If you or a loved one has been injured on a job site, the experienced Bethlehem construction accident lawyers at Munley Law can help.
Our Bethlehem personal injury lawyers have assisted construction workers injured on the job for nearly seven decades. We have won millions in settlements to date, including $12 million for a work injury case. Our partners and attorneys have been consistently recognized by leading legal organizations, including the Summit Council, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and the American Association for Justice. Caroline Munley is certified as a workers’ compensation specialist by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and J. Christopher Munley has been honored as Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation.
Contact Munley Law today for a free case evaluation and support with your claims after your construction accident in Bethlehem. Our lawyers are available 24/7, and charge no fees unless we win you your rightful compensation.
How Often Do Construction Accidents Occur in Bethlehem, PA?
Construction remains one of the most hazardous industries in the United States. Nationally, nearly 1,000 construction workers lost their lives on the job in 2021, and the industry recorded 213.3 nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 10,000 workers in 2020.
Pennsylvania has also seen a significant number of construction-related workplace accidents. According to state data, the construction industry accounted for 18% of all occupational fatalities in Pennsylvania in 2023—the highest share of any industry sector. In 2024, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation received reports of 165,985 workplace injuries and illnesses statewide, including 7,973 involving construction workers.
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Report shows that sprains and strains were the most frequently reported construction injuries in 2024, accounting for 31.7% of all construction claims. Upper-extremity injuries affecting the shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, and fingers were especially common, with 3,226 reported cases. Overexertion was the leading cause of injury, responsible for 26.5% of reported incidents, and the median age of injured construction workers was 43.5 years.
At the local level, Northampton County reported 90 construction-related workplace injuries in 2024, while neighboring Lehigh County reported 109. These figures highlight that construction accidents continue to affect workers throughout the Lehigh Valley, including those working in and around Bethlehem. Construction sites present numerous hazards, including falls from heights, falling objects, electrocution, and accidents involving machinery, tools, and equipment, making them one of the top ten most dangerous work environments in the United States.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Can You Claim Workers’ Compensation After a Construction Site Injury?
Workers’ compensation can provide fast monetary relief after a construction site injury. Furthermore, the workers’ compensation procedure is generally the only option to recover money from your employer when you are injured in the course and scope of your employment.
When Does Workers’ Compensation Apply?
You may have heard of a coworker seeking workers’ compensation benefits after an injury caused by a specific incident at work. But that’s not the only type of injury workers’ compensation will cover. An employee can also seek benefits when routine daily activities cause an injury. For example, carpal tunnel is caused by certain everyday work activities. Furthermore, if work activities aggravate a preexisting condition, workers’ compensation may apply.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Typically, workers’ compensation provides wage-loss benefits and payment of reasonable and necessary medical expenses for employees who suffer work-related injuries or occupational diseases. In Pennsylvania, these benefits are provided under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act (77 P.S. § 1 et seq.). Workers’ compensation may also provide death benefits to certain dependents when a worker dies as a result of a job-related injury or illness (77 P.S. § 72).
Can I Still Sue?
Generally speaking, you cannot sue your employer or a coworker for a workplace accident at a construction site if your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance. However, workers’ compensation does not prevent you from pursuing a claim against a negligent third party whose actions contributed to your injuries.
For example:
- A general contractor is generally responsible for maintaining a reasonably safe construction site. If the general contractor violates applicable safety regulations, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction standards found in 29 CFR Part 1926, or otherwise fails to follow required safety procedures, that party may be held liable for resulting injuries.
- A project engineer or architect may also act negligently, leading to injuries on the construction site.
- If a subcontractor acts negligently on the job site and that causes injury to others working on the site, you may have a claim.
- The property owner may also have acted negligently. For example, property owners have a duty to protect against known or obvious harm. A lawyer can help you hold careless owners responsible.
- If your injury is caused by a defective product or tool, you typically can sue the manufacturer of the product.
Why Do I Need a Bethlehem Construction Accident Attorney?
The right construction accident lawyer can be the difference between recovering compensation and being forced to pay for the damages caused by an injury at a construction site.
Research has examined differences between claims handled with and without attorney representation. For example, a study conducted by Martindale-Nolo Research reported that respondents who hired attorneys were more likely to report receiving compensation than those who handled their claims on their own.
Separately, a 2024 study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that attorney-represented workers’ compensation claims were associated with higher indemnity payments on average. These studies describe trends observed among the claims reviewed and do not predict the outcome of any individual case. The value of a construction accident claim depends on factors such as the severity of the injury, available insurance coverage, liability issues, and the specific facts involved.
You don’t have to go at it alone; here are just a few ways a Bethlehem construction accident lawyer can help:
Construction Accidents Are Legally Complex
At any given time, there can be numerous employees, all employed by different companies, working on a construction site. For example, there are generally numerous subcontractors working on the same job site, all managed by a general contractor. Throw in the property owner, designer, or architect, and the manufacturers of the many tools and products used on-site, who may not be physically present all the time but who have duties all the same, and you’ve got a truly complex web of a workplace. An attorney can ensure you maximize your recovery by pursuing the workers’ compensation benefits to which you are entitled while exploring your options against third parties that caused or contributed to your construction site injury.
