Construction Accident Attorney in Charleston

Trial-Ready Representation for Injured Construction Workers

Construction accident claims rarely involve a single defendant. On any active jobsite, you may have a general contractor, multiple subcontractors, equipment owners, and property managers, each carrying separate insurance and separate legal exposure. When a serious injury happens, those parties and their claims teams move fast to protect themselves. Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC is a Charleston trial law firm with 165 years of combined legal experience and a record of eight-figure verdicts and settlements. We bring that trial depth to construction accident cases where the stakes are too high for a firm focused only on settlement.

Our team includes attorneys named among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by National Trial Lawyers. When we took on a wrongful death case involving two highway workers struck by a commercial vehicle, we recovered $20,000,000 for their families. Past results don’t guarantee similar outcomes, but they do reflect what our team is prepared to do when an insurer won’t pay what a case is worth.

If you or someone you care about was hurt on a Charleston construction site, contact us today for a free confidential consultation. Call (843) 968-0886 or reach us through our online contact form.

Why Charleston Construction Workers Choose Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC

Construction injury cases attract experienced claims adjusters and defense attorneys working to limit what injured workers recover. Having a litigation-committed firm on your side changes that dynamic. We don’t approach these cases looking for the fastest exit. We build them as if they’re going to trial, which can produce stronger positioning even when they settle.

• 165 years of combined experience across our legal team
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and recognized by Best Lawyers in America
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers designation from National Trial Lawyers
• Proven results in multi-party personal injury and wrongful death cases
• Free confidential consultation by phone or online, with no obligation

We handle both personal injury claims and complex multi-party litigation, which maps directly to what construction accident cases demand. We identify every potentially liable party, analyze the contractor relationships that determine who can be sued, and pursue available compensation for what was lost.

Construction Accidents & Injuries We Handle

OSHA identifies four hazards responsible for the majority of construction fatalities: falls from scaffolding, ladders, and roofs; struck-by injuries from falling tools, materials, and moving equipment; caught-in or between injuries from machinery, trenches, and collapsing structures; and electrocutions from contact with live wiring or temporary power. Charleston’s ongoing port-area commercial development and Lowcountry residential expansion put workers in contact with all four on a daily basis.

These hazards produce some of the most serious injuries seen in any civil case: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputations, crush injuries, severe burns, and wrongful death. MUSC Health in Charleston is the Lowcountry’s only Level I trauma center and handles the most critical construction injury cases from across the region. Equipment-related incidents involving cranes, forklifts, and power tools add a separate layer: a defective or improperly maintained piece of equipment may generate a product liability claim against a manufacturer in addition to any workers’ compensation claim.

South Carolina Construction Accident Law: What Charleston Workers Need to Know

South Carolina workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. If your employer carries coverage, you’re entitled to medical treatment and approximately two-thirds of your average weekly wages while you’re unable to work, regardless of how the accident happened. The tradeoff is the exclusive remedy rule: you generally can’t sue your employer in civil court when workers’ comp applies. That means no recovery for pain and suffering and no full wage replacement through that claim alone.

Third-Party Claims & the Statutory Employer Doctrine

The third-party liability path is where serious cases often turn. A civil lawsuit may be filed against any non-employer whose negligence contributed to the injury, including general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, and product suppliers. There’s a critical wrinkle: South Carolina’s statutory employer doctrine under S.C. Code 42-1-400 can extend workers’ compensation immunity up the contractor chain, affecting which parties can be sued in tort. Its application depends on the specific contractual relationships on the site and requires attorney analysis early in the case.

South Carolina follows modified comparative negligence. You can recover only if you’re less than 51 percent at fault, with your award reduced by your percentage of fault. Construction defendants and their insurers routinely argue the injured worker contributed to the accident, which is one reason documentation and early evidence preservation matter so much.

Key Deadlines to Know

Missing a filing deadline can bar your claim entirely. South Carolina imposes separate deadlines for workers’ compensation and civil claims:

• Workers’ comp notice: Report the injury to your employer within 90 days under S.C. Code 42-15-20
• Workers’ comp claim filing: File within two years of the accident under S.C. Code 42-15-40
• Third-party civil claim: Three years from the date of injury under S.C. Code 15-3-530

Civil cases against third parties are filed in the Charleston County Court of Common Pleas. OSHA violations documented after a construction accident can support a negligence claim against a non-employer, though OSHA itself creates no private right of action for injured workers.

Steps to Take After a Construction Accident in Charleston

The decisions made in the first hours and days after a jobsite injury directly affect what can be recovered. Construction sites change quickly: scaffolding comes down, equipment goes back to rental companies, and hazardous conditions get corrected before anyone documents them. Acting promptly protects your options.

• Get medical attention immediately, even if symptoms seem minor. Traumatic brain injuries and internal injuries may not be obvious at first.
• Report the injury to your employer in writing and keep a copy. Workers’ comp deadlines run from the date of the accident.
• Photograph the site before conditions change, including scaffolding, equipment, fall protection, and any visible hazards.
• Identify every company on the site: general contractor, all subcontractors, equipment owners, and delivery firms. This list supports your third-party claim.
• Collect witness information before crews move to other sites.
• Request in writing that any involved equipment be preserved and not returned to service or to a rental company.
• Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney. Multiple carriers may contact you, and none of them represent your interests.

If OSHA investigates, its report can take months. An attorney can send preservation letters immediately to prevent the destruction of evidence that may no longer exist by the time the official report arrives.

Talk to a Charleston Construction Accident Lawyer Today

Construction accident cases are legally complex and time-sensitive. The sooner our team can review what happened, the more options we can help protect for you. We offer free confidential consultations with no obligation and serve clients throughout Charleston, North Charleston, and across South Carolina.

Call (843) 968-0886 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC.