Construction Accident Statistics in California [Updated 2025]
September 21, 2022 Posted In Work-related injury
The construction industry is known for being inherently dangerous and posing a high risk of injury for workers. In California, construction is known as the second leading cause of worker fatalities, according to data between 2013 to 2023.
If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact our San Bernardino construction accident lawyers any time.
Facts about Construction Accidents in California
California’s Department of Industrial Relations issued a report in 2023 containing data on general trends in occupational-related fatalities between 2013 to 2023. Construction was responsible for 17.5% of occupational fatalities, or 794 worker deaths, an average of six fatalities per 100,000 workers.
- Of the 78 fatalities that took place in 2023, 34 were due to slip or trip and fall accidents.
- In 2020, construction fatalities peaked at 94, before declining to 78 in 2023.
- 12 construction workers died from transportation incidents.
- Half of the occupational fatal falls were Hispanic workers.
- In 2023, 9 construction workers died from exposure to harmful substances and environments.
- 9 construction workers were killed in accidents involving contact with objects or equipment.
- The majority of construction injury victims in California are men.
Construction Injury Statistics in the U.S.
Across the U.S., more than 1,000 construction workers were killed on the job in 2023 alone. The “Fatal Four” are the leading causes of construction-related deaths, accounting for over 60 percent.
- Falls: 37% of total deaths in construction in 2021. (OSHA)
- Struck by Object: 8% of total deaths in construction in 2021.
- Electrocutions: 8% of total deaths in construction in 2021.
- Caught-in/between: 5% of total deaths in construction in 2021.
Construction workers have a 1 in 200 chance of suffering a fatal injury over a 45-year career, and nearly half of all workers killed in construction accidents are self-employed or work for a company with ten or fewer employees.
Why Construction Accidents are Common
The primary contributing factors in construction accidents are:
- Negligence (on behalf of a worker, employer, co-worker, third party);
- Unsafe work conditions;
- Improper use of tools or equipment; and,
- Lack of protective gear.
When adequate safety training or safety gear (e.g., hard hats, eye protection, etc.) are not provided, hazards are not warned of, equipment and tools are not inspected regularly, and there is a failure to communicate possible dangers to employees, there is an increased risk of a fatal accident occurring. However, even when every safety precaution is taken, accidents still happen, but companies must provide regular health and safety training to their workers.
Construction Accident Liability
California workers or their surviving families are generally unable to sue employers for a construction-related injury or death. This is because employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses regardless of fault. However, there are some exceptions. If, for example, an employer’s actions intentionally caused harm or they do not have enough workers’ compensation insurance to cover injuries or death benefits, you can sue.
Most construction accident claims are filed against third parties in addition to a workers’ compensation claim. Third-party or wrongful death claims can be pursued against a party other than an employer who contributed to the accident. For instance, a property owner, contractor, product manufacturer, maintenance company, engineer, or architect. In these cases, an injured worker or surviving family can recover further compensation for losses that workers’ comp benefits do not cover.