Construction Injury Claims Solicitors

Construction Injury Claims We Handle

Construction injury claims encompass a wide range of accidents and injuries. Our construction injury lawyers have extensive experience across all of the following areas:

Falls from Height

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms remain the leading cause of fatal and serious injury on UK construction sites. These accidents frequently result in spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, multiple fractures, and life-altering paralysis. Employers and site managers are legally required to manage the risks of working at height, and where those duties have been breached, you have the right to claim.

Spinal Cord and Back Injuries

Spinal injuries sustained on construction sites can be catastrophic and permanent. Whether caused by a fall, a collapsing structure, or being struck by a moving load, the consequences, including full or partial paralysis, demand specialist legal expertise. Nelsons’ serious injury team works alongside leading medical professionals to build the strongest possible case, securing compensation that accounts for the full, long-term impact on your life.

Head and Brain Injuries

Head injuries on construction sites, from falling objects, vehicle collisions, or impacts with fixed structures, range from mild concussion to severe traumatic brain injury. The effects can include permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, communication difficulties, and the inability to return to work. Our construction injury lawyers understand the complexity of brain injury claims and work with neurological specialists to ensure every aspect of your injury and its consequences is fully valued.

Amputation and Crush Injuries

Construction machinery and heavy plant present a serious risk of crush injuries and traumatic amputation. These injuries are life-changing, requiring immediate emergency treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and often the fitting and ongoing maintenance of prosthetic limbs. Our team handles these complex claims sensitively and thoroughly, securing compensation that reflects not only your immediate losses but the full lifetime cost of your injury.

Struck-By and Falling Object Injuries

Being struck by falling materials, tools, or equipment is one of the most common causes of serious injury on construction sites. Hard hat requirements and exclusion zones must be properly enforced. Where they are not, site operators and principal contractors can be held liable for the injuries that result.

Trench Collapses and Structural Failures

Excavation work carries significant risk. A trench collapse or structural failure can bury a worker in seconds, causing traumatic injuries or death. Construction regulations require excavations to be properly assessed and supported, where this has not happened and injury results, there are strong grounds for a construction injury claim.

Burns and Electrical Injuries

Contact with live electrical cables, faulty wiring, or combustible materials can cause severe burns, cardiac events, and neurological damage. Electrical injuries on construction sites are frequently the result of inadequate site surveys or poor safety management. Where negligence can be established, our construction injury lawyers will pursue the compensation you deserve.

Fatal Construction Accidents

If you have lost a loved one in a construction site accident, our serious injury and fatal accident team can guide you through a fatal accident claim with compassion and sensitivity. We help bereaved families understand their legal options, including claims for dependency and bereavement under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.

Who Can Make a Construction Injury Claim?

Construction injury claims are not limited to direct employees. You may be entitled to claim if you were injured as:

• An employee of a main contractor or subcontractor
• A self-employed contractor or labourer
• An agency worker placed on site
• A visitor, inspector, or delivery driver on site
• A member of the public affected by construction activity
• Where there has been a fatal injury, the family and dependants of the victim

Liability in construction accidents can fall on multiple parties, the main contractor, site owner, a subcontractor, an equipment manufacturer, or a combination of all of these. Our construction injury lawyers will identify every responsible party and build your claim accordingly.

How Your Construction Injury Claim Works

We make the claims process as straightforward as possible. Here is what to expect when you instruct Nelsons:

1. Free Initial Consultation: We start with a free, no obligation conversation, by phone, video call, or in person at our offices in Derby, Leicester or Nottingham. We listen carefully to what happened, give you an honest assessment of your claim, and explain your options clearly. There is no pressure and no commitment at this stage.

2. Investigating Your Claim: We gather the evidence needed to establish liability, including accident reports, witness statements, site safety records, photographs, and any relevant CCTV footage. In serious injury cases, we instruct independent experts early, including medical specialists and liability engineers where necessary, because we know from experience that the quality of evidence gathered at the outset directly shapes the outcome of a claim.

3. Medical Evidence and Rehabilitation: For serious and catastrophic construction injuries, early access to rehabilitation can make a profound difference to your recovery. We will seek interim payments where possible so you can access the specialist treatment and support you need without waiting for the claim to resolve. We work with leading medical experts to ensure every aspect of your injury, including long-term prognosis and care needs, is fully evidenced.

4. Valuing Your Claim: Construction injury claims involving serious injuries are complex to value. Your compensation should reflect not only your immediate losses, pain and suffering, lost earnings, treatment costs, but also future care needs, adaptations to your home or vehicle, loss of future earnings, and the long-term impact on your quality of life. We leave nothing out.

5. Negotiation and Settlement: The majority of construction injury claims settle without the need for a court hearing. We negotiate strongly on your behalf, and we will only recommend a settlement that truly reflects the full extent of your losses. If the other side will not offer a fair figure, we will not hesitate to take your case to court.

6. Resolution and Payment: Once your claim is settled or a court award is made, your compensation is paid promptly. On no win no fee cases, our agreed success fee is deducted at this point. We will walk you through every figure before anything is finalised.

No Win No Fee Construction Injury Claims

Most construction injury claims are handled on a no win no fee basis, formally known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means you can pursue your claim without financial risk, if your claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing. If it succeeds, our agreed success fee is payable from your compensation. We will explain the arrangements in full before you commit to anything.

Why Choose Nelsons for Your Construction Injury Claim?

Serious construction injuries require serious legal expertise. Nelsons’ personal injury and serious injury team has an established track record in exactly these cases — and the credentials to match.

• Recognised Specialists in Serious Injury: Nelsons is recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for personal injury and serious injury work. Our team holds accreditation from the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) Approved Solicitor Panel, and the head injury charity Headway, reflecting a genuine depth of specialism that matters when your injuries are life-changing. We are also Commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2025.
• Expert in the Most Complex Claims: Construction accidents involving spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, and fatalities are among the most legally and medically complex personal injury claims. Our serious injury specialists, including Lisa Preece, have the expertise and the professional networks to handle these claims with the rigour they demand, instructing the right medical and liability experts from the outset to build the strongest possible case.
• Focused on Your Long-Term Needs: A serious construction injury doesn’t just affect you today, it reshapes your entire future. We take the long view, ensuring your compensation covers not only immediate losses but care requirements, loss of future earnings, home adaptations, and rehabilitation costs for years to come. We will not settle for less than your claim is worth.
• Client-Centred from Day One: We know that the period after a serious injury is overwhelming, for you and your family. Our team communicates clearly, moves quickly to secure interim support where possible, and keeps you informed at every stage. You will always know where your claim stands and why.
• Local Offices, National Reach: We have offices in Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham and regularly act for clients across the East Midlands and nationally. Whether you are based locally or your construction injury occurred further afield, our team can help.

How Long Do You Have to Make a Construction Injury Claim?

In most cases, the time limit for making a construction injury claim is three years from the date of the accident. There are exceptions, for example, where the injured person lacks mental capacity, but as a general rule, acting promptly protects your position. Evidence is preserved, witnesses’ recollections are clearer, and early instruction allows us to seek interim support sooner.

If you are unsure whether you are within time to claim, speak to one of our construction injury lawyers as soon as possible.

Speak to a Construction Injury Lawyer Today

If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured on a construction site, do not wait to take legal advice. The sooner we can begin gathering evidence and understanding your situation, the stronger your claim will be.

Call us free on 0800 024 1976 or contact us via our online enquiry form for a free, no obligation initial consultation. We are here to help.