If you’ve been injured on a building site, you already know how quickly things can go wrong and how little use excuses are after the fact. Whether it was faulty scaffolding, poor supervision, or equipment that should never have been signed off, you’re the one left dealing with the consequences.
If you’ve been injured on a building site, you already know how quickly things can go wrong and how little use excuses are after the fact. Whether it was faulty scaffolding, poor supervision, or equipment that should never have been signed off, you’re the one left dealing with the consequences.
We act for tradesmen, general labourers, plant operators, and subcontractors across Clare and beyond. Most of them don’t come to us looking for a fight they come looking for fairness. Many were told to keep quiet or keep going. But if your injury happened because the site wasn’t safe, you’re within your rights to take action.
Construction firms and site managers have legal duties. When they fail when they cut corners on training, ignore safety checks, or push people to work in dangerous conditions they can be held responsible. And rightly so.
At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we deal in straight answers. We understand how Irish sites operate, what regulations apply, and how injuries affect real working people. If you’ve been hurt on the job, we’ll help you figure out your next step.
Contact us today. We’ll listen, explain your rights, and help you move forward.
Construction sites are dangerous by nature, but many accidents happen not because the work is risky but because safety standards weren’t followed. If you’ve been injured on a site, chances are it wasn’t just bad luck. It may have been preventable.
At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we see first-hand how accidents happen when safety is rushed, training is skipped, or hazards are ignored. Below are some of the most common construction site accidents we help clients claim for:
Falling from ladders, scaffolding, or incomplete flooring is one of the leading causes of serious injuries on Irish sites. Accidents often happen because:
Falls can result in broken bones, spinal damage, or long-term disability.
Sites with diggers, forklifts, cranes or saws come with obvious risks but not all of them are managed properly. You may be injured by:
These incidents often involve severe crush injuries, amputations, or internal trauma.
Lifting injuries are often downplayed but they can have lasting effects. Common causes include:
Back, shoulder and neck injuries are typical, and may become long-term if untreated.
Tripping over equipment, debris, extension leads or uneven ground is common on fast-moving sites. Poor lighting, cluttered walkways, or unmarked hazards all increase the risk. Even a fall from standing height can lead to serious injury on hard ground.
Falling tools, bricks, or unsecured materials can cause serious head, neck or facial injuries. These incidents usually happen because:
Cement dust, asbestos, paint fumes and solvents can lead to respiratory problems, skin burns or long-term health issues if not managed correctly.
Many of these accidents are preventable. If you were hurt on site because proper safety measures weren’t followed, we can help you take the next step.
If you’ve been injured while working on a construction site, there’s a strong chance you have a right to bring a personal injury claim even if you’re not officially “employed” in the traditional sense. Irish law focuses on who had control over the work, not just who signed your payslip.
At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we’ve helped injured workers from every corner of the building trade. Whether you were on the books, self-employed, or working through an agency, you may be eligible to claim if your injury happened on-site and someone failed to keep you safe.
You may have grounds to bring a claim if you were:
Your claim isn’t limited to accidents caused by your direct employer. If a third-party subcontractor created the hazard or if the site manager, main contractor or developer failed in their duties you may still be able to recover compensation.
It’s also possible to claim even if:
In short: if you were injured on a site, and the injury wasn’t your fault alone, you should talk to a solicitor. We’ll help you find out who’s responsible and what you’re entitled to do about it.
Construction sites are tightly regulated in Ireland, and for good reason they’re high-risk environments with serious consequences when safety is neglected. Whether you’re employed directly, through an agency, or working as a subcontractor under site control, those in charge have clear legal responsibilities to keep the site safe and well-managed.
At the heart of these responsibilities is the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This legislation places a legal duty on all employers, contractors, and site managers to take reasonably practicable steps to prevent injury. In addition, the Construction Regulations 2013 outline specific obligations for construction work.
These duties apply not just to the direct employer, but also to:
When accidents happen, liability may rest with one or more parties depending on who was in charge of the task, who created the risk, and who failed to step in.
An employer or contractor can also be held vicariously liable for the actions of their foremen, supervisors or senior crew especially if a worker was injured due to poor instruction, supervision, or pressure to cut corners.
Bottom line: those running a site are required to plan ahead, manage risk, and protect workers. If they fail, and someone is injured, they can and should be held legally accountable.
