Ready To Get Started?
CONTACT Us Now
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in America, and Pennsylvania is no exception. From high-rise projects in downtown Reading to warehouse builds along the US-222 corridor, construction workers in Berks County and across Pennsylvania face daily risks of life-altering injuries. When an accident happens, the paychecks stop, the medical bills start, and insurance companies move fast to limit what you receive.
At Gieg & Jancula, we have represented injured Pennsylvania workers for more than 80 years. Our attorneys handle construction workers’ compensation claims for clients in Reading, Berks County, and throughout the Commonwealth. We know how to secure the benefits construction workers are entitled to and, just as importantly, how to pursue third-party personal injury claims that can dramatically increase a worker’s total recovery.
If you or a family member was hurt on a Pennsylvania construction site, call us today at 814-946-1606 for a free, confidential consultation. There are no fees unless we win your case.
Why Construction Workers Face Elevated Injury Risk
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, construction consistently ranks among the industries with the highest rates of fatal and serious injuries in the United States. OSHA’s “Fatal Four” account for the majority of construction fatalities every year:
- Falls from heights (roofs, scaffolds, ladders, open floors)
- Struck-by incidents (falling tools, swinging loads, vehicle strikes)
- Caught-in or caught-between incidents (trench collapses, equipment pinch points)
- Electrocutions (contact with live wires, failure to lock out power)
Behind the fatalities are tens of thousands of serious non-fatal injuries each year. Reading and the greater Berks County area have seen significant construction activity on hospital campuses, warehouse and distribution facilities along US-222 and I-176, downtown redevelopment, and residential projects. Every one of these job sites carries the same risks.
Common Construction Site Injuries We Handle
Our workers’ compensation attorneys handle the full range of construction injuries, including:
Fall Injuries
Falls from scaffolds, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms are the leading cause of construction fatalities. Survivors often suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and internal injuries that require years of treatment.
Crush and Caught-Between Injuries
Trench and excavation collapses, failing retaining walls, and workers pinned between heavy equipment produce some of the most severe injuries in the industry. These cases frequently involve amputations and life-threatening internal trauma.
Struck-By Injuries
Falling tools and materials, swinging loads from cranes, and construction vehicles striking workers on foot cause skull fractures, broken bones, and crush injuries. On urban job sites in Reading, workers also face injury risk from passing US-422 and US-222 traffic.
Electrical Injuries
Electricians, HVAC technicians, and other trades face serious electrocution and arc-flash risk when live circuits are not properly identified or locked out. Even non-fatal electrical injuries can cause deep burns, cardiac damage, and long-term neurological problems.
Repetitive Stress and Occupational Injuries
Years of heavy lifting, overhead work, and vibration exposure produce career-ending back injuries, rotator cuff tears, carpal tunnel syndrome, and knee damage. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation covers these injuries when they are shown to be work related.
Exposure Illnesses
Silica dust, asbestos, lead, and other hazardous substances cause occupational diseases that can appear years after exposure. Pennsylvania law allows claims for occupational diseases under the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Occupational Disease Act.
Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Construction Workers
Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits to any employee injured on the job, regardless of fault. For construction workers, the available benefits include:
- Medical benefits for all reasonable and necessary treatment related to the injury
- Wage-loss benefits equal to approximately two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to statutory maximums
- Specific loss benefits for the permanent loss or loss of use of a body part, disfigurement to the head, face, or neck, and loss of hearing or vision
- Death benefits for surviving spouses and dependents when a work injury proves fatal
These benefits are no-fault, but the process is not automatic. Construction workers face some of the most aggressive claim denials and benefit terminations in the system, often based on surveillance, Independent Medical Examinations, and disputes about which injuries are “work related.” Having an experienced attorney involved from the start protects your right to the benefits you are owed.
Third-Party Personal Injury Claims: The Key to a Full Recovery
Workers’ compensation is important, but it does not pay for pain and suffering, and it only covers about two-thirds of lost wages. In many construction cases, the injured worker also has a third-party personal injury claim that can pay substantially more.
Pennsylvania’s “exclusive remedy” rule generally prevents an injured worker from suing their own employer. But construction sites are different from most workplaces. On a typical job site, multiple contractors, subcontractors, equipment operators, and property owners all share space, and any of them (other than your direct employer) can be sued if their negligence contributed to the injury.
