Construction accidents in San Diego cause some of the most severe injuries our firm sees: spine injuries from falls, traumatic brain injuries from struck-by impacts, catastrophic burns, and wrongful death from collapses, electrocutions, and crushing accidents. Cal/OSHA’s “Focus Four” hazards (falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution) account for roughly 60% of construction worker deaths nationally.
Our attorneys have recovered over $150 million for personal injury and wrongful death victims, including construction-accident settlements ranging from $1.85 million to $16.55 million. We represent injured workers and grieving families in third-party claims, pursuing general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers.
Injured in a San Diego construction accident? Get help today.

After a construction accident in San Diego, you may face severe injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and a confusing overlap between workers’ compensation and civil claims. Construction sites involve multiple employers, multiple insurers, and a body of California law that includes the Labor Code, Cal/OSHA’s Construction Safety Orders in Title 8 CCR Subchapter 4, and the Privette line of California Supreme Court cases.
Hulburt Law Firm helps construction accident victims and surviving families investigate every responsible party, pursue every available source of compensation, and recover damages for medical treatment, lost income, long-term care, and pain and suffering.
Falls from heights are the leading cause of construction worker deaths in California. Cal/OSHA’s Personal Fall Arrest System rules in Title 8 CCR § 1670 require fall arrest systems above six feet on most construction sites, a standard that is routinely violated on residential and remodeling projects. Hulburt Law Firm helps injured workers and surviving families pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care while holding negligent parties accountable.
Trench collapses, excavation cave-ins, and structural failures cause severe crushing injuries and fatalities on San Diego construction sites every year. Cal/OSHA’s excavation safety standards in Article 6 of the Construction Safety Orders require protective systems on trenches deeper than five feet (sloping, shoring, or shielding) and a competent person to inspect daily. Hulburt Law Firm provides experienced legal guidance to help victims navigate complex liability claims and recover compensation for medical costs, lost income, and long-term impacts.
Accidents involving cranes, hoists, forklifts, and heavy machinery in San Diego construction zones can cause life-altering crushing and impact injuries. Operator certification, load limits, ground conditions, and signaling protocols are all governed by Cal/OSHA. When an equipment incident happens, Hulburt Law Firm works with construction safety experts and accident reconstructionists to identify which contractor, operator, equipment manufacturer, or maintenance provider is responsible, and pursues full compensation for injuries, rehabilitation, and financial losses.
Two of Cal/OSHA’s Focus Four hazards (struck-by and caught-in/between) together account for nearly a third of construction worker deaths nationally. Falling objects, swinging loads, vehicle impacts, and pinning between equipment, walls, or materials all fall in this category. Hulburt Law Firm advocates for victims, helping them secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and long-term recovery needs.
Electrocution is the fourth Focus Four hazard and a leading cause of catastrophic injuries on construction sites where power lines, energized equipment, and improper grounding intersect. Explosions and burns from compressed gases, hot work, and electrical arc flash can cause permanent disfigurement, respiratory injury, and death. Hulburt Law Firm assists victims in pursuing claims against responsible parties to recover compensation for medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
Roofers face the highest fatal injury rate of any construction trade in California, and ladder falls are a leading mechanism of serious injury across all building trades. Inadequate fall protection, unstable ladder placement, defective rungs, and failure to use personal fall arrest systems on steep-pitched roofs are recurring patterns. Hulburt Law Firm represents roofers, framers, and other workers who fell from heights when the safety equipment that should have caught them was missing or failed.
Demolition and tear-out work creates unique hazards: unstable structures, falling debris, hidden electrical or gas lines, asbestos and silica exposure, and rapid changes in site conditions. Cal/OSHA’s demolition standards in Article 31 of the Construction Safety Orders (Title 8 CCR §§ 1733–1737) require engineering surveys, utility shut-offs, and worker protection that are routinely shortcut on cost-pressured jobs. When a demolition incident causes serious injury, Hulburt Law Firm investigates the planning failures behind it and pursues every responsible party.
Conor and Leslie Hulburt, founders of the Hulburt Law Firm, are dedicated San Diego construction accident lawyers with extensive experience helping clients recover maximum compensation after serious or catastrophic injuries. They understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges victims face following construction accidents, and are committed to guiding clients through every step of the legal process.
Known for their genuine care, dedication, and strategic advocacy, Conor and Leslie have built a reputation as trusted personal injury attorneys in San Diego, providing top-tier representation for construction accident victims and ensuring justice is served.

Our experienced attorneys have a proven track record of achieving extraordinary results in construction accident cases.
Jury verdict against Caltrans for a 13-year-old boy who was hit by a car while using a dangerous crosswalk.
