Sweeney Merrigan represents workers and families across New Hampshire who have been seriously injured on construction sites, and we understand what is at stake the moment an accident happens. A fall from scaffolding, a machinery failure, or a collapsing trench can produce injuries severe enough to end a career and disrupt every corner of a person’s life. Construction accidents are also legally complex in ways that make them different from most other personal injury cases. Multiple parties often share responsibility, including general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners, and the available legal remedies extend well beyond a single workers’ compensation claim.
A Nashua construction accident lawyer with experience in New Hampshire law can identify every path to recovery and fight to close the gap between what insurance offers and what injured workers actually deserve.
Legal Representation for Construction Accident Victims in Nashua
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the country, and the numbers reflect that reality. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, construction consistently accounts for a disproportionate share of all workplace fatalities nationally each year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies falls, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in or caught-between accidents as the industry’s four leading causes of death, a group OSHA refers to as the “Fatal Four.”
In Nashua and across Hillsborough County, active construction projects bring together general contractors, subcontractors, equipment operators, material suppliers, and property owners on the same site. When safety protocols break down or supervision fails, the consequences fall on workers and bystanders. Our attorneys investigate these cases thoroughly, trace liability to every contributing party, and pursue full compensation under both New Hampshire workers’ compensation law and the civil court system.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Construction accidents take many forms, and the forces involved frequently cause catastrophic harm.
Falls, Equipment Failures, and Site Hazards
Falls from scaffolding, ladders, rooftops, and elevated platforms are the leading cause of fatal construction injuries according to OSHA, and New Hampshire job sites are no exception. A single fall from height can produce spinal fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disability. Workers on Nashua commercial builds and residential projects face this risk every time they step onto an elevated surface without adequate fall protection or properly maintained equipment.
Machinery and equipment failures create a separate and equally serious category of risk. Cranes, forklifts, power tools, and heavy vehicles can malfunction or behave unpredictably when improperly maintained or operated without adequate training. Falling objects, including dropped tools, shifting loads, and unsecured materials, can strike workers below with devastating force. Unsafe working conditions, including unguarded trenches, exposed electrical wiring, unstable ground, and inadequate personal protective equipment, contribute to injury and death on New Hampshire sites where OSHA standards are ignored or unenforced.
Injuries Caused by Construction Site Accidents
The physical harm from a construction site accident often reaches far beyond what any initial diagnosis captures, and the long-term picture is frequently more serious than the emergency room report suggests.
Serious and Long-Term Physical Harm
Broken bones, fractured vertebrae, and crushed limbs are common outcomes of falls and equipment accidents. Traumatic brain injuries, which result from falls, falling objects, and on-site vehicle collisions, produce cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes, and long-term neurological effects that reshape every area of a person’s daily life. Severe lacerations, burn injuries, and amputations occur at sites where electrical hazards and heavy machinery are present without adequate guarding.
Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, permanently altering a worker’s capacity to earn income and live independently. Many injured workers also face chronic pain and reduced mobility that persist for years after the initial accident, making it impossible to return to the physical demands of construction work or any comparable trade. Our attorneys account for the full scope of harm from the beginning, not just the immediate treatment costs.
Understanding Your Legal Options After a Construction Accident
Knowing you were hurt on the job is only the beginning. Understanding which legal paths are available and how they interact determines the extent of compensation actually within reach.
Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims
New Hampshire’s workers’ compensation system, established under RSA 281-A, requires most employers to carry coverage that pays medical benefits and a portion of lost wages when an employee is injured on the job. Administered by the New Hampshire Department of Labor, this is a no-fault system, meaning you do not need to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits. Those benefits, however, are limited. Workers’ compensation does not compensate for pain and suffering, and wage replacement covers only a fraction of full income.
When a third party is responsible for the accident, a separate civil lawsuit may be filed alongside the workers’ compensation claim. A subcontractor whose crew created an unsafe condition, an equipment manufacturer whose product failed, or a property owner who allowed a hazardous site to remain uncorrected can each face independent liability. Third-party claims are governed by RSA 508:4, which sets a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions in New Hampshire. Pursuing both avenues simultaneously requires careful legal coordination, and our attorneys manage that process from the initial filing through resolution.
Who May Be Liable in a Construction Accident
Responsibility for a construction accident rarely rests with a single party, and identifying every liable defendant is one of the most important functions an attorney performs.
Employers, Contractors, and Other Responsible Parties
General contractors carry broad legal responsibility for safety conditions across the entire job site. When a general contractor delegates work to subcontractors without adequate supervision or overlooks known hazards to meet a project deadline, their exposure is substantial. Subcontractors can be independently liable when their crews introduce unsafe conditions that affect workers beyond their own team, a scenario common on large Nashua commercial and infrastructure projects.
Property owners have a duty to ensure premises made available for construction are reasonably safe and that known risks are disclosed before work begins. Equipment manufacturers may face product liability claims when machinery or safety gear fails due to defective design or faulty fabrication. Staffing agencies that place workers on sites without verifying safety compliance can also be held responsible.
Compensation Available in Construction Accident Cases
Medical Costs, Lost Wages, and Long-Term Impact
A successful construction accident claim can recover the full range of economic and non-economic losses a victim sustains. Medical expenses form the foundation of most claims and include emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical and occupational therapy, prescription medications, and ongoing specialist care. Lost wages from the recovery period are fully recoverable, as is diminished earning capacity when an injury permanently limits a worker’s ability to return to the same trade.
Long-term damages require expert support to accurately calculate, including future procedures, home health care, assistive equipment, and necessary home modifications. Non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life add significant value to the total claim. Our attorneys work with medical specialists, vocational experts, and financial professionals to build a complete picture of what our clients have lost and what they will need going forward.
Steps to Take After a Construction Site Injury
The decisions made in the hours and days following a construction accident directly affect the strength of any legal claim. Taking the right steps early protects both your health and your rights:
- Seek medical care immediately. Get emergency treatment without delay and follow every treatment recommendation without interruption. Gaps in care give insurers grounds to dispute the severity of your injuries.
- Report the injury in writing. Notify your employer or site supervisor as soon as possible and keep a copy of the written report for your records.
- Document the scene. Photograph the accident location, equipment involved, and any visible hazards before they are altered, removed, or repaired.
- Collect witness information. Gather contact details from anyone who observed the accident or the site conditions that caused it.
- Do not sign anything. Avoid signing documents provided by an insurance company or employer representative before speaking with an attorney. Early settlement offers are routinely structured to resolve claims for far less than their full value.
The sooner a legal team can begin preserving evidence and interviewing witnesses, the stronger your position will be in any proceeding that follows.
Speak With a Nashua Construction Accident Lawyer Today
Construction accidents change lives, and the legal process that follows demands experienced, committed representation. Sweeney Merrigan is ready to evaluate your case, explain every option available under New Hampshire law, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Call a Nashua construction accident lawyer today at (617) 391-9001 for a free consultation.
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