Potential third-party defendants in a Reading-area construction case include:
- General contractors who failed to enforce job-site safety
- Subcontractors whose workers caused the injury
- Property owners who allowed dangerous conditions on their premises
- Equipment manufacturers whose defective products caused the injury
- Scaffolding, crane, and heavy equipment companies that failed to maintain their equipment
- Negligent drivers who struck workers at construction zones along US-422, I-176, or US-222
When a commercial truck or delivery vehicle is involved in a construction-site crash, the third-party claim can be especially valuable. Our firm regularly coordinates workers’ compensation claims with third-party personal injury claims to maximize the total recovery for our clients.
Reading, PA and Berks County Construction Industry Context
Reading and the surrounding Berks County communities have been a hub of construction activity for years. Warehouse and distribution facilities along the US-222 and US-422 corridors continue to expand to serve the Northeast’s logistics needs. Hospital campuses, including Reading Hospital and Penn State Health St. Joseph, undergo regular expansion and renovation projects. Downtown Reading has seen ongoing redevelopment efforts, and residential and commercial projects remain active across the county.
All of this activity comes with construction injury risk. Workers’ compensation claims filed by Berks County employees are typically assigned to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation district office that serves the area, with hearings held before Workers’ Compensation Judges. Our attorneys regularly handle claims across the Commonwealth and are familiar with the processes in every PA workers’ compensation district.
Steps to Take After a Pennsylvania Construction Injury
The hours and days after a construction accident shape your case for months and years to come. If you are able:
1. Get Medical Care Immediately
Serious injuries require emergency transport. For less obvious injuries, see a doctor within 24 hours. Delays in treatment give insurers an excuse to argue your injury is not serious or is not work related.
2. Report the Injury in Writing
Pennsylvania law requires that you notify your employer within 21 days to receive full benefits, and no later than 120 days to receive any benefits at all. Report in writing and keep a copy.
3. Follow the Panel Physician Rules
If your employer posted a list of designated providers, you must generally see one for the first 90 days. After 90 days, you can choose your own doctor.
4. Document the Scene
Photograph the site, equipment, safety conditions, and anything that contributed to the accident. Get names and phone numbers of coworkers who witnessed the injury or saw the hazard beforehand.
5. Preserve Evidence of Potential Third-Party Claims
Note any contractors, subcontractors, equipment companies, or outside parties on site. Save any paperwork identifying the job’s prime contractor and other companies working on the project.
6. Do Not Sign Releases or Give Recorded Statements
Workers’ compensation insurers and third-party liability insurers both move quickly to lock injured workers into statements and releases. Decline to sign anything before talking with a lawyer.
7. Call an Experienced Workers’ Comp Attorney
The earlier counsel is involved, the better your case will be. Our team can be reached through our contact page or by phone at 814-946-1606.
Why Choose Gieg & Jancula for Your Construction Case
Our firm has represented injured Pennsylvanians for more than 80 years. One of our partners spent years defending insurance companies before joining the firm, which gives our team an inside understanding of exactly how workers’ compensation insurers evaluate, defend, and deny construction claims. We use that knowledge to push back hard against lowball offers and unjustified terminations of benefits.
Our case results include substantial recoveries in catastrophic injury and wrongful death matters involving commercial vehicles, construction, and workplace incidents. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no cost to you unless we recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a workers’ comp claim in Pennsylvania?
You must notify your employer of the injury within 21 days for full benefits, and no later than 120 days to receive any benefits. A formal Claim Petition must generally be filed within three years. Personal injury claims against third parties follow Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations.
Can I be fired for filing a workers’ comp claim?
Retaliating against an employee for filing a workers’ compensation claim is illegal in Pennsylvania. If you were terminated shortly after reporting a construction injury, you may have a wrongful discharge claim in addition to your workers’ comp case.
What if I was partly at fault for the construction accident?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Your benefits are not reduced because the accident was partly your fault. Fault only becomes relevant in a third-party personal injury claim, where Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule applies.
How do I know if I have a third-party claim?
If anyone other than your direct employer or a coworker contributed to your injury, a defective tool manufacturer, a subcontractor, a property owner, a negligent driver, you likely do. An experienced attorney can identify potential defendants during a free consultation.
Talk to a Reading, PA Construction Workers’ Comp Lawyer Today
If you were hurt on a construction site anywhere in Reading, Berks County, or Pennsylvania, do not navigate the workers’ compensation system alone. Call Gieg & Jancula at 814-946-1606 or reach us through our contact page for a free consultation. There are no fees unless we recover compensation for you.