If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction site accident in Nebraska, you may be entitled to significant compensation—beyond what workers' compensation alone provides.
At Johnson Tabor & Johnson, our personal injury attorneys have decades of experience representing construction workers who have suffered serious injuries on the job. Construction accident cases are often complex, involving multiple responsible parties, overlapping insurance policies, and both workers' compensation and third-party liability claims.
We know how to investigate construction site accidents, identify every liable party, and fight for the full compensation you deserve. You focus on recovering—we'll handle the legal fight.
Construction Sites Are Among the Most Dangerous Workplaces
Nebraska's construction industry is a vital part of the state's economy, employing tens of thousands of workers on commercial developments, residential projects, road and bridge construction, agricultural facilities, and industrial sites. But the nature of this work—heights, heavy machinery, electrical systems, trenches, and hazardous materials—creates an inherently dangerous environment.
Construction accidents happen when safety protocols are ignored, equipment is not maintained, workers are inadequately trained, or project managers cut corners to meet deadlines and budgets. When employers and contractors prioritize profit over safety, workers pay the price with devastating injuries—or their lives.
If you've been hurt on a construction site, it's important to understand that you may have legal options beyond a standard workers' compensation claim. A thorough investigation can reveal whether negligent third parties share responsibility for your injuries.
Types of Construction Accidents
Falls From Heights
Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms are the leading cause of death in construction. Inadequate fall protection, defective scaffolding, and unstable ladders contribute to these preventable accidents.
Struck-By Accidents
Workers struck by falling objects, swinging equipment, or vehicles on the job site suffer serious and often fatal injuries. Hard hat requirements and proper securing of materials are frequently ignored.
Electrocutions
Contact with live wires, exposed electrical components, and improperly grounded equipment causes severe burns, cardiac arrest, and death on construction sites.
Caught-In/Between Accidents
Workers caught in or compressed by equipment, objects, or collapsing materials—including trench cave-ins and unguarded machinery—suffer crush injuries, amputations, and fatalities.
Crane Accidents
Crane collapses, tip-overs, and load drops can cause catastrophic injuries to operators and nearby workers. Improper assembly, overloading, and operator error are common causes.
Heavy Equipment Accidents
Forklifts, bulldozers, excavators, and other heavy machinery cause crushing injuries, rollovers, and struck-by accidents when operated unsafely or without proper training.
Explosions & Fires
Gas leaks, flammable materials, welding accidents, and chemical exposure can trigger explosions and fires that cause severe burns, blast injuries, and smoke inhalation.
Structural Collapses
Building collapses, wall failures, and roof cave-ins during construction or demolition can trap and crush workers. Poor engineering, inadequate shoring, and rushing timelines are often to blame.
Common Construction Accident Injuries
Construction accidents produce some of the most severe workplace injuries. The force of falls, heavy equipment, and structural failures can cause life-altering trauma, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Broken and fractured bones
- Severe burns and disfigurement
- Crush injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Wrongful death
Many construction injuries require extensive surgery, lengthy rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care. Some result in permanent disability that prevents workers from ever returning to their trade. The financial, physical, and emotional toll on injured workers and their families is enormous—which is why pursuing full compensation from every responsible party is so critical.
Who Is Liable for a Construction Accident?
Unlike a typical car accident where liability usually falls on one or two parties, construction accident cases often involve multiple responsible parties. Identifying all liable parties is essential to maximizing your compensation.
General Contractors
General contractors are typically responsible for overall job site safety. When they fail to enforce safety protocols, provide adequate training, or maintain a safe work environment, they can be held liable for worker injuries.
Subcontractors
When a subcontractor's negligence causes an injury to another company's employee on the same site, the injured worker may file a third-party claim against that subcontractor for full damages beyond workers' compensation.
Property Owners
Property owners who hire contractors have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises. If a dangerous condition on the property causes a construction worker's injury, the property owner may bear liability.
Equipment Manufacturers (Product Liability)
When defective tools, scaffolding, safety harnesses, cranes, or other equipment cause an injury, the manufacturer or distributor may be liable under product liability law—regardless of whether anyone on the job site was negligent.
Architects & Engineers
Design professionals can be held liable if flawed plans, inadequate structural specifications, or failure to account for construction-phase safety leads to an accident or structural collapse on the job site.
Workers' Compensation vs. Third-Party Claims
Understanding the difference between these two types of claims is essential for construction workers who have been injured on the job. In many cases, you are entitled to pursue both.
Workers' Compensation
- Covers you regardless of who was at fault
- Pays medical bills and a portion of lost wages
- Provides disability benefits if you cannot return to work
- Does not include pain and suffering
- Does not cover full lost wages
- Generally bars you from suing your direct employer
Third-Party Personal Injury Claim
- Filed against negligent parties other than your employer
- Recovers full lost wages and future earning capacity
- Includes pain and suffering damages
- May include punitive damages in egregious cases
- Can be filed against subcontractors, property owners, manufacturers, and others
- Can result in significantly larger recoveries
At Johnson Tabor & Johnson, we handle both workers' compensation and third-party personal injury claims for construction workers. Our attorneys carefully investigate every aspect of your accident to determine whether a third party's negligence contributed to your injuries—and if so, we pursue both claims simultaneously to maximize your total recovery.
OSHA Violations and Your Case
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets mandatory safety standards for construction sites. These standards cover fall protection, scaffolding, electrical safety, trenching, personal protective equipment, and much more. When employers and contractors violate OSHA regulations, workers are placed in danger.
If OSHA has cited the construction site, contractor, or equipment involved in your accident, those citations can serve as powerful evidence in your injury claim. An OSHA violation demonstrates that the responsible party failed to meet the minimum safety standards required by federal law—strengthening your argument that negligence caused your injuries.
Our attorneys know how to obtain OSHA investigation reports, interpret citation records, and use this evidence effectively in negotiations and at trial to hold negligent parties accountable.
Serving Injured Construction Workers Across Nebraska
Johnson Tabor & Johnson represents construction accident victims throughout Nebraska, including:
- Omaha and surrounding metro
- Lincoln and Lancaster County
- Grand Island and Hall County
- Kearney and Buffalo County
- Norfolk and Madison County
- Columbus and Platte County
- North Platte and Lincoln County
- Scottsbluff and the Panhandle
- All of Nebraska & western Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions About Nebraska Construction Accidents
Injured on a Construction Site? Let's Talk.
Construction accident cases are complex, but you don't have to navigate them alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and let our experience work for you.
There's no fee unless we win.