Construction Injuries

When the equipment and tools involved with construction projects work properly and when high safety standards are implemented and maintained, there is minimal danger of injury. But when machinery is poorly designed or when safety standards are ignored, the results can be catastrophic. Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow has spent decades representing people whose loved ones have been injured or have died at construction sites, including cases involving:

Collapsing scaffolding
Exploding manholes and pipes that injure workers or passers-by
Unprotected flooring that causes workers to fall
Fires caused by faulty, makeshift wiring
Earth movers that crush or bury workers
Work site hazards, such as debris, wires, and pipes that create tripping hazards, resulting in injury
Unsecured materials and equipment that fall on workers or passers-by
Nip points in machines that cause crushing or amputation of limbs
Moving equipment (heavy trucks, for example) that cause injury or death

Whether the accident is caused by a defective product or inattention to safety, the attorneys at Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow will work for fair and just compensation. They will also help ensure that the root cause of the accident is addressed by the responsible parties, holding them accountable for their actions and improving safety for the community in the future.

Significant Cases

Big Dig Case

$28.5 million settlement on behalf of the family in the case of the tragic death of Milena Del Valle, who died when a three-ton ceiling panel collapsed on top of her car while she and her husband were driving through Boston’s Interstate 90 Connector Tunnel.

Nail Gun Case

$15 Million Settlement for Eugene Doran, an insurance agent and Vietnam veteran, who was getting a haircut at a barbershop in suburban Andover on April 15, 1985, when he was hit by a 3-inch nail fired from a high-velocity gun being used to install a storage chest next door, which left Mr. Doran paralyzed.

Severe Electric Shock on Construction Site

$8.5 million settlement obtained for electrician that was severely disfigured and suffered permanent facial injuries when his face came in contact with an energized portion of an electrical substation.

Blasting Incident

$1.5 million settlement in case arising from a blasting incident at a construction site. The plaintiff was severely injured when a 12-pound rock was ejected nearly 800 feet from an adjacent construction blast site and crashed through the windshield of the car he was driving.

165,300 construction workers reported a workplace injury in 2020 and 1,008 workers suffered a fatal injury on the job in the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was injured at a construction site. Can I sue?

You may be able to sue if you were injured at a construction site. The amount of compensation you may receive will depend on a number of factors, including if you were injured while working, how the accident happened, and who is responsible for your injury. Compensation could include payment for medical bills, ongoing physical therapy, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

It is important to speak to an experienced construction accident lawyer, like the construction accident attorneys at Meehan Boyle to discuss your individual situation including who may be held responsible and how to proceed.

What is a construction accident?

Construction accidents can include many different types of incidents that occur on construction sites. Some of the most common construction accidents are falls from heights, equipment accidents, slip and falls, trip and falls, electrocution, falling debris, scaffolding collapses, ladder accidents, and machinery malfunctions.

What are common causes of construction accidents?

The cause of any particular construction accident depends on specific facts. However, the underlying causes of construction accidents often include lack of safety policies, failure to follow those safety policies, inadequate training and supervision, defective or dangerous equipment or materials, and hazardous working conditions. Any of these reasons could be the basis for a legal claim for compensation for your injuries in an accident.

Who is responsible for a construction accident?

When someone is injured at a construction site, determining who is responsible can be complicated. If you are injured as an employee at a construction site, you will likely be entitled to file a workers’ comp claim, however, this is not always the only option for you. There are many other parties involved in a construction project who could be held legally responsible and financially liable for the accident. This could include the owner of the site, the contractor in charge of the construction, or one of the many subcontractors involved in the project. In addition, the manufacturer or supplier of defective products or machinery may be held responsible if they caused your injuries.

What should I do if I am injured in a construction accident?

After being injured in a construction accident, take the following steps:

Find a safe place and get medical attention for your injuries
Take photos of the accident scene and injury
Get names and contact information for any witnesses
Report the accident to your supervisor/site manager
Don’t talk to other parties or their insurers before getting legal advice
Contact a construction accident lawyer

How can a lawyer help me after a construction accident?