A sudden tire failure caused an SUV to fishtail and crash into a tree on the side of a San Diego County highway, killing a beloved husband and father.
A massive, improperly installed gate collapsed on a sub-contracted worker who was asked by the general contractor to paint it, causing his tragic death.
A concrete block wall wasn't properly supported and fell on a construction worker in El Cajon, killing him.
A dump truck driver failed to "get out and look" before backing up into a construction worker, crushing his leg against a bulldozer.
Concrete workers left unsecured plywood over a second-story gap at a condo build in Carlsbad. A framer stepped on the plywood and fell through the gap.
We dive deep on construction cases by deposing the general contractor’s superintendent, project manager, and safety officer, retrieving Cal/OSHA inspection records and citations, and reconstructing the incident.
We use technology to your advantage. On construction cases, that includes 3D laser scanning of the accident scene, drone photography of the jobsite, and animated reconstructions of crane and equipment failures.
Defense attorneys and insurance companies know us and respect us. We assess the full extent of your damages, pursue every responsible contractor and owner, and negotiate workers’ compensation liens down.
Serious construction injury and wrongful death cases turn on Cal/OSHA safety standards, multi-employer worksite doctrines, and the Privette line of cases. We have handled these issues against the largest contractors, insurers, and defense firms and won.
We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. From providing regular case updates to achieving life-changing results, we genuinely care about each and every one of our clients.
Throughout the process, we keep you informed, answer any questions you may have, and provide ongoing support. We limit the number of cases we take on so that we can dedicate the time and attention needed for each case.
With the Hulburt Law Firm by your side, you can focus on your recovery while knowing that your legal claims are being taken care of. If you or a loved one has been involved in a construction accident, contact us today for a free case review.
Understand and manage the complexities of California’s Labor Code, Cal/OSHA’s Construction Safety Orders, and the Privette line of cases with an expert legal team on your side.
Our legal team collects incident reports, Cal/OSHA citations, project contracts and safety plans, witness statements, and physical evidence from the site before it can be lost, altered, or rebuilt over.
We handle negotiations with insurance companies and defense counsel for contractors and property owners to achieve the highest settlements possible.
Our experienced construction accident attorneys provide skilled representation if your case goes to trial.
In your free case review, we listen to what happened on the jobsite, how you were injured, and what questions you and your family have. We look at any incident reports, photos, safety notices, or insurance letters you already have and explain, in plain language, the difference between workers’ compensation and a potential third-party claim. Our goal is to give you an honest assessment of your options, not a sales pitch.
Once you decide to move forward and the scope of work is signed, we begin a focused investigation into the construction site and the companies involved. That can include obtaining incident and OSHA/Cal/OSHA reports, reviewing contracts and safety plans, collecting site photos and video, interviewing witnesses and co-workers, and identifying which contractors, subcontractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers may share responsibility. We work to secure critical evidence early, before it gets lost or rewritten.
To fully explain how and why the incident happened—and how it has affected you—we work with carefully chosen experts. Depending on the case, that may include construction safety professionals, engineers, accident reconstructionists, medical specialists, life-care planners, and economists. They help us analyze jobsite practices, identify safety violations, document your injuries, and calculate the financial impact on you and your family over time.
Using the facts and expert input, we develop a tailored legal strategy for your construction accident case. That includes identifying all potential defendants, understanding how workers’ compensation interacts with any third-party lawsuit, and carefully assessing your medical bills, lost income, future care needs, and non-economic harms. We aim to present a clear, evidence-based picture of what this incident has taken from you, and what accountability looks like under California law.
We take over communications with the insurance companies and defense lawyers so you don’t have to. In construction cases, there are often multiple insurers—covering general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and manufacturers—each trying to shift blame and minimize your injuries. We present the evidence we’ve gathered, challenge efforts to downplay safety violations, and negotiate with an eye toward full and fair compensation. Throughout this process, we keep you informed, explain any offers, and help you evaluate your choices
If the companies involved are unwilling to resolve the case fairly, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and take your construction accident case to court. Our trial attorneys have experience presenting complex jobsite incidents to judges and juries, including explaining safety rules, industry standards, and the realities of construction work. At trial, we tell your story through your testimony, co-workers, experts, and carefully prepared exhibits so decision-makers understand exactly how and why this happened—and what it has meant for you and your family.
Construction workers injured on the job in and around San Diego are often dealing with two different legal systems at once: workers’ compensation and potential “third-party” personal injury claims. Understanding how these pieces fit together—especially on multi-employer jobsites—is key to protecting your rights after a serious construction accident.
Most injured construction workers in California are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits without having to prove that anyone was at fault. The framework is set out in Labor Code § 3600, which makes the system no-fault: the worker gives up the right to sue the employer in tort in exchange for guaranteed medical care and wage replacement.
Employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance under Labor Code §§ 3700–3702, and have an affirmative duty to provide a safe workplace under Labor Code § 6400. Typical benefits include:
Workers’ compensation is an important safety net, but it does not pay for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or the full lost earning capacity that an injured worker may pursue in a civil case. In catastrophic injury cases, the third-party track is usually where the larger portion of total recovery comes from. For a fuller picture of what workers and families can recover beyond workers’ comp benefits, see our resource on compensation available to construction accident victims.
Labor Code § 3852 preserves the injured worker’s right to bring a civil lawsuit against any party other than the direct employer. On California construction sites, that almost always means multiple potential defendants:
These third-party defendants are subject to ordinary California negligence law and can be required to pay full damages, including pain and suffering, loss of consortium, future medical care, and full lost earning capacity. In cases involving particularly outrageous safety violations, Civil Code § 3294 authorizes punitive damages where the conduct rises to oppression, fraud, or malice.
Site safety on every California construction project is governed by Cal/OSHA’s Construction Safety Orders: the regulations in Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, Subchapter 4. These rules cover fall protection, scaffolding, excavation, cranes, electrical work, and dozens of other hazards. A violation of a specific safety order can be powerful evidence of negligence in a third-party case.
When a worker recovers in a third-party case after receiving workers’ compensation benefits, Labor Code § 3856 gives the workers’ compensation insurer a lien on a portion of the recovery to avoid double recovery. Negotiating that lien down can meaningfully affect what the injured worker actually takes home. Learn more about pursuing third-party claims after a construction accident.
The most important body of case law in California construction third-party cases comes from the Supreme Court’s decision in Privette v. Superior Court (1993) 5 Cal.4th 689. The general Privette rule is that a property owner or general contractor who hires an independent contractor is not liable in tort for injuries to that contractor’s employees, because workers’ compensation is presumed to be available and because safety responsibility was delegated to the contractor.
Privette has critical exceptions, and construction injury cases are usually won or lost on whether the facts fit one of them:
Developing the factual record that fits within these exceptions, including depositions of supervisors, contract and safety plan review, and expert testimony, is the heart of a strong third-party construction case. Building that record under Privette’s exceptions is exactly where the role of a construction accident attorney makes the difference.
Time limits, known as statutes of limitations, are critical in construction cases. Missing a deadline can mean losing the right to pursue a claim in court, even when the case is otherwise strong.
Because these rules are technical and a miss-by-one-day can extinguish the case entirely, injured workers and families are well served by consulting counsel as soon as is reasonably possible after a serious construction injury or fatality. Deadlines for fatal workplace accident claims follow the same general framework, with additional considerations when a government entity is involved.
After any serious construction accident, safety and medical care come first. Most workers will:
If you’re able, it can also be helpful to document the scene with photos or video of the area, equipment involved, and any visible injuries, and note the names of coworkers or witnesses who saw what happened.
In many cases, it makes sense to consult both a workers’ compensation lawyer and a construction accident attorney who handles third-party claims, so you understand how the two systems interact and what additional rights you may have beyond basic workers’ comp benefits. Because fall accidents on construction sites are the leading mechanism of catastrophic construction injuries, the steps above can be especially important after a fall from a roof, ladder, or scaffold.
Liability on a construction site is often shared among several entities, and figuring out who is responsible can be complex. Potentially responsible parties may include:
An experienced construction accident firm will typically focus on third-party defendants—companies or individuals other than your direct employer—so that you can seek compensation beyond what workers’ comp provides.
On California jobsites, the same handful of patterns appear over and over. Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA call them the “Focus Four”:
These four categories account for roughly 60% of all construction worker fatalities nationally. Crane and heavy equipment incidents, demolition collapses, and burns from explosions and arc flash round out the most common serious-injury patterns. Almost every Focus Four incident traces back to a missing or shortcut safety practice that Cal/OSHA’s Construction Safety Orders specifically require.
For more information, see our guide to the most common types of construction accidents in San Diego.
The type and amount of compensation available depends on the details of your case and which claims are involved:
Because every case is different, a lawyer can help identify all potential sources of compensation and how they work together in your particular situation. Our resource on compensation for construction accident victims walks through each category in more detail.
The value of a construction accident case depends on several factors that vary widely from one case to the next:
Construction accident verdicts and settlements in San Diego range from low six figures for minor injuries to eight figures for catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving clear safety violations and substantial damages.
Attorney Conor Hulburt has obtained construction-accident results from $1.85 million to $16.55 million. A free case review is the fastest way to get an honest assessment of what your case may be worth. Severity of injury is often the single biggest driver. Our overview of common injuries in construction accidents explains the medical and legal context behind the most serious patterns.
