tulare County

Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake

Tuolumne County

Sonora

Ventura County

Camarillo, Casa Conejo, Fillmore, Meiners Oaks, Moorpark, Oak Park, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, San Buenaventura, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks

Yolo County

Davis, Knights Landing, West Sacramento, Winters, Woodland

Yuba County

Linda, Marysville, Olivehurst, Wheatland