Anaheim Construction Accident Lawyer

When a Construction Accident Leaves Workers’ Comp Short of What You Need

A serious construction accident can result in medical bills, missed paychecks, and an injury that affects your ability to work long after the accident itself.

Workers’ compensation may cover medical treatment and part of your lost wages, but it may not be the only source of recovery available after a construction injury in Anaheim.

A third party such as a general contractor, subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer may also be legally responsible for the conditions that caused your injury.

A civil claim against that party may provide compensation that workers’ compensation does not, including damages related to lost earning capacity and other losses.

Easton & Easton has recovered more than $500 million for injured clients across Orange County, including a $26 million settlement involving a worker injured by a defective construction-site elevator. If you were injured on an Anaheim construction site, contact our attorneys today. We can investigate what happened and help determine whether another party may be responsible.

What a $26 Million Construction Injury Settlement Shows About Third-Party Claims

One of our construction injury cases involved a day laborer who suffered severe injuries while attempting to grease an elevator on an active construction site.

The insurer initially argued that the claim was worth far less than the amount ultimately recovered. Our team investigated the parties involved in the condition that caused the injury and secured a $26 million settlement.

The settlement was ranked the No. 1 personal injury settlement in Los Angeles County for 2023 by TopVerdict.com.

This particular case was venued in Los Angeles County rather than Orange County. We include it here as an example of how we build third-party construction injury claims generally, not as a result tied to Anaheim or Orange County.

The value of this result goes beyond the dollar amount. Construction sites often involve several companies, contractors, property owners, and equipment suppliers.

Determining who may be responsible requires looking at who controlled the work, who controlled the dangerous condition, what safety obligations applied, and what evidence supports the claim.

That investigation can make a significant difference when a worker’s injuries involve more than a workers’ compensation claim.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.

Construction Accidents We Handle in Anaheim

Anaheim has construction projects ranging from residential development in the Platinum Triangle to major entertainment and commercial projects. With multiple trades and companies operating on the same site, determining responsibility after an accident can require a close review of the worksite and the companies involved.

Easton & Easton handles construction injury claims involving:

• Scaffolding, ladder, and roof-edge falls
• Crane and rigging accidents
• Trench and excavation collapses
• Electrocution and electrical hazards
• Forklift and heavy-equipment accidents
• Elevator and hoist failures
• Defective tools, ladders, and machinery
• Falling objects and construction debris
• Other unsafe conditions on active construction sites

When defective equipment contributed to an injury, the manufacturer or another party in the equipment’s supply chain may also need to be investigated.

The first question is not always who employed the injured worker. It is who may have been responsible for the condition or conduct that caused the accident.

What a Serious Construction Injury Can Cost Beyond Medical Bills

Workers’ compensation can provide important benefits after a workplace injury, but those benefits do not cover every loss associated with a serious construction accident. A severe injury may affect your ability to earn the same income, return to the same occupation, or continue working in the same capacity.

A third-party civil claim may allow an injured worker to seek damages that are not available through workers’ compensation alone.

That can make the investigation of the construction site important from the beginning. A contractor may have had responsibility for a dangerous condition. An equipment manufacturer may have supplied defective machinery. A property owner or another company may have played a role in creating or maintaining the hazard.

The insurance company for a potentially responsible third party may also begin evaluating the claim before the full extent of the injury is known. Reviewing California personal injury settlement amounts and examples shows how catastrophic construction injury valuations depend on proving long-term impact. Building the claim around both current losses and the potential long-term impact of the injury can help ensure that important damages are not overlooked.

How We Investigate an Anaheim Construction Accident

A construction injury claim can involve several companies and overlapping responsibilities. Our investigation focuses on identifying the evidence and parties that may matter to the civil claim.

1. We gather the accident records

We review available accident reports, Cal/OSHA records and citations, inspection records, photographs, witness information, and other documentation connected to the worksite.

2. We identify the parties involved

We determine which contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment suppliers, and other entities had responsibility or control over the work or condition involved in the accident.

3. We examine the safety issues

Engineers, safety professionals, and other experts may help establish how the accident occurred, what safety requirements applied, and whether a party failed to meet an applicable duty.

4. We evaluate the civil claim separately

A workers’ compensation claim and a third-party civil claim can involve different legal standards, responsible parties, and available damages. We evaluate whether a separate civil claim may exist and how the claims may affect one another.

5. We prepare for settlement or trial

We build the claim around documented evidence and the full impact of the injury. If the responsible party or insurer will not offer a fair resolution, the case can be prepared for litigation.

Anaheim’s Construction Growth Makes Site Responsibility More Important

Anaheim is experiencing substantial development, including projects in the Platinum Triangle and major projects such as OC Vibe and DisneylandForward.

OC Vibe is a roughly $4 billion, 100-acre entertainment development in the Platinum Triangle. DisneylandForward, an expansion plan the City of Anaheim approved in 2024, began its first phase of site work in 2026 with demolition and preparation work. The full buildout is expected to unfold in phases over many years, not as a single construction event. Residential development continues in the surrounding Platinum Triangle area as well.