In many construction cases, both systems are in play at the same time:
When there is a third-party recovery, the workers’ compensation insurer may assert a lien or reimbursement right so the worker is not paid twice for the same medical bills or wage loss. Negotiating that lien is an important part of maximizing what the injured worker actually receives at the end of the case. For a deeper look at how the civil track works alongside workers’ comp, read third-party liability in California construction accidents.
If a workers’ compensation claim is denied—whether in whole or in part—workers generally have the right to challenge the decision through the workers’ compensation system. That process may involve:
At the same time, it may still be possible to pursue a separate third-party claim in civil court if another company or person contributed to the accident. Those two tracks can move forward together, but each has its own rules and timelines.
In most cases, no. Workers’ compensation is generally the “exclusive remedy” against the direct employer under Labor Code § 3602, meaning a worker cannot sue the employer in civil court for a work-related injury.
There are narrow exceptions where a lawsuit against the employer may be possible, including:
Even when the direct employer cannot be sued, injured workers can usually bring third-party claims against other entities whose negligence contributed to the accident, including general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers.
To get the most value from an initial consultation, it’s helpful—but not required—to bring:
If you don’t have all of this yet, that’s okay. The first meeting is often about understanding what happened, what questions you have, and how the firm can help investigate and protect your rights. If your case involves equipment-related construction accidents, physical evidence of the machinery or tool can be especially important to preserve.
Most construction accident firms, including Hulburt Law Firm, work on a contingency fee in third-party cases. That generally means:
There may also be case costs (such as filing fees, expert costs, records charges) that are advanced by the firm and reimbursed from any settlement or verdict, depending on the fee agreement. Reviewing and asking questions about the written fee agreement helps avoid surprises. The contingency model is what makes it possible for an injured worker to hire a construction accident attorney without paying anything up front.
Although every case is different, many construction accident matters follow a similar path:
Throughout the process, a good firm will keep you updated, explain major decisions, and involve you in assessing any settlement offers. Cases involving cranes, forklifts, dump trucks, and other heavy equipment, such as construction vehicle accidents, can add wrinkles to several of these stages.
A thorough construction accident investigation is often multi-layered, and may include:
The goal is to identify what went wrong, who had control over the conditions, and how the event could have been prevented, all of which inform liability and damages in the case. We investigate job site accidents in San Diego using the same methodical approach regardless of the trade or specific mechanism involved.
When a loved one is killed in a construction accident, certain family members may have the right to pursue:
These cases can be emotionally difficult and legally complex, especially where multiple companies and insurers are involved. A construction accident and wrongful death firm can help families understand which claims are available, who may file them, and what deadlines apply. Read more about fatal workplace accidents and wrongful death cases to understand how survival and wrongful death claims interact in California.
“Workers’ compensation immunity” refers to the rule that when workers’ compensation applies, an injured employee usually cannot sue their employer in tort for a workplace injury. Workers’ comp is the exclusive remedy against the employer under Labor Code § 3602, subject to narrow exceptions.
That immunity typically extends to:
At the same time, third-party claims against other responsible companies (for example, general contractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers) remain available and are the central focus of most catastrophic construction injury cases.
Time limits for construction accident lawsuits follow the general personal injury and wrongful death statutes of limitations, with some important nuances:
Because these rules are technical and exceptions exist, injured workers and families are usually advised to consult counsel promptly to identify and protect applicable deadlines. Fatal cases have their own additional considerations. See our discussion of fatal workplace accidents for a fuller breakdown.
A workers’ compensation lien is a reimbursement claim that the workers’ comp insurer may assert against any money the injured worker recovers from a third-party lawsuit. The idea is that the worker should not receive a “double recovery” for the same medical bills or wage loss—once from workers’ comp and again from the civil case.
Key points include:
Experienced construction accident firms routinely address these liens as part of resolving the overall case.
Cal/OSHA is the state agency responsible for enforcing workplace safety laws on California jobsites. After certain serious injuries or fatalities, the agency may:
Cal/OSHA’s findings do not control the outcome of a civil case, but the reports, photographs, and witness statements generated during the investigation can be valuable evidence when evaluating and pursuing a construction accident claim. For context on the specific rules Cal/OSHA enforces, see safety regulations in California construction.
Hulburt Law Firm proudly serves construction accident victims throughout San Diego County, providing experienced legal guidance, compassionate support, and aggressive advocacy to help clients recover maximum compensation for injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term impacts.

Simply fill out the form or call 619.821.0500 to receive a free case review. We’ll evaluate what happened, your injuries, and potential defendants to determine how we can best help you.