Why You Need Vermont Construction Accident Attorney

If you’ve been injured on a construction site in Vermont, you’re likely facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about your future. Construction accidents can leave workers with devastating injuries that prevent them from returning to the job they depend on. 

You may qualify for medical benefits, wage replacement, and additional damages, but navigating the legal process alone puts your recovery at risk. Contact us today for a free consultation to understand your rights and options.

At Sabbeth Law, our Vermont construction accident lawyers have helped countless injured workers and their families secure the compensation they deserve through workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits with one of our experienced Vermont lawyers.

Common Types of Construction Accidents in Vermont

Vermont construction sites pose numerous hazards that can result in life-changing injuries. Understanding the most common accident types helps workers recognize dangers and strengthens injury claims when accidents occur.

Falls from Heights

Falls remain the leading cause of death in construction nationwide. Our clients frequently suffer fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and paralysis after falling from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, or elevated work platforms. Even a ground-level slip and fall can result in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

Electrocution Injuries

Working near live wires and electrical systems poses a serious risk to construction workers. Electrocution accidents can cause cardiac arrest, severe burns, neurological damage, and death. These injuries often require emergency medical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.

Vehicle and Equipment Accidents

Heavy machinery, including dump trucks, excavators, cranes, and forklifts, can cause catastrophic injuries when operators lose control or strike workers on foot. Even equipment operators face serious risks from rollovers, collisions, and mechanical failures.

Falling Objects

Tools, building materials, and debris falling from elevated work areas cause concussions, skull fractures, brain bleeding, and spinal injuries. Hard hats provide some protection, but falling objects can still cause devastating harm.

Machinery Malfunctions

Defective or poorly maintained equipment can explode, jam, or fail unexpectedly—causing burns, lacerations, crush injuries, and amputations. When machinery defects cause injuries, manufacturers may bear liability alongside employers.

Noise-Related Injuries

Prolonged exposure to excessive noise on construction sites causes permanent hearing loss. Employers must provide adequate ear protection and implement noise control measures to protect workers’ hearing.

Who Is Liable for Vermont Construction Accidents?

Multiple parties may share responsibility for a construction accident, and identifying all liable parties is essential to maximizing your compensation. Our experienced attorneys investigate every potential source of recovery.

Employer Liability

Your employer has a legal duty to maintain a safe workplace, provide proper training, and ensure all safety equipment functions correctly. When employers fail these responsibilities, workers can recover benefits through Vermont’s workers’ compensation system. 

However, employers carrying workers’ compensation insurance are generally immune from personal injury lawsuits, making third-party claims essential for full compensation.

Property Owner Responsibility

Property owners can be held liable when dangerous conditions on their premises contribute to construction accidents, including:

• Inadequate lighting creates visibility hazards

• Structural defects in buildings or walkways

• Failure to warn workers about known hazards

General Contractor Liability

General contractors overseeing construction projects are responsible for coordinating safety measures and ensuring that all subcontractors follow proper protocols. When their negligence contributes to accidents, they can be held accountable.

Subcontractor Negligence

Outside contractors brought in for specialized work, such as concrete, framing, HVAC, and electrical, may be less familiar with the worksite than regular workers. That’s no excuse for negligence. 

Whether it’s incorrectly constructed scaffolding or reckless forklift operation, if a subcontractor who doesn’t work for your company injures you, they and their insurance company can be held responsible through a third-party lawsuit.

Equipment Manufacturer Liability

Equipment manufacturers may be liable for injuries caused by defective machinery or tools. Product liability claims may be available when you’re injured by:

• Safety harnesses that fail during falls

• Scaffolding that collapses due to design flaws

• Power tools that malfunction and cause injury

Third-Party Liability

Delivery drivers, equipment rental companies, and maintenance providers who create hazardous conditions can also be held accountable through third-party lawsuits, providing compensation beyond what workers’ compensation offers.

Vermont Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Vermont’s workers’ compensation system provides no-fault benefits to workers injured in construction. If you were working when injured, you should receive benefits regardless of who caused the accident:

• Reasonable and necessary medical care to treat your injuries

• Mileage reimbursement for travel to medical appointments

• Wage replacement (approximately two-thirds of your average weekly wage) if you cannot work

• Permanent disability benefits if you suffer a lasting impairment

• Death benefits for surviving dependents when a worker dies on the job

• Vocational rehabilitation to help you find suitable work if you cannot return to your previous position

These benefits have significant limitations. Workers receive only about two-thirds of their average weekly wage, so someone earning $600 weekly might only receive $400. Workers’ compensation also does not compensate for pain, suffering, or emotional distress. This is why pursuing third-party claims is often essential for full recovery.

Compensation Available in Construction Injury Cases

Understanding all available compensation sources is critical. The type and amount you can recover depend on whether you pursue workers’ compensation, a third-party lawsuit, or both.

Workers’ Compensation Recovery

Through workers’ compensation, you can recover medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment. You’ll also receive partial wage replacement while unable to work, permanent disability benefits if injuries cause lasting limitations, vocational rehabilitation services, and mileage reimbursement for medical appointments.