Large projects can bring numerous contractors, subcontractors, equipment operators, and other companies onto the same site. When an injury occurs, that can make the question of responsibility more involved than identifying the injured worker’s employer.

Civil claims arising from an Anaheim construction accident may be filed in Orange County Superior Court. The Central Justice Center in Santa Ana handles unlimited civil matters for the county.

California’s Two-Year Deadline for Many Construction Injury Claims

California’s statute of limitations can impose a two-year deadline for many personal injury claims. Understanding the California personal injury statute of limitations is critical to preserving your right to seek full third-party recovery. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, an action for an injury caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another generally must be filed within two years.

Other deadlines can apply in different situations, so an injured worker should not assume that every construction accident follows the same timeline.

One important exception involves claims against a government or public entity. If a city, county, transit authority, or other public entity may be responsible for a construction accident, such as an injury connected to a project on city-owned land or public infrastructure, California’s Government Claims Act generally requires a formal administrative claim to be presented within six months of the injury under Government Code Section 911.2, not the two-year deadline that applies to claims against private parties.

Missing this shorter deadline can bar a claim entirely, even if the two-year window has not yet passed.

California workplace safety law also imposes duties on employers. California Labor Code Section 6400 addresses the obligation to furnish employment and a place of employment that is safe and healthful for employees.

For a third-party construction injury claim, however, the specific relationship between the injured worker, the employer, contractors, property owners, and other parties must be examined. The legal duty owed by each party can depend on that party’s role and control over the work or dangerous condition.

Answers to Common Questions About Anaheim Construction Accidents

I already filed a workers’ compensation claim. Can I still sue someone for my construction accident?

Possibly. Workers’ compensation and a third-party civil claim are separate legal avenues. If someone other than your employer may have contributed to the accident, that party could potentially be responsible for damages outside the workers’ compensation system.

The facts of the accident and the relationship between the parties need to be reviewed before determining whether a third-party claim exists.

Who can be held responsible for a construction accident besides my employer?

A general contractor, subcontractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, supplier, architect, engineer, or another party may potentially share responsibility, depending on the circumstances.

The key issues include what caused the accident, who controlled the relevant work or condition, and what legal duties applied to that party.

What is my construction accident claim worth?

The potential damages can depend on the severity of the injury, medical expenses, lost income, future earning capacity, and other losses supported by the evidence.

Our $26 million settlement involved a severe injury caused by conditions on a construction site. It is one example of the results that can be possible in a particular case, not a prediction of what another claim will recover.

What if I was partly at fault for the accident?

California follows comparative-fault principles, which can allow an injured person to recover damages even when that person was partly responsible for an accident. The amount recovered can be reduced based on the injured person’s share of fault.

The specific facts matter, including what each party did or failed to do before the accident.

I was hurt as a bystander or driver near an Anaheim construction site. Do I have a case?

You may. Construction sites can create risks for people who are not employed at the site, including falling debris, unsecured equipment, vehicles, and other hazards affecting nearby roads and public areas.

A claim involving a bystander or driver is different from a workers’ compensation claim and requires an evaluation of who created or controlled the condition that caused the injury.

Does Anaheim’s current construction activity affect my claim?

The existence of major construction projects does not by itself establish liability. It can, however, mean that several companies and contractors are involved in a single worksite.

For an injured worker or another person hurt near a construction site, identifying those parties and determining their respective roles can be an important part of the investigation.

Will my construction accident case go to trial?

Many personal injury claims resolve through settlement, but no outcome can be guaranteed. A case should be developed with the evidence and legal issues necessary to support litigation if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

What does it cost to hire Easton & Easton for a construction accident claim?

Easton & Easton handles construction injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. You do not pay attorney fees upfront, and attorney fees are collected only if the firm recovers compensation for you.

If your situation involves a construction injury, a third-party claim, or questions about responsibility for the accident, the facts of your case can be reviewed directly with our team.

Talk to an Anaheim Construction Accident Lawyer About Your Legal Options

After a serious construction accident, workers’ compensation may be only part of the picture.

Another company, contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer may also have legal responsibility for what happened.

Easton & Easton can investigate the accident, identify the parties that may be responsible, and evaluate whether you may have a civil claim in addition to workers’ compensation. Contact us to discuss your construction accident and learn what legal options may be available.

Anaheim, CA Related Construction Accident Resources:

• Average Product Liability Settlement in California
• What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do in California?
• Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable in California?
• What Kind of Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle in California?
• When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in California

Anaheim, CA Construction Accident Legal Resources

• Superior Court of California, County of Orange – Central Justice Center
• California Division of Occupational Safety and Health – Cal/OSHA Enforcement & Consultation
• California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 – Two-Year Statute of Limitations

About Anaheim, CA

Spanning 131 scenic acres, Yorba Regional Park offers the community extensive trails, picnic areas, and tranquil lakes along the Santa Ana River corridor. However, as Anaheim undergoes major economic growth, active commercial developments like OC Vibe and DisneylandForward bring increased commercial construction hazards across the city. In response, city inspectors and Cal/OSHA officials maintain active oversight on regional jobsites. Anaheim remains a thriving community focused on infrastructure development, worker safety, and vibrant public spaces.