Seattle Construction Crush Injury Attorneys for Latino & Immigrant Workers
Construction crush injuries are among the most catastrophic injuries a worker can survive, and recovering full compensation requires a firm that knows how to build these cases at every level, from the job site to the Washington Supreme Court. Bishop Legal has represented injured construction workers across Washington for over 30 years, securing a $25 million settlement for an immigrant concrete worker who suffered a brain injury on a Seattle-area site and a $3.1 million settlement in a separate catastrophic construction case.
We built this firm to serve Washington’s Latino and immigrant workforce, who take on many of the most dangerous construction roles and too often face legal systems that weren’t designed with them in mind. Our attorneys handle cases in Spanish, our staff is bilingual, and we’ve won decisions at the Washington Supreme Court, including Vargas v. Inland Washington, that strengthened protections for workers on multi-employer job sites statewide.
If you or someone you love suffered a crush injury on a Seattle construction site, call us at (206) 260-3316 for a free consultation. There are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Crush injury cases often turn on what insurers miss, what site investigations uncover, and how thoroughly the claim is prepared from the start. That’s where our approach as Seattle crush injury attorneys makes a difference for injured workers and their families.
We prepare every case for trial from day one. That discipline produces stronger negotiating leverage and real readiness if a jury trial becomes necessary. We’ve secured a $40 million jury verdict and an $11 million settlement against the Port of Seattle, including in cases against government entities where procedural hurdles stop many firms before litigation begins.
Attorney Derek Moore spent more than eight years as an insurance adjuster before joining Bishop Legal, where he’s litigated construction accidents and workplace injury cases for over 20 years. He knows how insurers evaluate claims, what they look for to justify low offers, and where adjusters cut corners. That insider knowledge gives our clients a direct advantage when the other side tries to minimize what a crush injury case is actually worth.
Injured & Overlooked?
Here’s How We Step In
you're not alone
Just Ask the People We’ve Helped
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“They're very friendly and respectful trustworthy lawyers. I'm very happy with their service and definitely recommend it to family and friends. Thank you for all your help!”- Flor V.
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“Nicia and John worked with me on my case regarding a car accident and I couldn't be more thankful for their assistance! They reached out and made sure my case was taken care of as soon as possible. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for legal assistance”- Mia A.
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“Communication was kept in a good pace. They help me understand how the process works and explain to me any legal questions I had. I would highly recommend to family & friends.”- Yadira T.
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“The people here are great! They took care of everything for me and were always super helpful with any questions or concerns I had. I highly recommend them for your legal needs! Thanks, Bishop Law!”- Lisa W.
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“Roberto helped me with my daughter's case, Victoria, and was able to get a good settlement for her. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for a personal injury attorney.”- Priscilla A.
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“Good service. Nicia was on top of my case whenever I had questions or concerns about the whole process she would explain thoroughly which helped in gaining my trust with them. Everyone at there firm was very polite and professional! I would definitely recommend Bishop Legal.”- Juan M.
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“Fue muy dificil El caso de mi esposa Blanca Romo, pero al final fue muy astuto mi paralegal y abogado para resolver mi caso.”- Jessie B.
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“I was referred to Bishop Legal after an accident I was in and am passing on the good word!! Nicia and John were incredible, both during and after the treatment process.”- Carly L.
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“Una exelente attention, gradecido con la attention brindada por el Abogado Roberto Salas.”- Roger L.
How Construction Crush Injuries Happen on Seattle Job Sites
Crush injuries fall into the caught-in/between category of construction accidents: a worker’s body or body part becomes trapped between heavy machinery, moving equipment parts, collapsing trench walls, or falling structural materials. The resulting damage to bone, muscle, nerve, and organs is often severe and sometimes permanent.
Seattle’s ongoing construction build-out across South Lake Union, SoDo, Northgate, and West Seattle means large numbers of workers operate daily in close proximity to excavation trenches, cranes, concrete equipment, and forklifts. Common scenarios that produce crush injuries include:
- Machinery compression: Workers caught between operating equipment and a fixed structure or wall
- Trench wall collapse: Unprotected excavations that give way during digging or grading
- Equipment rollovers: Forklifts, loaders, or other machinery that tips and pins a worker
- Moving equipment parts: Contact with unguarded components on cranes, concrete mixers, or similar machinery
- Collapsing scaffolding or materials: Unsecured structural elements that fall and trap workers below
OSHA and Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) regulations require machine guarding, lockout/tagout procedures, trench protective systems, and equipment clearance protocols to prevent exactly these incidents. When those safeguards are missing, violations become central to establishing who’s responsible. Seattle construction sites routinely involve general contractors, multiple subcontractors, equipment rental companies, and property owners, each with distinct safety duties and insurers ready to dispute responsibility in a crush injury claim.
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$40,000,000 Jury Verdict | Airport Accident
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$25,000,000 Settlement | Immigrant Concrete Worker Accident
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$11,000,000 Settlement | Airport Accident
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$1,000,000 Settlement | Construction Accident
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$800,000 Settlement | Construction Accident
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$527,000 Verdict | Insurance Bad Faith
Washington Third-Party Liability for Seattle Construction Crush Injuries
Washington law under RCW 51.24.030 expressly allows injured workers to file a third-party personal injury claim against any party other than their direct employer whose negligence contributed to the injury. Workers’ compensation through L&I covers the employer relationship; a third-party claim can capture full damages from every other negligent party on the site.
Our Washington Supreme Court victory in Vargas v. Inland Washington established that general contractors carry a non-delegable duty to ensure WISHA compliance on multi-employer sites, even when a subcontractor created the hazard. That precedent strengthens the liability claims available to workers injured by another company’s failure on a shared Seattle job site.
Parties that may be held liable in a King County construction crush injury case include:
- General contractors for site-wide safety failures and WISHA violations
- Subcontractors that created hazards affecting workers from other companies
- Equipment manufacturers or maintenance companies when defective or poorly maintained machinery contributed to the injury
- Property owners or developers that retained control over site conditions
- Government entities on public construction projects, which require a formal notice of claim and a 60-day waiting period before filing suit
Washington’s pure comparative fault system allows injured workers to recover even when partially at fault. Damages are reduced by the worker’s percentage of fault, not eliminated. Third-party claims must generally be filed within three years of the injury date under RCW 4.16.080, with additional notice requirements applying to claims against government entities. Washington law also protects all workers regardless of immigration status: undocumented workers can pursue third-party claims, and courts don’t reduce damages based on immigration status.
