Hurt on a jobsite in Phoenix: construction accident lawyer, comp and other claims

If you were hurt on a Phoenix jobsite, Arizona's own safety agency, ADOSH, investigates at (602) 542-5795. You must file a written workers' comp claim within one year. A claim against someone outside your job, such as a subcontractor, must generally be sued within one year or it can pass to the insurer.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (35)

Construction accident in Phoenix? See if you are owed money.

$0 upfront. No fee unless you win.

Free to send, no obligation. A law firm that handles this type of case in your state reviews it. How this works
Road map of north Phoenix and central Phoenix showing major corridors near large construction areas
Sue outside companies within 1 year or the claim can shift. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Who investigates a construction accident in Phoenix?

Arizona runs its own safety program, so most private jobsites in Phoenix fall under the state rather than federal OSHA. The Phoenix office of the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health is at 800 W Washington St. It ranks imminent danger and deaths first, then complaints, then planned inspections.

Federal OSHA says a death must be reported within 8 hours and a hospitalization, amputation or eye loss within 24 hours. OSHA cannot cite an incident more than 6 months old, so if your site is unsafe, report it soon. A copy of an inspection can be made public only after citations are issued or the file is closed. A lawyer will often wait for it.

Phoenix has a lot of heavy work going on. TSMC says it chose Phoenix in 2020 for its first advanced U.S. chip plant. We could not find an official count of jobsite injuries for the city alone. To look up an employer's federal citations, use OSHA's establishment search.

Workers' comp or a lawsuit after a Phoenix jobsite injury?

Who caused itPathDeadline
Your employer or a coworkerWorkers' comp is usually your only claim, and it pays no matter who was at faultFile in writing within 1 year
A company not in your employ, such as a sub, supplier or equipment makerA separate injury claimSue within 1 year or it can be assigned to the insurer
An employer with no comp insuranceThat employer loses its protection and can be suedGenerally 2 years
Someone's willful misconductYou may choose comp or a lawsuitAsk a lawyer right away

A big trap on layered jobs: under Arizona law, a subcontractor's workers can count as employees of the original employer. So the general contractor may be protected from a lawsuit just like your direct boss. Do not assume it can be sued. Your comp benefits continue while you pursue an outside party.

What are the heat rules for Phoenix construction workers?

Phoenix has a heat ordinance, but it does not reach every job. It requires a written heat safety plan on file for covered contractors. It applies to city contracts, licenses and leases, and to subcontractors with workers outdoors on them. On a private project, the city rule may not apply.

The danger is real. The county says 74% of its 2025 heat-related deaths happened outdoors. If you got sick on a job in the heat, tell your employer and doctor it happened at work. Ask whether the job was city-funded, and ask to see the plan.

What safety rules matter on a Phoenix jobsite?

  • Fall protection is required at 6 feet or more on construction work.
  • A controlling contractor assumes all obligations under the standards, whether or not it subcontracts the work.
  • A safe workplace is your right, whatever your immigration status.
  • If you were punished for reporting a hazard, a whistleblower complaint is due within 30 days.

What should I do after getting hurt on a Phoenix jobsite?

  1. Get medical care and tell the provider it happened at work.
  2. Tell your supervisor right away, and write down who you told.
  3. File the Worker's Report of Injury. Form 407 comes in Spanish.
  4. Send it by fax or mail, not email, if it has private details.
  5. Never pay anyone to file. The Commission charges nothing and warns about scammers.
  6. Check that your employer had coverage with the Commission's verification tool.
  7. Write down who controlled the site, whose equipment failed, and who was there.
  8. Check a contractor's license with the Registrar of Contractors at (602) 542-1525.

Questions

How long do I have to file workers' comp in Phoenix?

One year, in writing, with the Industrial Commission at 800 W. Washington St.

Can I sue the general contractor in Phoenix?

Sometimes. A subcontractor's workers can count as the original employer's employees, which may bar a lawsuit. Have a lawyer read the contracts.

Can I get comp if I am undocumented?

You have the right to a safe workplace regardless of status. Talk to a lawyer about how comp applies to you.

What if a family member died on a Phoenix jobsite?

Families use the Dependent Benefits Claim Form, Form 120. A lawsuit against an outside company has its own deadlines, so please talk to someone early.

Construction accident in Phoenix? See if you are owed money.

A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.