Different Deadlines May Restrict the Available Time to File a Construction Accident Lawsuit
Construction accident claims can involve multiple deadlines, depending on the type of claim being pursued. Missing a deadline may affect your ability to recover benefits or compensation.
If you are seeking workers’ compensation benefits in Pennsylvania, you generally must notify your employer of your work-related injury within 120 days of the accident. If your employer has designated healthcare providers, you may also be required to treat with one of those providers for the first 90 days following your injury.
In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, some injured construction workers may have third-party claims against negligent subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, or other parties whose conduct contributed to the accident. These claims are separate from workers’ compensation cases and are generally subject to Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions (42 Pa. C.S. § 5524).
A construction accident lawyer in Bethlehem can identify the different deadlines pertaining to your case and help to file the relevant claims on time.
A Construction Accident Lawyer Can Help You Protect Your Right to Compensation
Construction accident cases often involve disputes over who was responsible for an injury. In third-party claims against subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, or other parties, defendants may argue that the injured worker’s own actions contributed to the accident.
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102. This means an injured person may recover damages provided they are not more than 50% responsible for the accident, although any recovery will generally be reduced by their percentage of fault. An attorney can help investigate the circumstances of the accident, identify all potentially liable parties, and address allegations that could reduce or limit a worker’s recovery.
A Bethlehem Construction Accident Attorney Can Help Resolve a Dispute Before It Starts
Of course, lawyers are familiar with fighting cases in court. But sometimes, the best option is to resolve a dispute well before a formal lawsuit. Sometimes, lawyers can do this just by being involved in negotiations with your employer or its insurance company. After all, people can be more forthcoming if they know you are armed and ready to take a dispute to court.
Construction Injury Lawyers Can Investigate Your Claim and Gather Evidence
Because of the complexity of construction accidents, there can be a lot of groundwork to cover to investigate and prove your claim.
A lawyer can identify and interview witnesses. Many people could have seen the accident or the events leading up to it. These witnesses can have invaluable information. We’ll find anyone with information, interview them, and preserve their testimony for use in court.
We’ll also gather documents and other physical evidence. We can take pictures of the construction site, any machinery or products involved, and any documents created related to your workplace injuries and the injuries of others. Furthermore, we can track down surveillance video and other camera footage of the accident. We know where to look and have experience tracking this evidence down for our clients.
Furthermore, sometimes you will need an expert witness. Munley Law has worked with experts across Pennsylvania and the country to support our clients. We know how to do it effectively and efficiently.
A Construction Accident Lawyer Can Help You Weigh Your Options
At Munley Law, we can help you estimate how much money you could recover and explain the next steps during a free initial consultation. We’re here to give you your options in easy-to-understand language.
Why Choose Munley Law for Your Personal Injury Case?
With so many personal injury law firms to choose from, how do you know who you can trust to fight for you and your family? Munley Law sets itself apart, and we’re ready to prove it to you. Here are just a few reasons to let us fight for you and your family:
Experience: When it comes to a construction accident claim, experience counts. Each of our partners has decades of experience representing individuals and families who have suffered serious injuries or been denied benefits following an injury. Because we are a family firm, we often work closely together on each case, strengthening your legal support. We have won more than $1 billion in settlements to date.
Industry Leaders: The board-certified attorneys at Munley Law have a national reputation for their advocacy skills and have received numerous peer ratings for excellence in personal injury litigation. Robert Munley III, Caroline Munley, and Marion Munley have been recognized by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for winning significant verdicts for their clients, and all partners are named to the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania list, with Mackenzie Wilson also featured as one of the NTLA’s Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorneys in Pennsylvania.
Resources: Successfully recovering money after a Bethlehem construction accident is challenging. At Munley Law, we have access to resources typically available only to big law firms. We work closely with our network of engineers, investigators, experts, and in-house medical personnel to build your case. What’s more, unlike other law firms, you aren’t on the hook for paying these professionals out of pocket.
Our No-Fee Promise: We do not collect a fee unless we win your case. If we do not produce results for you, you owe us nothing. Also, at no point will you ever pay anything out of pocket; even when we win, our fee comes out of the money we recover for you.
Discuss Your Case with a Bethlehem Construction Accident Lawyer
Munley Law has the skills and experience to help you navigate complex workers’ comp claims after your accident, and to contest unfair denials to secure the compensation you need for a full recovery.
You can contact our personal injury attorneys by phone, via the form, or using the chat feature on our website.
Contacting us is free and doesn’t obligate you to do anything. But the first step to getting you the recovery you deserve is to speak with one of your Bethlehem construction accident lawyers, who are ready to get results for you.
Caroline Munley
Caroline Munley is an experienced and award-winning personal injury lawyer and is a board-certified workers’ compensation specialist. Since 2018, she’s been listed in Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury Plaintiffs; Workers’ Compensation Claimants, Northeastern PA), Lawdragon, and has been a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2022. A member of the International Society of Barristers, Caroline has won millions of dollars for car accident, commercial truck crash, and workplace injury victims.