Third-Party Lawsuit Damages

When pursuing a personal injury claim against a third party, you can seek full compensation for economic and non-economic damages that workers’ compensation doesn’t cover:

Economic damages: All past and future medical expenses, full lost wages (not the reduced workers’ comp rate), loss of future earning capacity, home modifications, assistive devices, and ongoing care needs.

Non-economic damages: Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress and psychological trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, damage to family relationships, disfigurement, and scarring. In cases involving reckless or intentional conduct, punitive damages may also be available.

Legal Deadlines for Vermont Construction Accident Claims

Time is critical when pursuing compensation. Vermont law imposes strict deadlines that can bar your claim entirely if missed.

Workers’ compensation: You must notify your supervisor of your injury promptly. Your employer then has 72 hours to report the accident to the Vermont Department of Labor. If they fail to report, file your own claim immediately to preserve your rights.

Personal injury lawsuits: Vermont’s statute of limitations for third-party claims is generally three years from the accident date. However, building a strong case requires extensive investigation, evidence gathering, and legal preparation—waiting too long makes it harder to locate witnesses and preserve crucial evidence.

Special circumstances: Claims against government entities may require notice within six months. Product liability claims have specific notice requirements. Missing any deadline can be catastrophic—courts strictly enforce statutes of limitations.

OSHA Regulations and Preventable Accidents

Most construction accidents are preventable. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes comprehensive safety regulations for construction sites covering fall protection, scaffolding, electrical safety, personal protective equipment, excavation safety, and machine guarding.

Common OSHA violations leading to construction accidents include:

• Inadequate fall protection on elevated work surfaces

• Failure to provide proper scaffolding

• Lack of required personal protective equipment

• Insufficient training on equipment operation

• Poor housekeeping creating tripping hazards

• Failure to implement lockout/tagout procedures

Evidence of OSHA violations strengthens personal injury claims by demonstrating negligence. Our legal team knows how to obtain inspection reports, safety citations, and violation records to build compelling arguments for compensation.

Steps to Take After a Construction Accident

Taking the right steps immediately after a construction accident protects your health, preserves your legal rights, and strengthens your compensation claim.

Step 1: Report the accident to your supervisor. Inform your supervisor immediately to protect other workers and comply with Vermont law. Make your report as soon as possible—many serious injuries don’t show symptoms right away.

Step 2: Seek immediate medical care. Your employer may require you to see a company doctor initially, but you can choose your own physician afterward. Get examined even if injuries seem minor—documenting your condition from the start is essential for your claim.

Step 3: Verify employer reporting. Confirm your employer reported the accident to the Vermont Department of Labor within 72 hours. If not, file your own claim form immediately to begin the benefits process.

Step 4: Contact a Vermont construction accident lawyer. An attorney can compile evidence including photographs, safety records, and witness testimony. This evidence becomes harder to find the longer you wait. An experienced lawyer identifies all potential compensation sources and ensures you don’t miss critical deadlines.

Why Choose Sabbeth Law for Your Construction Accident Case

At Sabbeth Law, we understand the complexities of Vermont construction accident cases and have successfully fought for fair compensation on behalf of countless injured workers. Our lawyers are skilled negotiators who won’t back down from insurance companies attempting to minimize your claim.

We handle every aspect of your case—from investigating the accident and identifying all liable parties to filing claims and negotiating settlements—so you can focus on recovery. If litigation becomes necessary, our trial-ready attorneys are prepared to fight for your rights in court.

Contact Our Vermont Construction Accident Lawyers Today

Don’t wait to seek legal help if you’ve been injured in a construction accident. Time is critical for filing workers’ compensation claims and pursuing personal injury lawsuits against third parties. Contact Sabbeth Law today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Vermont construction accident lawyers. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and fight to secure the compensation you deserve.

Construction sites pose many hazards, and common accidents include falls from heights, electrocutions, vehicle and equipment collisions (such as forklifts or dump trucks), falling objects, and machinery malfunctions. These incidents often result in serious injuries such as fractures, head trauma, burns, or amputations.

Responsibility may extend beyond your employer to include property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, or delivery firms. For example, a property owner may be liable if they failed to correct structural hazards, or a manufacturer may face liability if a piece of equipment malfunctioned due to a design defect.

An injured worker may obtain benefits through the workers’ compensation system — covering medical care, wage replacement, and in some cases permanent disability or vocational rehabilitation. Additionally, when a third party (not the employer) is at fault, a separate personal injury claim may allow recovery of full lost wages, ongoing medical costs, non-economic damages like pain and suffering, and potential punitive damages in cases of egregious conduct.

It’s important to promptly document the scene: gathering incident reports, photographs of equipment or hazards, witness statements, maintenance and safety logs, and medical records. Expert analysis (e.g., on equipment failure or workplace safety standards) may also support the claim. Early intervention helps preserve evidence before it is altered or removed.

While workers’ compensation provides no-fault benefits, it does not cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Also, pursuing a third-party personal injury claim requires establishing negligence (or defect) and showing how fault caused the injury. Delays in reporting, failure to preserve evidence, or accepting an early settlement without legal review may reduce the ability to obtain full compensation.