Massachusetts Construction Accident Settlement Calculator
Estimate compensation under Massachusetts G.L. c. 152 — Corsetti retained-control liability, §15 third-party claims, and §28 double benefits for willful misconduct
Are Massachusetts construction verdicts high or low compared to other states? MA construction verdicts are middle-tier nationally — higher than IL post-Carney, comparable to PA, lower than NY (no Scaffold Law) and higher than CA in reachable-GC scenarios. Typical MA settlements: minor injuries + short disability: $150K–$750K.
🏛 MASSACHUSETTS C. 152 + CORSETTI: Retained-control test for GC liability. §15 third-party claims preserved. §28 doubles WC benefits for willful misconduct.
Su lesión
Su Acuerdo Estimado
$6,000 — $6,000
Dolor y sufrimiento = $15,000 en facturas médicas × multiplicador de gravedad de 0.0. Sus facturas ya están incluidas en esa cifra, por lo que no se suman de nuevo.
La compensación laboral es un sistema sin culpa: sus beneficios no se reducen porque usted haya sido parcial o totalmente responsable del accidente.
La compensación laboral no paga dolor y sufrimiento. A diferencia de un reclamo de lesiones personales, solo cubre el tratamiento médico y una parte de sus salarios perdidos — por lo que no se incluye ningún monto por dolor y sufrimiento arriba.
Esta cifra no incluye una indemnización por deterioro permanente. Si su lesión deja limitaciones duraderas, la mayoría de los estados agregan un pago separado según la calificación de deterioro de un médico y un cronograma legal.
Si alguien que no sea su empleador causó la lesión — un subcontratista, un conductor, una máquina defectuosa — también podría tener un reclamo separado de lesiones personales contra esa parte, y ese reclamo puede incluir dolor y sufrimiento.
Keep this estimate — it is gone when you close the tab.
Workers' Compensation Wage Benchmark — New York State claims only
Across New York State claims only, this benchmark is based on 5,586,588 real payments totaling $139.7B from official New York State workers' comp claims.
Average
$25K
Median
$20K
25th %ile
$13K
90th %ile
$44K
Source: New York State Workers' Compensation Board (via data.ny.gov). These figures come from New York State claims only and do not describe benefit levels in other states. Actual payouts may vary based on individual circumstances.
Revisado Editorialmente — Contenido revisado en cuanto a exactitud utilizando investigación legal publicada, datos gubernamentales y registros judiciales verificados. Vea nuestra metodología
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
Massachusetts Construction Law — Three Key Frameworks
Massachusetts construction injury law operates through three related frameworks. First, G.L. c. 152 (Workers' Compensation Act) provides the exclusive remedy against your direct employer (§§23–24), with an extraordinarily narrow intentional tort exception. Second, c. 152 §15 expressly preserves third-party tort claims against non-employers — a worker gets WC AND can pursue concurrent tort suits against property owners, GCs, other contractors, and equipment manufacturers. Third, Corsetti v. Stone Co., 396 Mass. 1 (1985) establishes the retained-control standard for GC liability — the SJC's controlling doctrine.
A unique feature: c. 152 §28 doubles workers' compensation benefits when the injury was caused by the employer's 'serious and wilful misconduct' or by a person regularly entrusted with superintendence powers. The standard is near-criminal — reckless disregard for worker safety, not mere negligence. Recent SJC decisions have enforced this strictly; but when the standard is met, the worker's WC benefits double without the need for a separate tort case.
Massachusetts courts have NOT extended a broad non-delegable duty of care for GC jobsite safety absent retained control — mere GC status is insufficient. Evidence matters: contract language assigning safety responsibility, training requirements, equipment ownership, and actual site-management conduct all feed into the Corsetti analysis. If your GC wore the hat of actual work-direction (not just scheduling), you have a viable claim under §414/Corsetti.
