What if I was injured passing through a construction site, but I am not a construction worker?

Non-workers injured on construction sites should be eligible for compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages. You have the burden of taking legal action to obtain compensation, and you need to act quickly.

Personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits are the appropriate course of action for non-employees injured on construction sites, but you have just two years to file a civil lawsuit.

The lawsuit must state a cause of action (legal grounds for making a claim). If the responsible party or insurer accepts fault, settlement negotiations can resolve the claim outside of court.

The case can also move forward with the exchange of information and evidence (discovery), and with the court ruling on issues that must be decided prior to trial.

If the claim does not settle, you will need to prove that negligence or wrongdoing caused the injuries you suffered on the construction site. You can be compensated even if you were partly at fault and, in some cases, even if you did not have express permission to be at the site.

Cases can settle up to the time the jury delivers its verdict. If no settlement is reached, the jury will decide whether you obtain compensation and how much you receive.