When you have been hurt on the job as a construction worker in Allegheny County, having a skilled Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyer at your side is essential for ensuring that you get the compensation you need to restore your quality of life.
Construction workers face considerable risks when performing their day-to-day duties. The industry accounts for thousands of worker injuries and illnesses in Pennsylvania each year, ranging from sprains and strains to cuts, bruises, crush and struck-by injuries, and more severe incidents such as spine and traumatic brain injuries as well. With the sector showing consistent growth, more workers than ever are being exposed to these hazards. The board-certified workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law are here to protect your rights as a Pittsburgh worker and to fight for damages that adequately cover your pain, suffering, and loss of income after an accident.
Find out all about workers’ compensation for construction workers, how to calculate the value of your claim, when you should hire a Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyer, and what to do immediately following the accident.
If you have any further questions, contact our expert team at Munley Law for a free evaluation of your case.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Pittsburgh’s Construction Growth Trends
While many sectors, such as food, entertainment, and hospitality, faced serious downturns during the pandemic, the construction industry remained unscathed. With lockdowns increasing the time we all spent at home, the demand for new buildings in Philadelphia increased. In fact, the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that more homes were built in Pennsylvania in 2021 than in any year since 2006.
In addition to increased demand for housing, the pandemic also created an increased appetite for home renovations– an added revenue stream for the already booming construction industry. Home renovation platform Houzz notes that home renovations in 2020 hit record numbers. According to its year-end study, home renovations were up at least 15% in 2020, with homeowners spending a median of $15,000 on their projects.
As such, the construction industry did not just survive, but in fact, thrived. Its record growth is a trend that is likely to continue well into the next decade. Pittsburgh’s construction industry growth outpaced nationwide trends throughout 2025, according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has also estimated that by January 2026, the Pittsburgh construction industry had grown by 2.1% year-on-year, showing a consistent growth trajectory.
According to the Global Forecast for Construction, global construction output will grow by a staggering 42% between 2020 and 2030, bringing in an additional $4.5 trillion. As a point of comparison, this growth will outpace both the manufacturing and service industries by the end of the decade.
Could the Growing Construction Industry in Pittsburgh Lead to More Injured Construction Workers?
On American soil, we can expect our domestic construction economy to grow in step with the global one. In Pittsburgh, and more broadly in the Western Pennsylvania area, this will likely translate to more job openings for construction workers, bigger and more numerous projects, and potentially even higher pay. While such growth will likely enrich the local construction economy, it will most likely come with a price: tighter deadlines, longer hours, and potentially more numerous construction accidents.
Construction accidents are more common and more destructive than people might think. According to the Census of Occupational Injuries, more than 200,000 nonfatal construction injuries occurred in 2020. By 2024, this number stood at 212,321 nonfatal injuries for the construction and sand and gravel mining industries. Dealing with serious machinery, suspension systems, and heavy objects, construction workers face some of the most dangerous conditions among workers today. In fact, in 2020, one out of every five private-sector worker deaths was in the construction industry. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, a total of 4,764 fatal accidents were recorded, with 5,070 deaths reported in 2024. Specifically, in the state of Pennsylvania, there were 148 fatalities in 2020 and 185 in 2024, showing an upward long-term growth trend across the board.
If you or a loved one was injured in a construction accident in Pittsburgh, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys expresses its deepest sympathies. We recognize that the brave men and women of the construction industry put themselves at risk to create the infrastructure that we all rely on. We thank all construction workers for their sacrifices.
How Will a Lawyer Help Your Workers’ Compensation Case?
Your case will most likely be based on a workers’ compensation claim (more on this to come). Your workers’ compensation claim will be filed with your employer’s insurance company. You can expect that your employer’s insurance company will respond by presenting you with a settlement value. If you feel that this value is unfair, you might want to consider taking the case to court. Working with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help you determine just how much your claim is worth and advise on whether or not you should settle.
You can also consider pursuing other legal action to file for damages for pain and suffering, specific loss, and wrongful death if your accident took the life of a loved one. If you choose to file a lawsuit, our workers’ compensation lawyers will represent your case and fight for a favorable verdict on your behalf.
The National Trial Lawyers Association has listed our partners as some of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania, and our achievements in trial have also been honored by the Litigation Counsel of America and the Irish Legal 100.
What is Workers’ Compensation for Construction Workers?
If you are a resident of Pennsylvania and were injured while working on a construction site, then you are covered under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. Regardless of your employment type, you likely will be covered under this bill, as it extends to seasonal laborers, salaried employees, full-time employees, and part-time employees alike.
For various reasons, some construction companies will misclassify employees as contractors. This can make receiving workers’ compensation benefits a little more complicated, as your employer’s insurance company may argue that you are not a true employee. If you are classified as a contractor, working with a workers’ compensation attorney will likely be your best bet at receiving the benefits you are entitled to by law.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
There are two main components to workers’ compensation benefits. The first is coverage of your medical care. Your employer’s insurance provider will help pay for your medical expenses. This can include physician visits, prescription medications, surgical care, anesthesia, medical equipment, and, in some cases, reimbursement for travel to and from doctors’ appointments.
It is important to note, though, that in the state of Pennsylvania, all employers are required to pay for their employees’ medical care if the accident happened while you were on the clock. This is true regardless of the status of your workers’ compensation claim.
The second component is wage protection. In many cases, your injury will in some way impair your ability to work. Workers’ compensation benefits will reimburse a portion of your pre-injury wages. In cases where you are completely unable to work, you will be eligible to file for total disability. In other cases, where your injury only reduces your earning capacity, you may be able to be compensated for the hours you are no longer able to work. This is called partial disability.