Massachusetts Construction Law — Key Statutes + Doctrines
Massachusetts construction claims rely on c. 152 (WC) + c. 260 (SOL) + Corsetti (judicial doctrine):
G.L. c. 152 (Workers' Compensation Act)
- §§ 23-24 — exclusive remedy
- §15 — third-party claims preserved
- §28 — willful misconduct doubles benefits
G.L. c. 260 §2A
3-year PI SOL
G.L. c. 260 §2B
3-year SOL from discovery + 6-year statute of repose for construction defect claims
The Corsetti Retained-Control Standard
Under Corsetti v. Stone Co., 396 Mass. 1 (1985), a GC owes a duty to subcontractor employees if it RETAINED THE RIGHT to control the work in any of its aspects — including the right to initiate and maintain safety measures and programs. This adopts Restatement (Second) of Torts §414. Evidence courts look for: contract language assigning safety responsibility to the GC; training requirements the GC imposed; equipment ownership (GC supplied vs. sub supplied); actual site-management conduct (GC superintendent giving directions vs. hands-off oversight). The Corsetti test is fact-intensive — courts look hard at contract language vs. actual conduct, and results vary by judge. If your GC contract delegated all safety responsibilities to the sub AND the GC's conduct matched the paperwork, Corsetti likely does not reach the GC. If the GC retained ANY safety-related control and exercised it, the claim is viable.
Chapter 152 Exclusive Remedy + Three Key Variations
Massachusetts workers' comp (G.L. c. 152 §§23–24) is the exclusive remedy against your direct employer. Three important variations: (1) §15 Third-Party Claims — your tort claim against non-employers (property owner, GC, equipment manufacturer) is fully preserved. You get WC AND the tort case simultaneously, with the WC insurer holding a subrogation lien on your tort recovery. (2) §28 Willful Misconduct — if the injury was caused by employer's serious and wilful misconduct or a superintendent's equivalent conduct, WC benefits are DOUBLED. Standard is near-criminal; recent case law is restrictive but results can be dramatic when met. (3) Intentional Tort Exception (EXTREMELY narrow) — Massachusetts courts recognize that WC exclusivity does not bar genuine intentional torts (deliberate physical assault) but NOT recklessness, gross negligence, or knowing failure to fix a dangerous condition. This is more restrictive than most states. Tort SOL: 3 years from accrual under G.L. c. 260 §2A. Construction defect: 3 years from discovery + 6-year statute of repose under c. 260 §2B. WC claim: 4 years from injury or last comp payment.
Damage Caps — MICRA Confusion to Avoid
Massachusetts has no statutory cap on compensatory damages in personal injury (non-malpractice) cases including construction. The $500,000 non-economic cap under G.L. c. 231 §60H applies ONLY to medical malpractice — NOT to construction. Defendants sometimes attempt to extend this logic; Massachusetts courts reject the extension. Punitive damages: generally LIMITED TO WRONGFUL DEATH claims under c. 229 §2 (double damages for conscious disregard); not available in standard negligence PI cases — this is one of the more restrictive punitive-damages regimes in the US. For most construction cases, your recovery is compensatory (economic + non-economic) with no statutory ceiling. MassDOT and public-entity claims face notice-of-claim requirements but no substantive damage caps on Corsetti claims.
Landmark Massachusetts Construction Verdicts
MA construction settlements are typically mid-range nationally — solid but not NY-level. Recent cases:
| Amount | Year | Case / Injury |
|---|---|---|
| $11M | — | — Man struck by falling tree limb during landscaping removal (TBI) |
| $5.1M | — | — Construction site accident / wrongful death settlement |
Massachusetts Construction Accident FAQs
Can I sue my employer in Massachusetts for a construction accident?
Almost never. G.L. c. 152 §§23–24 make workers' comp the exclusive remedy against your direct employer. The intentional tort exception is EXTREMELY narrow — limited to genuine deliberate physical assault, NOT recklessness or gross negligence. However, if the injury was caused by your employer's 'serious and wilful misconduct' or a superintendent's equivalent conduct, c. 152 §28 DOUBLES your WC benefits. The standard is near-criminal but recent cases have met it (e.g., employer ordered work to continue after a fatal accident). Your path to tort recovery runs through §15 third-party claims — against property owners, GCs, other contractors, and equipment manufacturers. The §15 claim is preserved concurrent with your WC claim.
How does the Corsetti standard affect my claim against a GC?
