Need help building your claim for workers’ compensation benefits?
Get legal advice from experienced construction accident lawyers in Great Falls, MT.
Due to the dangerous nature of construction sites and the strenuous labor involved in this type of work, injuries occur frequently among construction workers.
While Montana’s workers’ compensation laws aim to protect all injured workers by requiring employers to pay for medical expenses and lost wages, there’s no guarantee that your claim will be honored — or that it will provide the extent of compensation that you truly need. Our team has the resources, knowledge and passion needed to protect your best interests in the aftermath of a construction accident.
If you’ve been injured at work, a construction accident lawyer at Murphy Law Firm can help you collect workers’ compensation benefits or secure your disability status. It’s essential that you consult an attorney to ensure that you collect maximum compensation.
When establishing liability, we’ll assess the possibility of:
- Inadequate training
- Safety violations
- Lack of protective equipment
- Negligence
- Defective or poorly maintained equipment
Our top priority is to first help you receive the medical attention you need. While you focus on healing, we’ll focus on recovering the compensation you deserve.
Why hire Murphy Law Firm?
- We put our clients first
- We ONLY represent the injured
- Compassionate, aggressive and personal legal representation
- Licensed attorneys with extensive legal knowledge
- 75+ years of combined experience
- We’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements for our clients
- Contingency fee (you don’t pay unless we win)
- Free consultation
Attorney Thomas J. Murphy
Founder of Murphy Law Firm
The workers’ compensation system is complex, and insurance companies have powerful resources designed to save them money at your expense. Seeking legal help can make a big difference in your financial outcome. Let our family help yours by fighting for the benefits you deserve.
Case results
Murphy Law Firm has successfully represented thousands of Montanans, including complex workers’ compensation claims.
Main causes of accidents in construction
Construction is big business in Big Sky Country. In fact, the goods-based industries of manufacturing, construction, mining, and agriculture now comprise roughly a quarter (24%) of Montana’s personal income derived from work according to the official Montana government website. Sadly, Montana workers die on the job at a higher rate than any other state (except for Wyoming and Alaska), based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
There are virtually unlimited reasons why a construction accident can happen, either by accident or through the negligence of another party, including:
- Slips, trips and falls
- Defective tools and other equipment
- Electric shock and arc flash/blast
- Working in cold weather
- Trench collapse
- Scaffold collapse
- Failing to use proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Violence and assault from a coworker
Most common construction injuries
Construction site accidents can result in minor physical pain, serious catastrophic injuries or death. Due to the dangerous nature of construction work, it’s important for you, your coworkers and your supervisors to take proper safety precautions to help you avoid common injuries associated with construction accidents such as:
- Broken bones
- Heavy bruising
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Electrocution and chemical injury
- Burn injury
- Hearing or vision loss
- Paralysis
- Loss of limbs
- Death
Risk of toxic exposure for construction workers
Construction workers face significant risks for developing occupational diseases due to frequent exposure to various toxic substances on the job. These hazards include inhaling harmful dusts, chemicals, and metals, which can lead to serious health conditions such as silicosis, asbestosis, and lead poisoning.
Among these, berylliosis—caused by exposure to beryllium commonly used in construction materials—stands out as a particularly dangerous lung disease. It’s crucial for workers to be aware of their risk of chemical exposure and take preventive measures to protect their long-term health.
How to prevent construction site accidents
While working in construction is inherently dangerous in many ways, establishing an effective safety and health program can prevent serious and fatal catastrophes from occurring. Here are a few simple, yet effective strategies that both laborers and supervisors should follow to help reduce the risk of a construction site accident:
Implement proper training
It’s the responsibility of employers and businesses to make sure their employees are sufficiently trained on industry safety standards and possible hazards in the workplace. Workers should carefully review and follow all safety policies for each jobsite they’re assigned to, and should only operate equipment they’re trained and qualified to use.
Wear safety equipment
Employers and businesses should provide all recommended safety equipment for their workers. This might include hard hats, visibility clothing, safety glasses/goggles, gloves, etc. Workers should always wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by their employer while on the jobsite.
Keep the workplace tidy
Having a clean work area that’s free of debris and clutter will reduce the odds of a construction site accident by preventing slips, trips and falls. Store tools and materials away when you’re done using them and be sure to clear walkways.
Maintain equipment and tools
Ensure that any piece of equipment, tools or machinery you’re using is in good working order. Employers should maintain a regular inspection schedule to prevent injuries from malfunctioning equipment and defective parts.
Report dangerous conditions
If a worker sees a potential hazard while on the job, they should report it to their supervisor immediately. If an employer fails to take appropriate action, then contact a union representative or file a complaint with OSHA.
Stay alert and aware
Always be attentive to the possible hazards around you, such as falling tools and debris, live electrical wiring, falls, heavy machinery, moving vehicles and more. Never let your guard down while on a construction site.
What to do after a construction accident
Immediately following an accident, you should report the incident to your employer and seek the appropriate medical attention. Delaying action could affect your case and worsen your injuries. Next, we strongly encourage you to contact our team as soon as possible.
At Murphy Law Firm, our team of lawyers can provide guidance on how to file your workers’ compensation claim and obtain your benefits as soon as possible. If we believe a third party may be responsible for your injury (such as an equipment manufacturer or motorist), we can also represent you in a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury suit may also be recommended if your injury resulted from an intentional act by a coworker or boss.
Schedule your FREE consultation with our experienced Montana construction accident attorneys to start building your case today
Construction injuries, especially injuries to the spinal cord and brain, can have lifelong effects and require costly ongoing medical care. Some injuries may prevent you from returning to work for an extended or indefinite amount of time.
If this is the case for you, then you’ll also need to file the appropriate disability claims to collect the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.
At Murphy Law Firm in Great Falls, Montana, our attorneys will coordinate with industry experts and doctors to determine the full extent of your injuries and ensure that every financial loss, both present and future, is considered. We’ve successfully recovered millions of dollars in wrongfully denied benefits for our clients.
Our lawyers can take your case on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing until we achieve the results you deserve.
We represent many different types of construction workers in work injury claims throughout Montana, including:
- Steelworkers
- Pipefitters & plumbers
- Electricians
- Heavy equipment operators
- Carpenters
- Masons
- Welders
- Glaziers
- Plasterers
- Roofers
- Boilermakers
- Engineers
- Laborers
Contact Murphy Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation.
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“Murphy Law Firm has what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. Matt Murphy is top notch. Between him, his paralegal Catherine and the rest of their legal team, they handled my case with the utmost efficiency and professionalism. I would recommend Murphy Law Firm to anyone who has been injured on the job or due to someone else’s negligence.
