Construction Equipment Accidents

Construction Equipment & Machinery Accident Lawyers in Seattle

Decades of Experience. Record Results. Built for Tough Cases.

Bishop Legal has represented seriously injured construction workers across Washington for more than 30 years. When equipment fails and the injuries are permanent, workers turn to our firm because of what we bring to these cases:

Two Washington Supreme Court Victories that strengthened contractor liability and safety protections for workers on multi-employer job sites across the state
Former Insurance Adjuster on Our Team. Attorney Derek Moore's background gives us a distinct advantage in how we evaluate and counter these claims
Record Results Against Major Defendants, including contractors, manufacturers, government agencies, and the Port of Seattle
Trusted by Immigrant and Spanish-Speaking Workers. Bilingual staff and a long record of results for Washington's most vulnerable workforce.
No Fees Unless We Win. Contingency-fee representation with no upfront costs.

Call (206) 260-3316 or contact us online for a FREE consultation. Our Seattle construction machinery accident attorneys are available 24/7. Se Habla Español.

Injured & Overlooked?

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Our Record in Construction Injury Cases

Some of our major construction accident results include:

$25 Million — Record settlement for an immigrant laborer struck by an industrial hose, suffering traumatic brain injury and permanent disability.
$1Million — Drywall installer suffered catastrophic foot injuries after a 16-foot fall caused by faulty scaffolding.
$800,000 — Steel worker fractured his femur after tripping on hazardous metal studs at the Totem Lake WSDOT overpass.

See more case results.

Equipment and Machinery Injuries on Construction Sites

The range of equipment involved in serious construction injuries is broad. At Bishop Legal, we handle claims arising from:

Power Tools and Hand-Operated Equipment. Circular saws, nail guns, grinders, and similar tools cause serious lacerations, amputations, and eye injuries when guards are removed, equipment is defective, or workers are inadequately trained.
Cranes and Hoisting Equipment. Crane collapses, dropped loads, and rigging failures are among the most catastrophic events on any job site. These cases frequently involve questions of inspection compliance, operator certification, and load capacity oversight.
Manlifts, Scissor Lifts, and Aerial Work Platforms. Falls from elevated platforms, whether caused by tip-overs, mechanical failures, or inadequate guardrails, can produce serious injuries and fatalities.
Concrete and Masonry Equipment. Industrial mixers, vibrators, and pumping equipment operate under high pressure and can cause severe crush injuries, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries.
Trenching and Excavation Equipment. Cave-ins, auger entanglement, and excavator strikes are recurring hazards on utility and foundation projects. They’re often linked to failures in shoring, supervision, or equipment operation.
Industrial Saws and Cutting Equipment. Table saws, miter saws, and cutting wheels without adequate blade guards or kickback protection are a frequent source of serious hand and finger injuries on framing and finish work.

Equipment injury cases can involve more than one responsible party, such as the operator, the company that owned or maintained the equipment, the general contractor overseeing site safety, or the manufacturer if a defect was involved. Sorting out who is liable requires early investigation before equipment is repaired or removed from the site.

Workers' Compensation and Your Right to More

Washington workers injured by construction equipment frequently have rights beyond what L&I provides. Workers' compensation covers your employer, but not the contractor whose equipment failed, the manufacturer whose product was defective, or the general contractor who failed to enforce safe equipment practices on the job site.

When any of those parties contributed to your injury, Washington law allows you to pursue a separate civil claim. That claim is not limited to L&I's benefits schedule. It can recover:

Full lost earning capacity, not just a portion of wages
Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
Long-term medical and rehabilitation costs
Permanent impairment and loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

Filing for workers' compensation does not waive your right to a third-party claim. The two proceed on separate tracks, and an attorney can help you coordinate them to maximize total recovery.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Depending on the circumstances, potentially liable parties may include:

Equipment Manufacturers. When a piece of machinery fails due to a design defect, missing safety feature, or manufacturing error, the manufacturer may face product liability claims regardless of how the equipment was used on site.
General Contractors. Washington law places overarching safety responsibility on general contractors for all operations on a multi-employer job site — including equipment inspection, operator qualifications, and compliance with WISHA standards.
Subcontractors. The company that owned or operated the equipment at the time of the injury is typically a primary defendant. Inadequate training, removal of safety guards, and failure to inspect are common allegations.
Rental and Leasing Companies. Equipment suppliers have a duty to provide machinery in safe working condition. When a rental company knows of — or should have discovered — a defect through reasonable inspection, liability may attach.
Property Owners and Developers. Owners who maintain control over job site safety or who allow dangerous equipment conditions to persist may face direct liability for resulting injuries.

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds for a civil claim if one or more of the following apply:

The equipment that injured you was operated, owned, or maintained by a company other than your direct employer
A safety guard, protective feature, or warning system was missing, disabled, or defective
The equipment had a known maintenance issue that was not addressed before your injury
A general contractor failed to enforce equipment safety standards or operator qualifications on the job site
Your injury has resulted in permanent impairment, disability, or significant impact on your ability to work

An existing L&I claim does not prevent you from pursuing a civil claim against other responsible parties. If multiple companies shared responsibility for the unsafe condition, each may be named.

How Long Do You Have to File?

Washington's three-year statute of limitations under RCW 4.16.080 applies to most construction equipment injury claims. Key exceptions:

Claims against public agencies require formal written notice and a 60-day waiting period before suit
Product liability claims may involve different timelines depending on when a defect was or should have been discovered
Wrongful death claims carry separate procedural requirements

Evidence in equipment cases, including inspection logs, maintenance records, operator certifications, and the equipment itself, can be altered, repaired, or removed from a job site quickly. The sooner an attorney is involved, the better positioned you are to preserve what matters.

You're Seen. You're heard. We're Here To Help Helping You Rebuild & Overcome

$40,000,000 Jury Verdict | Airport Accident
$25,000,000 Settlement | Immigrant Concrete Worker Accident
$11,000,000 Settlement | Airport Accident
$1,000,000 Settlement | Construction Accident
$800,000 Settlement | Construction Accident
$527,000 Verdict | Insurance Bad Faith

SEE MORE WINS

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the Equipment Had a Known Defect but My Employer Told Me to Use It Anyway?

Your employer's decision to use defective equipment may give rise to claims beyond standard workers' compensation, particularly if the manufacturer or a maintenance company bears responsibility for the defect. An attorney can evaluate whether third-party claims are available based on the specific facts.

Can I Sue a Manufacturer if the Equipment Was Modified After It Left the Factory?

It depends on how the modification affected the injury. Manufacturers may argue that post-sale modifications break the chain of liability. Whether that defense succeeds depends on the nature of the modification and whether the original design was independently defective or dangerous.

What if I Was Not Trained to Use the Equipment That Injured Me?

Inadequate training is a common basis for liability against both the employer and the general contractor responsible for overall site safety. If a subcontractor deployed an untrained worker on equipment requiring certification, that failure may support claims against multiple parties.

How Is Fault Determined When Multiple Contractors Are Involved?

Washington courts allocate fault proportionally across defendants under the state's comparative fault framework. Each party's share of responsibility is determined based on their role, their control over safety conditions, and the specific conduct that contributed to the injury. A thorough investigation, including review of contracts, safety plans, and inspection records, is how those shares are established.

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