Bergen County Construction Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a construction accident in Bergen County, NJ?

At Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C., we are dedicated to personal injury representation grounded in decades of plaintiff-side trial work.

If you were hurt on a job site, workers’ compensation may not be your only option. When a general contractor, property owner, subcontractor, or equipment manufacturer contributed to the conditions that caused your injury, you may be entitled to additional compensation through a third-party claim. Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. has represented injured workers and their families since 1975 from our Montvale office. Our Bergen County, NJ construction accident lawyer can evaluate your situation during a consultation.

Construction Accident Lawyer Bergen County, NJ

A construction accident attorney identifies the parties responsible for unsafe job site conditions and pursues compensation beyond what workers’ compensation provides. The construction sector tied for the highest number of workplace fatalities in New Jersey in 2024 with 17 deaths, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 7 of those 17 fatalities, and specialty trade contractors were involved in 11 of them.

Bergen County’s ongoing commercial and residential development means construction crews are working across the county on projects of every scale. Each site carries risks that property owners and contractors have a legal obligation to control.

Types of Construction Accident Cases We Handle in Bergen County

Construction injuries vary widely in cause and severity, but many stem from hazards that OSHA has identified as preventable. We represent injured workers in the following types of construction accident cases:

• Scaffold falls. Falls from improperly erected, maintained, or inspected scaffolding are among the most common causes of serious construction injuries. We pursue claims against the parties responsible for the scaffold’s condition.
• Roof and ladder falls. Workers sent to heights without adequate fall protection face the risk of catastrophic injury. We investigate whether guardrails, harnesses, and safety nets were provided as required.
• Crane and heavy equipment accidents. Mechanical failures, operator errors, and inadequate signaling cause crushing injuries and fatalities. We retain engineers and equipment professionals to establish what went wrong.
• Struck-by accidents. Falling tools, swinging loads, and unsecured materials strike workers on active sites daily. These incidents account for roughly 8% of all construction deaths nationally.
• Electrocution. Contact with live wires, ungrounded equipment, and overhead power lines causes severe burns, cardiac arrest, and death. We identify the parties who failed to de-energize the site or maintain safe clearance.
• Trench and excavation collapses. An unprotected trench can bury a worker in seconds. We pursue claims against contractors who failed to shore, slope, or shield excavation walls.
• Caught-in/between accidents. Workers caught between equipment, materials, or collapsing structures sustain crushing injuries that are often fatal. We investigate whether lockout/tagout procedures and machine guarding were followed.
• Forklift accidents. Overloaded lifts, untrained operators, and obstructed sightlines cause tip-overs and pedestrian strikes on job sites and in warehouses.
• Wrongful death. When a construction accident takes a worker’s life, surviving family members can pursue compensation for lost financial support, funeral costs, and loss of companionship.

Why Choose Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. as My Construction Accident Lawyer in Bergen County, NJ?

A Firm Built on Construction Injury Litigation

Barry S. Kantrowitz secured a $9.2 million jury verdict for the families of two teenagers killed at a construction site, which was the highest verdict of its kind in Rockland County at the time. That case required the same approach we bring to every construction matter: thorough investigation, retained professionals, and a willingness to go to trial when the defense will not offer a fair number. He has practiced for more than 40 years and holds the AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest designation available for legal ability and ethics. He is also a member of The National Trial Lawyers.

Kate Carballo is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney designated by the Supreme Court of New Jersey and has been selected to the Super Lawyers list from 2024 through 2026. She brings more than 14 years of litigation experience to the firm’s personal injury and medical malpractice practice. Our personal injury lawyer in Bergen County, NJ has that combination of trial-level preparation and community recognition.

Proven Results for Injured Clients

Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. has helped clients recover millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements across construction accident, premises liability, and medical malpractice matters, including:

• $9.2 million jury verdict for the families of two teens killed at a construction site
• $14 million jury verdict for three women harmed by a negligent medical provider
• $1,038,000 jury verdict for a man who fell down an interior stairway
• $1 million+ structured settlement for a worker who fell 15 feet from a ladder
• $428,000 settlement for a construction worker’s ankle injury

We handle construction accident cases on a contingency basis. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you, and we advance all litigation costs.

Understanding Construction Accident Cases

Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims

Most injured construction workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of fault. Those benefits cover medical treatment and a portion of lost wages. But workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering, and the wage replacement is capped well below full earnings. That is where third-party claims come in.

When someone other than your direct employer caused or contributed to your injury, you can file a separate negligence lawsuit against that party. Common third-party defendants in Bergen County construction cases include:

• General contractors who controlled the work site and failed to enforce safety standards
• Property owners who knew about hazardous conditions and did not correct them
• Subcontractors whose work created dangers for other trades on the site
• Equipment manufacturers whose defective tools or machinery caused the injury
• Architects and engineers whose design flaws led to structural failures

A third-party claim allows you to recover the full range of damages that workers’ compensation does not provide, including pain and suffering and the difference between your capped wage benefits and your actual lost income.

What Are Important Aspects of a Construction Accident Case?

Construction cases depend on physical evidence that deteriorates quickly. Sites change day to day, equipment gets moved, and conditions that caused an injury may be repaired or concealed. Several factors consistently determine whether a case can be proven:

• Preserving the scene. Photographs, measurements, and witness statements gathered in the first hours after an accident are far more valuable than anything reconstructed weeks later.
• OSHA inspection records. An OSHA investigation may produce citations against the contractor or property owner. Those records can support your civil claim.
• The statute of limitations. New Jersey gives injured workers two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, as confirmed by the NJ Courts. Missing the deadline eliminates the claim.
• Identifying all liable parties early. Construction projects involve layers of contracts and subcontracts. Mapping those relationships at the outset ensures no responsible party and no insurance policy gets overlooked.

What Is the Construction Accident Case Timeline?

Construction accident cases are often more complex than standard motor vehicle claims because of the number of parties involved and the technical nature of the evidence. The general timeline follows this sequence:

• Immediate investigation of the job site, including photographs, safety logs, and witness interviews
• Filing for workers’ compensation benefits to cover ongoing medical treatment and partial wage replacement
• Retention of safety professionals and engineers to inspect the site and identify violations
• A demand to the third-party defendant’s insurer once your medical condition stabilizes
• Filing suit in the Superior Court of New Jersey if a fair settlement is not offered
• Discovery, including depositions of site supervisors, safety officers, and co-workers, followed by mediation or trial

What Should You Bring to Your Construction Accident Consultation?

The following materials help us assess your third-party claim. Gather what you have, and we will obtain the rest through investigation and discovery:

• The incident report filed with your employer or the general contractor
• Any OSHA citations or inspection reports related to the accident
• Photographs of the job site, the equipment involved, and your injuries
• Your workers’ compensation claim information, including the carrier and claim number
• Medical records and bills connected to your treatment

We will review these materials, explain whether a third-party claim exists alongside your workers’ compensation case, and outline the potential recovery.

Reach Out to Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

If you were hurt on a construction site anywhere in Bergen County, Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. can help you understand the full scope of your legal options. Workers’ compensation is only part of the picture. We offer confidential consultations from our Montvale office and charge no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to schedule a case review.