More specifically, workers’ compensation will pay you up to two-thirds of your pre-injury wages. For injuries occurring on or after January 1st, 2026, the statewide weekly wage is capped at $1,394.00. Each year, the Department of Labor and Industry calculates a statewide payout ceiling based on various factors. For injuries that occurred before January 1st, 2026, you can find your payout maximum listed on the Department of Labor and Industry’s historical compensation schedules.
Are There Any Limitations on Workers’ Comp for Pittsburgh Construction Workers?
There are a few limitations to workers’ compensation benefits, however. First, workers’ compensation benefits extend only to injuries that occur at work. For construction workers, this means that you must be physically on-site in order to qualify. If you are commuting to and from work, for example, you would not be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Second, if you are determined to have an active role in causing your injury, you will also be unable to claim workers’ compensation.
More specifically, if your accident occurred while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will not be able to receive workers’ compensation support. Similarly, if your injury was the result of a personal altercation– either with a fellow employee or with a third party– this would also prevent you from seeking support. Finally, if your injury was an act of self-harm, this would also prevent you from being compensated.
How Is the Value of a Workers Compensation Claim Calculated?
The first step to seeking compensation is trying to figure out how much you are owed for your injury. You’ll then use this value to officially submit your claim to your employer’s insurance provider. To get an estimate of how much your claim is worth, start by calculating the cost of your medical care. A doctor’s visit will help determine what type of care you will need to recover from your injury.
After the doctor gives you a roadmap to recovery, you’ll want to figure out whether you will be filing for partial or total disability. Then you’ll want to determine how many weeks your injury will prevent you from working. Finally, you’ll want to add the cost of your medical care to your wage compensation.
- For those filing for total disability and who make less than the statewide weekly average, multiply how much you make each week by 66%. Then, multiply this value by the number of weeks you expect to be unable to work.
- For those filing for total disability and who make more than the statewide weekly average, first begin by looking up the statewide weekly average in the year your injury occurred. Then multiply that number by the number of weeks you expect to be unable to work.
- For those filing for partial disability and who make less than the statewide weekly average, first begin by determining how much your injury will limit your ability to work. This value should be a percentage. Then multiply that percentage by two-thirds of your pre-injury wages. Multiply that product by the number of weeks you expect to have a reduced earning capacity.
- For those filing for partial disability and who make more than the statewide weekly average, figure out the statewide weekly average in the year your injury occurred. Then multiply that number by how much your earning capacity is reduced by your injury. Then multiply that number by the number of weeks you are unable to work.
What to Do Following a Construction Accident
The first thing to do after a construction accident is to seek medical attention. Even if you feel that your injuries are minor, seeking medical attention is vital. Many accidents can put the victim into shock, which can mask the true extent of the injury.
Next, you’ll want to report your accident to your supervisor. It is important that you do this as soon as you can. We encourage you to notify your supervisor or manager in writing within 21 days of the incident to start receiving your benefits from the time the injury or illness occurred. If you wait to report your injury until after the three-week mark, you will instead begin to receive benefits from the date you made your report.
After you’ve reported your accident, you’ll then want to move on to the filing portion of the process. The first step is to work with your employer to submit a First Report of Injury document. It is important to note that if your employer fails to file this report within three years from the date of injury, you will no longer qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
The workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law can assist you with every step of your claims process. Our lawyers have extensive experience in handling these cases, and we have several workers’ comp experts on staff to assist you, including Caroline Munley, who has been named a certified workers’ compensation specialist by the Section on Workers’ Compensation Law. We are also recognized by the American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Association for Justice, and Martindale-Hubbell for our specialized support delivered to injured workers in Pittsburgh and beyond.
When to Hire a Lawyer
Although you can represent yourself in the claims process, hiring a workers’ comp lawyer will ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. It is probably wise to seek out an attorney if…
- Your employer denies your claim. If this happens to you, remain calm. A lawyer will help you file an appeal and get you the support you are entitled to.
- The settlement does not come close to covering your expenses. This is a sure-fire sign that you’ll want to take the claim to court.
- Your employer retaliates against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Pennsylvania law prohibits workplace discrimination. If you are fired, demoted, or punished in any other way for filing a workers’ compensation claim, reach out to an attorney immediately to protect your legal right to work.
Why Choose Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Workers’ Compensation Lawyers?
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are the best in the personal injury business. Our results speak for themselves. Many of our lawyers have won multi-million dollar settlements for our clients.
Our lawyers have therefore earned the honor of being a part of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum– a distinction awarded to less than 1% of lawyers nationwide for their outstanding history of receiving record-breaking settlements for their victims. Marion Munley is also recognized by the Summit Council for the sizable settlements she has secured, and eight of our attorneys are ranked as Super Lawyers, with Marion Munley also named one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania for three consecutive years.
All of our attorneys are board-certified trial lawyers, and many specialize exclusively in workers’ compensation claims. Our lawyers have been recognized by their peers and legal organizations across the country. In addition to having our team consistently named on the Best Lawyers in America list, Partner J. Christopher Munley was named “Lawyer of the Year ” in 2016 for his work in Workers’ Compensation-Claimants in the Allentown Metro area. Carlone Munley is also a Pennsylvania Bar Association-certified workers’ compensation specialist.
Contact Our Pittsburgh Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for a Free Consultation
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we have nearly 70 years of experience winning Pennsylvania residents the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. We are proud to call the Scranton area our home.
Please reach out to us today for your risk-free consultation. We look forward to getting you the benefits that you are owed.
Robert W. Munley, III
Robert W. Munley, III is a highly regarded and respected workers’ compensation lawyer. Bob has earned numerous accolades during his career fighting for injured workers, including being named to Best Lawyers in America in 2013 and appointed to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America guide. Bob is also known for being outspoken in helping attorneys fight for workers rights nationwide, taking part in speaking arrangements such as the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Symposium and the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Information Distribution Seminar.