If you’ve suffered an injury while working on a construction site, what you do in the hours and days after the accident can make a major difference to your recovery and your right to claim. The following steps can help protect your health and strengthen your legal position:
Even if your injuries seem minor, you should go to a GP, A&E or hospital. Some injuries especially back injuries, head trauma, or internal bruising may not show full symptoms immediately. Your medical report will also act as crucial evidence later on.
Tell your foreman, site manager or employer as soon as possible. Ask for the incident to be recorded in the site accident logbook. If no formal system exists, make sure you document who you spoke to and when. Don’t assume verbal notice is enough.
Write down:
If possible, take photos of the area, equipment, or unsafe conditions. Keep any PPE, torn clothing or tools that show signs of impact.
You may be encouraged to brush it off, “sort it out between yourselves”, or avoid putting it in writing. Don’t. You’re entitled to report your injury and explore your rights. It doesn’t make you a troublemaker it shows you take your health seriously.
Getting early advice won’t lock you into anything. It simply means you’ll know your options, your rights, and what steps to take if you decide to make a claim.
At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we listen first then advise. If you’ve been hurt on a site, we’ll help you protect your position.
The strength of your claim depends on the strength of your evidence. Even if the accident seemed obvious to everyone on-site, your solicitor will need to prove negligence that someone failed in their duty and that failure caused your injury.
The more reliable and detailed the evidence, the harder it is for insurers or site operators to deny liability.
Essential types of evidence in construction claims include:
In short, evidence is what turns a legitimate grievance into a winning case. We’ll help you gather, preserve and present the right material so your story stands up under scrutiny.
If you’ve been injured on a building site, your claim may cover more than you think. Compensation is intended to restore not enrich so it looks at how the injury has affected your life, income, health, and future.
In Ireland, personal injury claims are generally broken into two categories: general damages and special damages.
These cover the pain, suffering, and impact on your day-to-day life. The amount is usually based on the Judicial Council’s Personal Injuries Guidelines.
Examples include:
Your solicitor will use medical reports to show how your injury affects your work, home life, and wellbeing. The more detailed the evidence, the more accurately your suffering can be valued.
These refer to your actual financial losses caused by the injury. They’re based on receipts, payslips, invoices or projected estimates. They can include:
Yes. Even if you’ve returned to work, you may still be entitled to claim for the suffering, disruption and financial impact caused in the meantime. A solicitor can help value your claim fairly based on the full picture, not just how things look now.
Yes—you may still have a valid claim even if you were partly responsible for your construction site accident. This is known as contributory negligence, and it’s a common feature in workplace injury cases across Ireland.
The law recognises that construction sites are complex environments, and not every injury is down to one person’s actions. If your employer, site manager, or another contractor failed to uphold proper safety standards even if you also made a mistake you can still be entitled to compensation. In these situations, your final award may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility.
Examples of scenarios where partial fault doesn’t end a claim:
At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we don’t judge, we assess. We look at all the facts, not just one side of the story. We’ll advise you on how contributory negligence might affect your case, and we’ll fight to ensure your contribution isn’t exaggerated or unfairly blamed.
Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident. However, time limits can vary depending on when the injury was discovered or whether you were mentally fit to act. It’s best to speak with a solicitor as soon as possible.
Not necessarily. We can help establish who had legal responsibility based on contracts, risk assessments, and site control. You don’t need to have this figured out before contacting us.
You can still bring a claim. Liability depends on who controlled your work environment and whether safety duties were upheld not just your contract status.
Most claims settle out of court. However, if your case does go to hearing, we’ll represent you fully and prepare you in plain, honest terms. Our job is to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Yes. Psychological injuries such as anxiety, panic attacks or post-traumatic stress are compensable if linked to the accident. We’ll include these in your medical assessments where appropriate.
You can still claim. Other forms of evidence like medical records, photos, PPE damage or inspection reports can support your case. Lack of witnesses does not mean lack of proof.
It’s unlawful to penalise an employee for asserting their legal rights. Many construction workers fear backlash, but the law is on your side. If you’re unsure, we’ll talk you through your options confidentially.
We offer a No Win No Fee arrangement, subject to a clear and open discussion of how that works. We explain costs upfront no surprises, no hidden terms.
Yes. Returning to work doesn’t erase your right to compensation. It just means your injuries have stabilised. You can still claim for the disruption, pain, medical costs and lost income.
Injured on a construction site? We’re here to help. At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we offer clear, confidential advice tailored to your situation. Get in touch today and take the first step toward justice, recovery, and fair compensation.
