Accidents involving heavy equipment are common at construction sites in California. If you or someone you love has been injured in a heavy equipment accident, turn to J&Y Law. We are highly skilled in handling heavy equipment accident claims and have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured construction workers in favorable settlements and jury awards.

When you become our client, we will determine whether your heavy equipment accident was the result of safety violations or third-party negligence and fight to help you obtain the compensation you need and deserve. We offer free consultations and you pay nothing to us until we recover damages for you. The sooner you contact our office, the sooner we can get started on your heavy equipment accident case.

Types of Heavy Equipment Accidents at California Construction Sites

Depending on the construction site (e.g. home, apartment complex, condominium, office building, strip mall), construction workers operate heavy equipment that can cause accidents, such as:

Backhoes
Bulldozers
Cranes
Dump trucks
Excavators
Forklifts
Graders
Loaders
Pavers
Rollers (compactors)
Trenchers

At J&Y, we have handled injury claims arising from all types of heavy equipment accidents, including:

Backhoe and truck accidents — Backhoes and large trucks can collide with other vehicles or objects
Rollover accidents — A rollover can occur when equipment is operating on uneven terrain, when a load is too heavy or when there is a collision with other heavy equipment or vehicles
Struck-by accidents — Such accidents typically occur when heavy equipment — backhoe, truck, forklift — is backing up and can be caused by operator inattention or defective equipment
Electrocutions — Construction workers frequently operate heavy equipment close to live power lines, which can result in electrocution if any part of the equipment contacts a line or other electrical source
Falls — Operators can fall as they attempt to enter or exit heavy equipment and other workers can be injured by objects falling from heavy equipment — either case can result in serious injuries

If you have been injured in a heavy equipment accident, you need the powerful representation we provide. We have a well-deserved reputation as dedicated advocates of injured construction workers and a proven track record of success, inside and outside of the courtroom.

Common Causes of Heavy Equipment Accidents

In California, heavy equipment accidents can occur when operators are careless or poorly trained or when the equipment is defective or malfunctioning. In particular, common causes of heavy equipment accidents include:

Miscommunication between workers
Negligent operators
Improper use of the equipment
Improper assembly/defective equipment
Collisions with power lines

Our legal team has the skills and resources to conduct thorough investigations of heavy equipment accidents. Once we determine the cause and identify the responsible parties, we can pursue the appropriate legal action. While injured workers are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, it may be possible to bring a claim against an employer for safety violations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards for heavy equipment safety. In particular, OSHA requires that heavy equipment only be operated by highly skilled workers with the necessary skills to operate safely. In addition, other ground-based construction workers should be properly trained to work safely around the equipment and how to stay clear of it.

In addition to holding a negligent employer liable, we will also determine whether you have a valid third-party claim against a negligent site owner, contractor or construction equipment vendor. If a heavy equipment accident is caused by a mechanical defect, it may be possible to pursue a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. Regardless of the cause, it takes a skilled heavy equipment accident attorney to help you obtain the maximum compensation you deserve.

Common Heavy Equipment Accident Injuries

When heavy equipment is used at a construction site, the potential for accidents is high if a site owner, manager, or contractor does not have adequate safety measures in place. While operators and other construction workers are at a high risk of injury and death, visitors and passersby can also be injured in heavy equipment accidents.

In any event, the most common injuries workers sustain involve crush injuries of the bone and soft tissue, which may require amputation of one or more of a worker’s limbs. Other injuries that can be caused by heavy equipment accidents include:

Head/brain injuries
Fractures
Spinal cord injuries
Electrocution injuries/burns
Paralsysis (paraplegia/quadriplegia)
Wrongful death

Many victims of heavy equipment accidents sustain permanent disabilities and require lifelong medical care. When your well-being and your livelihood are hanging in the balance, it takes a skilled construction accident attorney to right this wrong.

Contact Our Experienced Heavy Equipment Accident Attorneys

Being injured in a heavy equipment accident is overwhelming. The lingering injuries, lost income and mounting medical expenses can leave you frightened and feeling powerless. That’s where J&Y Law comes in. We have the skills and experience to win you the maximum compensation you deserve.

If a loved one has been killed in a heavy equipment accident, can help you find justice through a wrongful death lawsuit. Although no amount of money can replace a life, you deserve to be compensated for the loss of support, guidance and companionship your loved one would have provided.

Above all, we believe that negligent parties must be held accountable for heavy equipment accidents that result in preventable injuries. Please contact our office today for a free consultation.