Ann Arbor Construction Accident Injury Lawyers

Construction sites are inherently dangerous workplaces. Falls from scaffolding, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and equipment failures cause thousands of serious injuries across Michigan each year. In Ann Arbor, where ongoing development and renovation projects transform the city's landscape, construction workers face daily risks that can end careers and change lives forever.

At Logeman & Iafrate, P.C., our construction accident attorneys understand both the legal complexities of workplace injury claims and the practical realities facing injured workers. We've spent over 45 years fighting to secure the compensation construction workers need to rebuild their lives after devastating accidents.

Ann Arbor's Construction Landscape and Unique Risks

Ann Arbor's construction industry serves a diverse range of projects—from University of Michigan campus expansions to downtown mixed-use developments, residential renovations in historic neighborhoods, and infrastructure improvements throughout the city. Each project type brings distinct hazards:

• High-rise construction: Falls from elevation remain the leading cause of construction fatalities, with scaffolding collapses and inadequate fall protection systems claiming lives and causing paralysis each year.
• Utility work: Trenching accidents, underground utility strikes, and confined space incidents threaten workers maintaining Ann Arbor's aging infrastructure.
• Residential remodeling: Smaller projects often lack the safety oversight of commercial sites, exposing workers to unguarded machinery, electrical hazards, and structural failures.
• Road construction: Workers on Stadium Boulevard, State Street, and other major thoroughfares face constant traffic dangers despite work zone protections.

Workers' Compensation Benefits for Construction Injuries

Most construction workers in Ann Arbor are covered by Michigan workers' compensation insurance, which provides no-fault benefits regardless of who caused your accident. These benefits include:

• Medical treatment coverage: All necessary medical care related to your work injury, including emergency treatment, surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing rehabilitation
• Wage loss benefits: Typically 80% of your after-tax average weekly wage while you're unable to work
• Vocational rehabilitation: Retraining assistance if you cannot return to construction work
• Specific loss benefits: Additional compensation for permanent impairments such as amputations or loss of use of body parts

You must report your construction accident to your employer within 90 days and file your workers' compensation claim within two years. Early reporting protects your rights and ensures you receive benefits without delay.

Workers' compensation is typically your exclusive remedy against your direct employer—you cannot sue your employer for additional damages. However, third-party claims often provide a crucial path to full compensation.

Third-Party Liability Claims Beyond Workers' Compensation

Construction sites typically involve multiple contractors, subcontractors, equipment suppliers, and property owners. When someone other than your direct employer contributes to your injury, Michigan law allows you to file a personal injury lawsuit for full damages—including pain and suffering, complete wage loss, and other compensation workers' comp doesn't cover.

Potentially liable third parties include:

• General contractors: Under Michigan's "common work area" doctrine, general contractors may be liable for hazards in shared work areas even if they didn't directly employ you
• Subcontractors: Other trades whose negligence creates dangers—electricians who leave exposed wiring, excavators who destabilize structures, or crane operators who drop loads
• Property owners: Building owners who maintain control over the worksite and fail to address known hazards
• Equipment manufacturers: Companies that produce defective scaffolding, power tools, safety harnesses, or other equipment that fails and causes injury
• Architects and engineers: Design professionals whose inadequate plans or specifications create dangerous conditions

Third-party claims require proving negligence—showing that the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries. Our attorneys investigate every aspect of your accident to identify all responsible parties and build the strongest possible case.

Common Construction Injuries in Ann Arbor

Construction accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment and permanently affect earning capacity:

• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: Falls and being struck by heavy objects can damage the spine, causing paraplegia or quadriplegia
• Traumatic brain injuries: Head impacts from falls, falling objects, or equipment accidents can result in cognitive impairment, personality changes, and permanent disability
• Amputations: Unguarded machinery, power tool accidents, and crush injuries frequently result in loss of fingers, hands, arms, or legs
• Severe burns: Electrical accidents, welding incidents, and chemical exposures cause disfiguring burns requiring multiple surgeries
• Fractures and orthopedic injuries: Broken bones, torn ligaments, and joint damage from falls, heavy lifting, and being struck by objects
• Electrocutions: Contact with power lines, faulty wiring, or improperly grounded equipment causes severe electrical injuries and death

Proving Your Construction Accident Claim

Construction accident cases demand thorough investigation and expert testimony. Our attorneys act quickly to preserve critical evidence before it disappears:

• Site documentation: Photographs and video of the accident scene, hazardous conditions, and missing safety equipment
• MIOSHA reports: Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation findings and citations
• Company safety records: Evidence of previous violations, inadequate training, or patterns of negligence
• Equipment inspection records: Maintenance logs showing defective machinery or inadequate safety devices
• Witness statements: Testimony from coworkers and other trades who observed unsafe conditions
• Expert analysis: Safety engineers, construction consultants, and vocational experts who establish industry standards and demonstrate violations

Maximum Compensation for Construction Injuries

Construction accident victims pursuing third-party claims may recover comprehensive damages including:

• Medical expenses: Past and future treatment costs, surgery, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and lifetime care needs
• Lost wages: Income lost during recovery and reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to construction work
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium: Compensation for your spouse when injuries affect your marital relationship

Our attorneys work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to fully document lifetime damages and fight for maximum recovery.

Why Choose Logeman & Iafrate for Your Ann Arbor Construction Accident Case

Construction accident cases require attorneys who understand both workers' compensation and complex personal injury litigation. We offer:

• Decades of construction accident experience: We've handled scaffolding collapses, crane accidents, trench cave-ins, and every type of worksite injury
• Trial-ready representation: We prepare every case for trial, and insurance companies know we won't back down
• No upfront costs: We work on a contingency-fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation
• Proven results: Our track record includes substantial verdicts and settlements for catastrophically injured workers

We understand the financial pressure facing injured construction workers and their families. While you focus on recovery, we handle every aspect of your legal claim—fighting for the workers' compensation benefits you're entitled to and pursuing third-party claims against all negligent parties.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ann Arbor Construction Accident Claims

What should I do immediately after a construction accident in Ann Arbor?

Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Report the accident to your supervisor and ensure an incident report is filed. Document the scene with photos if possible, gather witness information, and do not sign any statements for insurance companies. Contact an experienced construction accident attorney as soon as possible to preserve evidence and protect your rights to both workers' compensation and third-party claims.

Can I sue my employer after a construction accident in Michigan?

Generally, no. Workers' compensation is your exclusive remedy against your direct employer in Michigan. However, you can pursue third-party liability claims against general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and other parties whose negligence contributed to your injury. These claims provide compensation for damages workers' comp doesn't cover, including pain and suffering and full wage loss.

What is the "common work area" doctrine in Michigan construction cases?

Under Michigan law, a general contractor may be liable for injuries occurring in common work areas shared by multiple trades—even if they didn't directly employ the injured worker. This doctrine recognizes that general contractors exercise control over shared spaces like scaffolding systems, excavations, and access routes. When inadequate safety measures in these areas cause injuries, the general contractor can be held responsible through a third-party lawsuit.

How long do I have to file a construction accident claim in Ann Arbor?

You must report your injury to your employer within 90 days and file your workers' compensation claim within two years. For third-party personal injury claims, Michigan's statute of limitations is generally three years from the date of injury. However, product liability claims against equipment manufacturers may have different deadlines. Consulting an attorney immediately ensures you preserve all potential claims.

What compensation can I recover beyond workers' compensation benefits?

Third-party liability claims allow recovery of damages not available through workers' compensation, including full wage loss rather than the reduced workers' comp rate, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium for your spouse, and compensation for permanent disability. When multiple parties share liability, total recovery can be substantially greater than workers' compensation alone provides.