Construction Accidents

Klein DeNatale Goldner has been a pillar in our communities since 1953. With offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Pasadena, San Diego, and Santa Barbara, our attorneys represent both businesses and individuals using their decades of experience, depth of knowledge and unrivaled track record.

Construction Accident Attorney in Bakersfield

70 Years Handling Complex Injury Cases Across the San Joaquin Valley

Construction sites in and around Bakersfield span energy infrastructure, agricultural development, logistics facilities, and public works projects. Each one can involve a general contractor, multiple subcontractors, equipment rental companies, and property owners. When an accident happens, questions of responsibility and insurance coverage get complicated fast. Klein DeNatale Goldner has handled complex injury matters throughout the San Joaquin Valley since 1953, and our team understands how these overlapping relationships affect what an injured worker can recover.

Injured workers often face simultaneous pressure from employers, insurers, and medical providers before they’ve had a chance to understand their full legal options. We’re here to change that dynamic.

If you or a family member was hurt on a Bakersfield construction site, contact Klein DeNatale Goldner at (661) 485-2100 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

One Firm for Every Legal Issue That Follows a Construction Accident

A serious construction accident rarely produces just one legal issue. Workers’ compensation, third-party personal injury claims, product liability questions, labor law violations, insurance coverage disputes, and potential appeals can all arise from a single incident. Klein DeNatale Goldner is a full-service firm with practice areas spanning personal injury, labor and employment, appellate law, and construction and real estate litigation. When multiple issues surface in the same case, our team addresses them together rather than sending clients to separate counsel for each one.

Members of our legal team are fluent in Spanish and ready to assist Spanish-speaking clients throughout the region.

Construction Accident Cases We Handle in Bakersfield

Construction is consistently one of the most dangerous industries for workers in California. OSHA identifies the leading causes of construction fatalities as falls, struck-by-object incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in or caught-between accidents. Falls alone account for roughly 38% of construction deaths nationally. Our firm handles the full range of injuries these hazards produce.

Incident types we represent include:

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms
Struck-by incidents involving falling debris, swinging loads, and on-site vehicles
Machinery and equipment failures, including crane collapses and conveyor accidents
Electrocution and contact with energized lines
Trench collapses and excavation accidents
Exposure to hazardous substances, including silica dust and chemical releases
Catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, crush injuries, severe burns, and amputation

We also represent families who have lost someone in a fatal construction accident. Wrongful death claims arising from jobsite incidents are among the most demanding cases we handle, and we approach them with the same determination we bring to every serious injury matter.

Results in Complex Injury & Industrial Accident Cases

The verdicts and settlements below represent our track record in complex injury and industrial accident matters. They reflect the scale and difficulty of claims our team is prepared to pursue.

$6,750,000: Industrial accident, wrongful death
$6,000,000: Oilfield accident case
$4,200,000: Industrial accident involving brain injury
$3,500,000: Industrial accident involving injury to a truck driver
$1,400,000: Defective crane case
$1,350,000: Unsafe stacking of cement pipe, wrongful death

We have litigated against major corporations including Ford, General Motors, and British Petroleum. In cases involving life-changing injuries, we retain a life-care planner to identify all future medical needs and associated costs to support a full assessment of damages in settlement discussions or at trial.

Past results do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of any legal matter.

Talk to a Construction Accident Attorney at No Cost

If you were injured on a job site in Bakersfield or anywhere in the San Joaquin Valley, the decisions you make in the first days and weeks can significantly affect your recovery. Our team is ready to review your situation and help you understand what your case may be worth before you commit to anything. There is no fee for the consultation and no obligation to proceed.

Call Klein DeNatale Goldner today at (661) 485-2100 to speak with a construction accident attorney serving Bakersfield and the greater San Joaquin Valley.

Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Personal Injury Claims

Most injured construction workers know they can file for workers’ compensation. Fewer realize that workers’ comp is often not their only option and may not come close to covering their full losses.

Workers’ compensation covers medical expenses, partial wage replacement, and temporary or permanent disability benefits. It doesn’t compensate for pain and suffering, and it doesn’t hold any party beyond the direct employer accountable. For workers with serious injuries, those limitations matter enormously.

When a party other than the direct employer contributed to the accident, the injured worker may pursue a separate personal injury claim alongside a workers’ comp claim. A third-party claim can recover full lost wages, future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. California imposes no cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases, which is why verdicts in serious construction injury matters can be substantial.

Who can be a liable third party:

General contractors who failed to maintain a safe worksite or coordinate safety across trades
Subcontractors whose work or equipment created the hazard
Equipment manufacturers when a defective product contributed to the accident
Property owners who knew of a dangerous condition and failed to correct it

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years of the accident date. Workers’ compensation requires reporting the accident to your employer within 30 days. Both deadlines start running immediately, which is one reason early legal consultation matters.

How Cal/OSHA Violations Factor Into Your Case

California workplace safety is governed by Cal/OSHA, which sets specific requirements for fall protection systems, scaffolding, trenching and excavation safety, equipment maintenance, and personal protective equipment on construction sites. When these standards are violated and a worker is injured, the violation becomes part of the legal record.

A Cal/OSHA citation that directly corresponds to the hazard that caused the injury can serve as significant evidence that the responsible party knew about the danger and failed to address it. Inspection records, safety logs, and prior violation histories are all materials that should be preserved and reviewed after a serious accident. A construction accident attorney can request this documentation early, before records are updated or access is restricted.

Independent contractor misclassification is also worth examining. California has specific standards for determining whether a worker qualifies as an employee or a contractor, and workers labeled as independent contractors may actually qualify for employee protections under state law. Misclassification can affect both workers’ compensation eligibility and the scope of third-party liability.

What to Do After a Construction Accident in Bakersfield

The steps taken in the hours and days after a construction accident shape both the workers’ compensation claim and any personal injury case that follows. Here is what matters most.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Medical records created close in time to the accident tie your injuries directly to the incident. This documentation is foundational to both legal pathways.

Report the Accident to Your Employer
California workers’ compensation rules require reporting within 30 days. Delaying or skipping this step can jeopardize your claim.

Preserve Evidence Before It Disappears
Active construction sites change quickly. Conditions get repaired, equipment gets moved, and witness accounts shift. Incident reports, safety logs, equipment maintenance records, and any available site footage should all be preserved as soon as possible.

Don’t Give a Recorded Statement Without Counsel
Insurance adjusters may contact you before you’ve had time to understand your options. Recorded statements can be used to minimize the value of your claim. Speak with an attorney first.

Consult a Construction Accident Lawyer Before Accepting Anything
An attorney can investigate liability beyond your direct employer, manage communications with insurers and third parties, and identify potential sources of compensation before you accept a settlement.

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Why Choose Klein DeNatale Goldner?

Serving Our Communities Since 1953

Klein DeNatale Goldner opened its doors in 1953. We are honored to have spent the last seven decades serving the good people in our communities.
Service Throughout California

With offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Pasadena, San Diego, and Santa Barbara, Klein DeNatale Goldner offers legal services to our clients throughout Central and Southern California.

Serving Spanish Speaking Clients
Members of the Klein DeNatale Goldner legal team are fluent in Spanish and ready to assist our Spanish-speaking clients.
A Practice with Specialized Expertise
Where other firms are often required to outsource, our attorneys have comprehensive experience and knowledge to keep services in-house.

Contact Us Today

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