Construction Accident Claims in Fresno, CA

Most construction workers who are hurt on the job know they can file a workers' compensation claim. Fewer realize that a completely separate legal action may be available when someone other than their direct employer contributed to the accident. At Cole Fisher, we analyze every construction injury through both lenses because the difference in total compensation can be enormous.

Workers' compensation benefits in California are governed by statutory formulas. Temporary disability, for example, pays roughly two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a state-imposed cap. Permanent disability ratings follow a schedule that accounts for your impairment, age, occupation, and future earning capacity, but the formula does not compensate for pain, suffering, or the full scope of lost income over a career. For a 35-year-old roofer who can never climb again, that gap is life-altering.

A third-party claim fills that gap. If a general contractor on your Fresno job site failed to install guardrails, if a scaffolding company provided defective equipment, or if a subcontractor's crew left an open trench unmarked, you may have grounds to sue that party in civil court. Third-party verdicts and settlements are not subject to the same caps, and they can include compensation for past and future pain, emotional distress, and full lifetime wage loss. Our attorneys coordinate both proceedings simultaneously, ensuring that workers' comp liens and subrogation rights are handled correctly so you keep the maximum amount in your pocket. In the Central Valley, where construction sites routinely involve multiple contractors and equipment suppliers, this dual-track approach recovers benefits that a workers' comp-only strategy would miss entirely.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies four hazard categories, falls, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in/between accidents, as the leading causes of death and serious injury in the construction industry. These "Fatal Four" account for more than 60 percent of construction worker fatalities nationwide every year. In the Central Valley, where residential framing, agricultural facility construction, and commercial development keep job sites running year-round, these same hazards drive the most severe claims we handle.

Falls are the single deadliest hazard. Roofers working multi-story residential projects in Fresno's expanding subdivisions, ironworkers setting steel on highway overpasses along Highway 99, and painters on extension ladders at agricultural processing plants all face fall risks that are entirely preventable with proper guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall-arrest systems. When an employer or general contractor skips these protections to save time or money, the consequences fall on workers' bodies.

Struck-by injuries are the second leading killer. On Central Valley job sites, these incidents involve everything from a load dropped by a crane operator to a forklift backing into a laborer in a blind spot. Electrocutions affect electricians and anyone working near overhead power lines or energized circuits. Caught-in/between accidents, including trench collapses, unguarded machinery, and equipment rollovers, round out the Fatal Four. Cole Fisher's attorneys understand the OSHA standards that govern each of these hazards, and we use that knowledge to identify safety violations that strengthen both workers' comp and third-party claims. When an OSHA citation exists, it becomes powerful evidence in a civil case. We know where to look, what records to request, and how to connect a regulatory violation to the injury our client suffered. For a deeper look at these dangers, read our guide: (/blog/beware-of-the-fatal-4-in-construction).

Experience matters in workers' compensation law, not just general legal experience, but deep, specific knowledge of how the system works in practice. Cole Fisher was founded in 1985 by Curtis A. Cole, one of the first attorneys in California to earn board certification as a specialist in workers' compensation law. That tradition of specialization continues today with principal attorney Joseph O'Keefe, who holds the same certified specialist designation from the State Bar of California.

Board certification is not a title that is handed out freely. It requires proof of substantial experience in the field, passage of a rigorous examination, and favorable evaluations from judges, opposing counsel, and fellow practitioners. Fewer than a small fraction of California attorneys carry this credential in workers' compensation. When a construction worker with a shattered ankle, a spinal cord injury, or a traumatic brain injury needs representation before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board in Fresno, that level of specialized knowledge translates directly into stronger case preparation, more accurate disability ratings, and better outcomes at trial.

Rachel G. Mahoney, the firm's third-generation partner, brings a tireless approach to case management that ensures nothing falls through the cracks, from initial medical appointments to deposition preparation to settlement negotiations. The combination of institutional knowledge, certified expertise, and an unwavering focus on applicants' rights is why Cole Fisher is considered the gold standard in applicants' practice in the Central Valley. Construction workers across Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Visalia, and beyond have trusted this firm for decades because we do one thing: represent injured workers, and we do it at the highest level.

