Construction Accident Lawyer in Aurora, MO

A Family Firm Serving Injured Workers in Aurora, MO Since 1957

Pettit Law Office has served injured workers in Aurora, Missouri since 1957, and clients who retain our firm work directly with the same attorney from the initial consultation through resolution. That continuity matters in construction cases, where identifying multiple potentially liable parties requires one attorney who knows every detail of the file.

We’re a second-, third-, and fourth-generation family-owned firm with deep roots in the Aurora community. We understand what’s at stake for Lawrence County workers when a job-site accident changes everything.

Common Causes of Construction Site Accidents in Aurora

Construction is consistently among the most hazardous industries in Missouri. The narrow rural roads and active highway construction zones in and around Aurora add another layer of risk for workers on or near traffic corridors.

Common accident types we see in these cases include:

• Falls from elevation: Ladder collapses, scaffolding failures, and unprotected roof edges send workers to the ground with fractures, head injuries, and spinal cord damage.
• Heavy equipment accidents: Cranes, forklifts, and earthmoving equipment can strike, pin, or roll over workers, causing crush injuries and amputations.
• Electrocutions: Improper grounding, exposed wiring, and contact with overhead lines are responsible for some of the most severe injuries on Missouri job sites.
• Caught-in and caught-between incidents: Workers can be trapped between machinery or collapsing materials, resulting in crush injuries or loss of limb.
• Struck-by incidents: Falling tools, swinging loads, and debris are a constant hazard on active sites, and head injuries from these events are common even with protective equipment.

Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Claims After a Missouri Construction Accident

Understanding your legal options starts with one important distinction. Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 287.120, workers’ compensation is generally the exclusive remedy against your employer. You typically can’t sue your employer directly in civil court, but you can receive no-fault benefits covering medical treatment, wage replacement, and permanent disability without needing to prove negligence.

Workers’ compensation has a real limitation, though: it doesn’t cover pain and suffering or punitive damages. A third-party liability claim may provide a path to seek those damages.

When a Third-Party Claim Is Possible

Construction sites routinely involve multiple companies working alongside each other. When a subcontractor’s crew, a vendor’s employee, a general contractor whose negligence created the hazard, or a defective piece of equipment is responsible for your injury, Missouri law may allow you to pursue a separate civil claim against that outside party in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits.

Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 287.150, Missouri law includes subrogation rules to prevent double recovery, meaning the workers’ compensation insurer may be entitled to reimbursement from a portion of any third-party settlement. Coordinating both claims requires careful attention to detail, which is one reason consistent, single-attorney representation makes a practical difference throughout the process.

Filing Deadlines in Missouri

A workers’ compensation claim in Missouri generally must be filed within two years of the accident date, extended to three years if the employer failed to file the required report of injury under RSMo 287.430. Third-party civil claims carry their own deadlines under Missouri’s statute of limitations. Waiting too long may affect one or both options. If your case involves a third-party lawsuit above $25,000 arising from a Lawrence County construction accident, it falls under the general jurisdiction of the Lawrence County Circuit Court.

Steps to Take Right After a Construction Accident

What you do in the days following a construction accident affects both your health and your legal options. Four actions matter most:

• Seek medical care immediately, even if injuries seem minor. A documented medical record can help create a clear link between the accident and your injuries.
• Notify your employer in writing as soon as possible. Verbal reports get lost; a written notice creates a record.
• Document everything you can: photographs of the scene, the names and contact information of witnesses, and your own written account of what happened while details are fresh.
• Preserve all records from your doctors, your employer, and any insurers. Don’t sign anything from an insurer before speaking with an attorney.

How We Handle Construction Accident Cases

Construction and industrial accident cases can involve complex facts and multiple companies, each with its own insurer and legal team. We address that complexity by investigating thoroughly: reviewing OSHA records, incident reports, equipment maintenance logs, and contracts between site contractors, and speaking directly with witnesses. That groundwork helps us assess whether a third-party claim is viable and which parties may be responsible.

Once we understand the full picture, we prepare every case for negotiation or trial. Our attorneys have extensive trial experience, and thorough trial preparation can strengthen settlement negotiations because opposing counsel knows we’re ready to go to court if a fair resolution isn’t reached. Throughout the process, we return calls promptly and explain your options in plain language so you can make informed decisions. We also offer bilingual services to ensure clear communication for every client.

Start Your Case with a Free Consultation

You shouldn’t have to sort through workers’ compensation rules, third-party liability claims, and filing deadlines while recovering from a serious injury. We offer a free initial consultation so you can understand your options before committing to anything. Most construction accident cases are handled on a contingency basis, meaning our fees are paid only from a recovery, with no upfront costs and no surprises.