See if I’m owed money

Sources (35)

  1. Industrial Commission of Arizona, ADOSH Complaints and Referrals, checked 2026-11-09. “Phoenix Office 800 W Washington St, Phoenix AZ 85007 (PO Box 19070, Phoenix AZ 85005-9070) Phone: (602) 542-5795 Toll Free: (855) 268-5251”
  2. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “An injured worker must file a claim in writing with the Commission within one year after the injury occurred.”
  3. A.R.S. § 23-1023(B), checked 2026-11-08. “do not pursue a remedy pursuant to this section against the other person by instituting an action within one year after the cause of action accrues [...] the claim against the other person is deemed assigned to the insurance carrier or self-insured employer”
  4. A.R.S. § 23-908(E)-(F), checked 2026-11-08. “the employee shall forthwith report the accident and the injury resulting from the accident to the employer [...] no compensation shall be paid for the injury claimed to have resulted from the accident.”
  5. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “The Industrial Commission of Arizona does not charge a fee to process a workplace injury claim.”
  6. OSHA, Arizona State Plan, checked 2026-11-09. “The Arizona State Plan applies to all private sector workplaces in the state with the following exceptions:”
  7. Industrial Commission of Arizona, ADOSH FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “Imminent Danger; Fatality/Catastrophe Investigations”
  8. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “A fatality must be reported within 8 hours.”
  9. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “An in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss must be reported within 24 hours.”
  10. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “OSHA can not issue violations for safety and health incidents that occurred more than six months prior”
  11. Industrial Commission of Arizona, ADOSH FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “an inspection record can only be made public after citations are issued or the file is closed”
  12. TSMC, TSMC Arizona, checked 2026-11-09. “In 2020, TSMC chose Phoenix, Arizona, for its first advanced U.S. semiconductor manufacturing site”
  13. OSHA Establishment Search, checked 2026-11-09. “You can now find citation information for violations that Federal OSHA has cited.”
  14. A.R.S. 23-1022, checked 2026-11-09. “is the exclusive remedy against the employer or any co-employee acting in the scope of his employment”
  15. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “you receive medical and compensation benefits no matter who caused the job-related accident.”
  16. A.R.S. 23-1023, checked 2026-11-09. “by the negligence or wrong of another person not in the same employ”
  17. A.R.S. 23-1023, checked 2026-11-09. “by instituting an action within one year after the cause of action accrues”
  18. A.R.S. § 23-907(A), checked 2026-11-08. “Employers who are subject to and who fail to comply with section 23-961 or 23-962 shall not be entitled to the benefits of this chapter during the period of noncompliance, but shall be liable in an action under any other applicable law of the state.”
  19. A.R.S. 12-542, checked 2026-11-09. “there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  20. A.R.S. § 23-1022(A), checked 2026-11-08. “The right to recover compensation pursuant to this chapter for injuries sustained by an employee or for the death of an employee is the exclusive remedy against the employer or any co-employee acting in the scope of his employment [...] the injured employee may either claim compensation or maintain an action at law for damages against the person or entity alleged to have engaged in the wilful misconduct.”
  21. A.R.S. 23-902, checked 2026-11-09. “are, within the meaning of this section, employees of the original employer”
  22. A.R.S. 23-1023, checked 2026-11-09. “If the employee proceeds against the other person, compensation and medical, surgical and hospital benefits shall be paid as provided in this chapter”
  23. City of Phoenix, Worker Safety Ordinance, checked 2026-11-09. “contractor requirements to have a written heat safety plan on file”
  24. City of Phoenix, Worker Safety Ordinance, checked 2026-11-09. “contracts between the contractor and its subcontractors, sublicensees, and sublessees with workers that perform work in an outdoor environment”
  25. maricopa.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “74% of heat-related deaths occurred outdoors.”
  26. eCFR, 29 CFR 1926.501, checked 2026-11-09. “which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling”
  27. OSHA Construction eTool, checked 2026-11-09. “The controlling contractor assumes all obligations under the standards, whether or not he subcontracts any of the work.”
  28. U.S. Department of Labor, checked 2026-11-09. “You have the right to a safe and healthy workplace regardless of your immigration status.”
  29. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “you can file a whistleblower complaint within 30 days of the retaliation”
  30. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Formulario de informe de lesión del trabajador - 407”
  31. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Instead, FAX such materials to the FAX number below or mail paper copies to a mailing address below.”
  32. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Workers' Compensation Coverage Verification”
  33. Arizona Registrar of Contractors, Office Location, checked 2026-11-09. “1700 W. Washington St. Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2812 Telephone: (602) 542-1525”
  34. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Phoenix: 800 W Washington St, Phoenix AZ 85007 - Phone: (602) 542-4661”
  35. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Dependent Benefits Claim Form - 120”

Editorial policy

See if I’m owed moneyNo fee unless you win
AccidentsCitiesStatesGuides
See if I’m owed money