Under Corsetti v. Stone Co., 396 Mass. 1 (1985), the GC is liable if it retained THE RIGHT to control the work in any aspect — including safety initiation and maintenance. Evidence that satisfies Corsetti: GC contract assigns safety oversight responsibility; GC required worker training; GC supplied specific equipment/PPE; GC superintendent gave direct worker instructions; GC issued site-wide safety directives. Evidence insufficient for Corsetti: GC scheduled work without safety involvement; GC had emergency stop-work authority but didn't exercise it; GC attended weekly progress meetings. The test is fact-intensive — review your sub contract carefully with your attorney, then look at what the GC ACTUALLY did at the site. Discovery into site logs, daily reports, and superintendent testimony is critical.
What is the §28 double-benefits provision and does it apply to me?
G.L. c. 152 §28 provides that WC benefits are DOUBLED when an injury is caused by 'the serious and wilful misconduct of an employer or of any person regularly entrusted with and exercising the powers of superintendence'. The standard is near-criminal: reckless disregard for worker safety, not mere negligence. Examples that have succeeded: employer ordered work under an unstable trench wall after a prior collapse; superintendent removed fall protection to speed production; employer falsified safety training records. Examples that have failed: employer allowed a small OSHA violation; superintendent made one bad call. If §28 applies, your WC benefits double — medical, indemnity, and survivor benefits. §28 does NOT apply to third-party defendants (only to your employer). Your attorney will evaluate §28 alongside the §15 tort claim for maximum recovery.
What is Massachusetts' SOL for construction injury claims?
General tort SOL: 3 years from accrual under G.L. c. 260 §2A. Construction defect claims against design/construction professionals: 3 years from discovery + 6-year statute of repose from opening or substantial completion under G.L. c. 260 §2B. Workers' compensation claim: 4 years from injury or last compensation payment. Claims against the Commonwealth or MassDOT require a Notice of Claim under G.L. c. 258 §4 within 2 years of the incident. Claims against municipalities face separate notice requirements. Do not delay — MA courts strictly enforce the 3-year PI SOL and equitable tolling is narrowly available.
Are Massachusetts construction verdicts high or low compared to other states?
MA construction verdicts are middle-tier nationally — higher than IL post-Carney, comparable to PA, lower than NY (no Scaffold Law) and higher than CA in reachable-GC scenarios. Typical MA settlements: minor injuries + short disability: $150K–$750K. Moderate orthopedic: $750K–$3M. Severe orthopedic (multiple surgeries): $3M–$8M. Traumatic brain injury, paralysis: $5M–$15M. Wrongful death: $2M–$10M. The absence of punitive damages outside wrongful death limits upside in egregious cases, but the §28 double-benefits mechanism provides parallel leverage on the WC side. Your recovery depends on severity, Corsetti reach, insurance limits, and whether §28 double benefits apply.
Active MA Construction Issues
Active legal debates (as of April 2026):
- §28 'serious and wilful misconduct' threshold inconsistently applied — line between reckless disregard vs gross negligence disputed
- Corsetti retained-control test fact-intensive; courts look hard at contract language vs actual conduct
Informational only — consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- www.workerscompensation.com/daily-headlines/massachusetts-exclusive-remedy-provision
- www.mass.gov/info-details/third-party-liability-section-15-petitions
- www.jeffreysglassman.com/section-28-chapter-152-willful-misconduct-of-employer-defense-re.html
- law.justia.com/cases/massachusetts/supreme-court/1985/396-mass-1-2.html
Other State Construction Accident Calculators
New York
Labor Law §240 — absolute liability (only US state)
California
Privette Doctrine — default no GC liability
Pennsylvania
Statutory Employer Doctrine — McDonald 5-prong
Illinois
Post-SWA common-law negligence (Carney)
All States — Main Construction Calculator
Nationwide ranges + Fatal Four hazards + third-party liability theories
Related
Other Calculators for Massachusetts
Each Massachusetts calculator reflects state-specific laws (caps, statutes of limitations, comparative-negligence rules) and uses Massachusetts verdict data where available.
Cities in Massachusetts
Construction Accident Calculators by State
Construction injury settlement values and labor-law rules vary by state: