In the Matthews area, construction projects frequently operate near public roadways and residential driveways. That means incidents can involve more than one “lane” of responsibility—site safety, traffic control, contractor sequencing, and equipment movement.
Common situations that trigger disputes include:
- Struck-by events involving trucks, forklifts, or backing equipment near entrances and staging areas.
- Falls and trip hazards when materials, debris, or temporary walkways change during the workday.
- Weather and scheduling pressure affecting housekeeping, tarping, ladder setup, or site markings.
- Multiple contractors where the general contractor controls the overall plan, while a subcontractor controls the specific task.
Instead of asking only “who was at fault,” claims often hinge on who had the right to correct the condition and how quickly they should have acted once the risk existed.