Construction accidents rarely produce minor injuries. The cases Cole Fisher handles most frequently involve catastrophic harm: vertebral fractures from falls off scaffolding, crush injuries from heavy equipment, amputations caused by unguarded machinery, severe burns from electrical contact, and traumatic brain injuries from struck-by incidents. These are injuries that require multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and often result in permanent disability that changes every aspect of a worker's life.

High-severity injuries demand a law firm that understands the medical complexity involved. Permanent disability ratings in the California workers' compensation system depend on detailed medical reporting, what doctors call "impairment evaluations," and the accuracy of those reports directly affects the benefits a worker receives. Our attorneys have decades of experience working with orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, pain management specialists, and vocational rehabilitation experts throughout the Fresno medical community. We know which physicians provide thorough, accurate evaluations and which ones routinely minimize impairment at the insurance company's request.

Beyond the medical issues, high-severity construction injuries often raise questions of future medical care. A worker with a spinal fusion may need hardware removal, additional surgeries, and a lifetime of pain management. An amputee will require prosthetic replacements and adjustments for decades. Cole Fisher fights to secure open awards for future medical treatment, not lump-sum buyouts that leave injured workers bearing the cost of care years down the road. For construction workers across the Central Valley facing the most serious injuries, our firm provides the level of advocacy that matches the severity of what happened. Learn about common construction injuries and prevention in our blog: /blog/5-common-construction-injuries-and-how-to-prevent-them.

A typical Central Valley construction site involves multiple parties: a property owner, a general contractor, several subcontractors, equipment rental companies, material suppliers, and equipment manufacturers. When an accident occurs, the workers' compensation claim is filed against the injured worker's direct employer. But the question of who else bears responsibility, and who else can be held financially accountable, requires an investigation that many firms do not perform.

Cole Fisher conducts a thorough third-party liability analysis on every construction accident case we accept. We examine the contractual relationships between parties on the job site, review OSHA inspection and citation history, identify the manufacturers and distributors of any equipment involved, and determine whether a general contractor exercised the kind of control over site safety that can give rise to liability under California law. This is not a cursory review; it is a systematic investigation that draws on our decades of experience with Central Valley construction projects.

The stakes are significant. A workers' comp claim for a serious fall might yield a permanent disability award of $100,000 to $150,000 under the statutory formula. A third-party claim arising from the same fall, against a general contractor who failed to provide fall protection or a scaffolding company that supplied a defective product, could result in a settlement or verdict many times that amount, including compensation for pain and suffering, full lost earnings, and loss of future earning capacity. For construction workers supporting families in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and throughout the valley, this additional recovery can be the difference between financial hardship and genuine stability. To understand how third-party claims work, visit: /blog/what-are-third-party-claims.

Financial pressure is one of the first things a construction worker feels after a serious job site injury. When your income stops and medical bills start arriving, the idea of hiring an attorney can feel like one more expense you cannot afford. Cole Fisher eliminates that barrier entirely. We handle construction accident cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless and until we recover benefits on your behalf.

This fee structure is not just a business model; it reflects our belief that every injured construction worker deserves high-quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation. The laborer earning an hourly wage on a framing crew has the same right to a certified specialist's expertise as anyone else. When we take your case, we invest our time, resources, and experience upfront. We advance the costs of medical reports, depositions, and expert consultations. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.

Contingency representation also aligns our interests with yours. Our compensation depends on your outcome, which means we are motivated to pursue the maximum recovery available, in both the workers' compensation case and any third-party claim. For Central Valley construction workers who are already dealing with physical pain, uncertainty about their future, and the stress of supporting a family during recovery, knowing that their legal team is shouldering the financial risk alongside them provides genuine peace of mind. Your first step costs nothing: call us at (559) 485-0700 for a free consultation, and we will evaluate your case before you commit to anything.