Construction accidents, by their nature, tend to have complicating factors including many potentially liable parties and complex, technical factors that contributed to the accident. An experienced construction accident lawyer can help to guide you through the process. Your lawyer will investigate the accident, collect evidence, bring in expert witnesses, and can speak with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf. Your lawyer will also help assess your claim’s potential value including your losses and expenses into the future, negotiate a settlement with the insurance company on your behalf, and represent you in a lawsuit if a settlement is not reached.

What is the difference between a workers' compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit?

A workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit are both ways that an injured person can recover compensation for their losses and damages after an accident. A workers’ compensation claim is only available if a person is injured while working. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed when a person who is not working is injured at the construction site or when a worker is injured in an accident caused by someone other than their employer. A workers’ comp claim is typically a quicker and more straightforward way for injured employees to receive compensation, however the amount that an employee can claim may be limited.

Lawsuit: A personal injury lawsuit is when an injured party sues another party who caused or contributed to the injury. A lawsuit can take many forms, such as personal injury, premises liability, or product liability. In a lawsuit, compensation can include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages (past and future), pain and suffering, physical disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and other losses. A lawsuit requires filing a legal claim and can end in a trial; however, the majority of construction accident lawsuits are settled in negotiations between the parties before trial.

Workers’ comp claim: The purpose of the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation system is to protect workers if they are injured at work or contract a work-related illness. This system is intended to replace lawsuits related to work injuries and illness. A workers' comp claim in Massachusetts only pays for reasonable and necessary medical treatment, compensation for lost wages after the first five calendar days of full or partial disability, and in some cases retraining for employees who qualify.

Any construction accident can be complex. If you were injured while working on a construction site, you should immediately discuss your situation with an attorney with construction accident experience, like the lawyers at Meehan Boyle, to protect your right to full and fair compensation.

How long after an accident can you sue in Massachusetts?

Generally, in Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident. However, it's important to note that this time frame may vary depending on other factors such as when you learned of your injury or discovered its cause. Therefore, it's best to consult an attorney as soon as possible if you are considering filing a lawsuit, or you may lose the right to bring a claim for compensation for your injuries.

Client Testimonials

Great Law Firm. Their paralegal, Nora, is so professional and very accurate, and gets back to you regarding any questions that you may have. Also, one of the attorneys, Peter, is nothing but professional and again is willing to answer any questions that you may have regarding any legal matters. THIS IS A 5 STAR FIRM AND ALL EMPLOYEES ARE VERY COMPETENT. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!! — Christine S.

My wife and I were in an accident while riding our motorcycle. The accident was clearly the fault of the other operator. We had never hired a lawyer to represent us in a civil action before, and I wasn't even sure we needed one. But the other party's insurance company was being unreasonable, so we decided to hire a lawyer. We have a friend that works at MBBB, and they gave us a strong recommendation, so we had an initial discussion to learn the process. MBBB put Jeremy Carroll and Catherine Croteau on our case, and we could not have been happier with the process and the way things turned out. In addition to being experts at their jobs, both Jeremy and Catherine are kind, empathetic people who held our hands throughout the process. As a settlement was being negotiated and we became impatient, Jeremy talked us off the ledge a few times and asked us to trust in his experience. I'm glad we did, because I believe he maximized our settlement. In addition to being great at what they do and being extremely professional, Jeremy and Catherine are super nice people. I hope we never need it, but if we ever need representation again, we will be calling them!

Working with Jeremy Carroll has been a great experience in managing my auto accident case. He listens, he is knowledgeable, experienced, and personable. He was able to achieve and negotiate a fair settlement. I would absolutely recommend hiring Jeremy! — Elisabeth W.

I recently had the opportunity to work with Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, PC, and I must say it was a wonderful experience. From the moment I reached out to them, they were attentive, understanding, and empathetic. Dealing with a personal injury can be stressful and overwhelming. They took the time to listen to my concerns and thoroughly explain the legal process. I would highly recommend them. — Lisa M.

Leo Boyle and John Carroll were tireless advocates for my family and I in the wake of a devastating severe traumatic brain injury I suffered in 2009. In the months and years after my injury, while the case was pending and long after, Leo and John took a personal interest in our case, continuously advocating for our safety and mental health. They displayed great intellect, as well as dedication and patience, in developing a compelling case and securing a much-needed settlement from the defendants. While it did not reverse the harm done, it provided us with the support, closure, and financial freedom we needed to move forward. — Leslie B.

I had a such a pleasant experience working with my attorney, Peter Ainsworth, and his paralegal Barbara. They are reliable, trustworthy, loving, and so caring. If you are looking for an attorney that cares about you, this is the place to go!!!! — Gabriela R.

I was in a car accident where I had sustained physical damage to both myself and my vehicle. Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow law firm was fantastic in helping navigate compensation for the damages I sustained. The law firm did a great job communicating with me throughout the entire process and was able to negotiate the best result financially. I would highly recommend this law firm to represent you. — Todd D.

For years I was dealing with a severe personal injury case. After being represented by four different attorneys, I finally found Meehan, Boyle, Black, and Bogdanow. I interviewed several so-called top firms and spoke to the big largest firms. Unfortunately, none of them understood the case's complexity or had a strategy to navigate successfully. I first spoke to Peter Ainsworth. He listened and showed genuine compassion and care for my situation. Peter then introduced me to the All-Star team of Jeremy Carroll and, Jennifer Denker, Nora Carroll, and then the real work began. Nora Carroll, a superstar who catalogued volumes of evidence from my previous attorneys, and coordinated obtaining additional information in an extensive medical file. Jeremy Carroll was the lead on my case and primary contact. He was invested, knowledgeable, analytical, and extraordinarily thorough. From the review stage to strategy and execution, he was exemplary. With compassion and intensity, this team of true professionals pursued my best interest. Then, when I didn't think it could get better, they added the experience and long-held wisdom of Leo Boyle. Being represented by Meehan, Boyle, Black, and Bogdanow meant the biggest disaster that happened in my life was finally resolved. I am extremely pleased with the negotiated settlement. Their efforts will make a big difference in being able to care for myself and my family. — Tyioun K.

I had a very positive experience while working with Jeremy Carroll, Peter Ainsworth, and Nora Carroll at Meehan, Boyle, Black and Bogdanow law firm. All three of them treated me with respect and dignity every time we spoke on the phone or had a zoom call and I was always kept abreast with emails. I never needed to speak to any insurance company; it was all taken care of. I was never rushed nor swayed, the decision was always mine to make and my opinion was continually asked. Every aspect was handled with professionalism. I highly recommend this law office to represent you for all of your personal injuries! — Sara W.

I can't thank Meehan, Boyle, Black, and Bogdanow law firm enough for everything they did for my family during a really tough time. After a horrific auto accident that left our daughter with permanent physical and emotional damages, MBBB was there for us every step of the way. Not only did they offer expert legal advice, but they also showed genuine care and understanding. They made sure we were always informed, patiently answering all our questions and guiding us through the process, which made such a challenging situation so much easier to handle.

If you’re looking for a law firm that combines professionalism with true compassion, I highly recommend MBBB. Our amazing team—led by the incredible Jennifer, with exceptional support from Catherine and the expertise of Leo—really went above and beyond. We’re so grateful for everything they did for us.

Attorney Jeremy and Barbara from his team have been so amazing to me and my family. We had a family death and Jeremy has been so professional, so patient, and so thorough every single step of the way. It has been truly one of the toughest years of our lives so far. Having Jeremy and his team's support during the whole process with court, etc. has been SO helpful. Also, what made it special is I didn't feel like I was JUST ANOTHER person, he really cares and really wanted the best for us — he knew what we were going through. THIS IS what you need on your side when you need a lawyer. Absolutely recommend him! — F.J.

Jeremy Carroll took on our case for a car accident. Barbara and him were wonderful. Very attentive and professional every step of the way. I would highly recommend his services anytime! — Heatherly D.

Jenn and Catherine are two of the best at their job. Three words I would use to describe them are honorable, empathetic, and unwavering. The transparency of communication with them was unparalleled, and any single question I had was answered thoroughly and understandable. I would recommend the professionalism of Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, P.C to anyone who finds themselves seeking justice in an unfortunate situation. After interviewing multiple law firms in the Boston area, I found that most firms just look at you as numbers on a spreadsheet. They lack humility, and don't realize that you are suffering in real time, not just on paper. This firm is the polar opposite, in that it is made of real people, with real understanding of what you are going through, and will do what it takes to make you feel some sense of closure. Thank you Jenn. Thank you Catherine. Thank you Meehan, Boyle et al. — Alex C.