If you sustained injuries in a Texas construction accident, you could face a long road to recovery. Construction accidents often involve severe injuries. Your recovery could take weeks, months, or years. You could even have permanent injuries, scarring, or disability. You need money to pay your medical bills and living expenses. This is especially true if you cannot work due to your injuries.
You deserve justice and fair compensation for your injuries. An experienced Texas construction accident attorney can protect your rights and fight to get you justice. The Zimmerman Law Firm helps victims throughout Texas. If you or a loved one was hurt in a construction site accident, let us fight to get the best possible outcome for you.
Texas Construction Accident Statistics
Texas does not have a great track record of jobsite safety. In fact, construction accidents—and their severity—have gotten significantly worse in the past few years. The Workers’ Compensation Institute, a non-profit educational organization, reports that Texas’s rate of fatal job-related injuries is higher than in any other state.
The Insurance Journal reported that Texas work-related fatalities increased by 25% in 2019 (the most recent year for which data was available). During that same period, fatalities for construction laborers increased by almost 50% over 2018. In fact, among the industries tracked by the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation, construction and extraction had the largest increase in serious injury accidents.
Digging into the Texas construction site accident data, the workplace characteristics that signify the largest risk for injury accidents are those that involve construction, trade, transportation, and utilities. Among the seven job roles that are most prone to injury accidents on the job are construction laborers, roofers, and first-line supervisors of construction trade work.
While a few hundred people die in construction accidents in Texas each year, thousands more sustain injuries. You can improve your chances of staying safe at work by always adhering to all safety policies and procedures and wearing safety gear—especially an OSHA/ANSI approved hard hat. However, no matter how hard you try to avoid getting into an accident at work, you cannot control the actions of others.
Common Types of Texas Construction Accident Injuries
Construction sites typically pose multiple threats for serious injury accidents. Various types of heavy machinery and toxic chemicals may be present. The potential for objects falling from above—or falling from scaffolding or ladders—also poses significant threats. The outcome of jobsite accidents can frequently be serious or life-threatening injuries.
Some of the most common construction accident injuries include the following:
- Spine and nerve injuries,
- Skin and soft tissue injuries,
- Traumatic brain injuries,
- Crushed or lost limbs or digits,
- Dislocated joints,
- Loss of sight or hearing,
- Fractured or shattered bones,
- Chemical and thermal burns, and
- Internal organ damage.
No matter what type of injuries you suffered, a construction accident law firm can help. At The Zimmerman Law Firm, we carefully document all your injuries and other damages. We fight to get every dollar possible for you. This provides you with the money to get the right medical treatment and care. A settlement also provides the resources you need to pay your bills and living expenses until you can return to work.
Who Has Liability for Construction Accidents & Injuries?
Determining who has fault for your injuries is the first step in the legal process. If you, a coworker, or an employer was at fault for your accident, pursuing a workers’ compensation claim may be your only option. However, if another party was at fault or partially at fault, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim through their insurance company.
Other than the employer, the at-fault party for a construction accident could be among the following.
- Project owner,
- Project developer,
- Architect,
- Engineer,
- Construction manager,
- General contractor,
- Project manager,
- Project superintendent,
- Subcontractor,
- Material supplier, or
- Third-party consultant.
In many cases, accidents involve outside parties such as equipment manufacturers, equipment rental companies or suppliers, transportation or delivery companies, etc. In some examples, local municipalities, building departments, or other governmental entities could cause or contribute to serious construction accidents.
To prevail in your insurance claim or in court, you must demonstrate which party (or parties) caused or contributed to your accident and the resulting injuries. You must also establish the at-fault party’s liability for your damages.
At The Zimmerman Law Firm, our construction accident lawyers understand how to investigate worksite accidents. We know that a well-documented case provides the best chance for a favorable outcome. We put all our resources to work for you, fighting to get you the results you deserve.
Establishing Negligence for a Construction Accident
To prove liability for your damages, your construction site accident lawyer will investigate the accident to determine fault. If you are pursuing a personal injury claim, your attorney must demonstrate the following elements of negligence.
Duty of Care
First, you have to prove that the at-fault party had a duty to act in a way that did not expose you unreasonably to harm. For example, a general contractor may have a duty to ensure compliance with federal or state safety standards.
Breach of Duty
Second, you need to prove that the at-fault party violated their duty of care—for example, by failing to take appropriate steps to comply with established safety standards.
Proximate Cause
You also need to prove that the breach of duty was the direct cause of your accident and injuries.
Damages
Once these elements are established, the at-fault party becomes liable for your physical, emotional, and financial damages.
Common Causes of Texas Construction Accidents
Some of the most common actions that can lead to jobsite accidents in Texas include the following.
- Failure to provide appropriate training;
- Failure to provide appropriate supervision;
- Failure to implement safety policies;
- Failure to enforce safety policies;
- Failure to address unsafe site conditions or activity; and
- Failure to maintain equipment.
Other common causes of construction accidents include defects in project design, defective materials, and defective construction practices.
Virtually any type of careless, reckless, negligent, or wrongful act can cause devastating injury accidents. The at-fault party should be held accountable for their actions and the damages that results. Construction injury lawyers understand how to accomplish that goal while recovering the compensation you need and deserve.
Types of Texas Construction Accidents We Handle
We handle all types of jobsite injury accidents. However, some of the most common types of accidents we see include the following:
- Slip and fall accidents,
- Falling from heights (scaffolding, ladders),
- Struck by object from above,
- Explosions and fires,
- Overheating/overexertion,
- Electrocution,
- Toxic substance exposure,
- Construction vehicle collision,
- Collapsing trenches,
- Collapsing structure, and
- Equipment malfunction.
Even if you do not see your type of accident listed here, contact one of our construction accident attorneys as soon as possible. The nature of construction sites makes it difficult to protect or preserve evidence. The sooner we can get to work, the better our chances of preserving critical evidence at the jobsite. This also helps ensure that any witnesses still have a fresh memory of the event.
What to Do After a Texas Construction Site Accident
Any time that an injury accident takes place, seek immediate medical attention for any victims. Call 911 and seek evaluation on site by emergency medical technicians, whether you believe you sustained injuries or not. Shock can make injury victims miss critical signs of damage. In other cases, internal and soft tissue injuries may not present symptoms immediately.
If you can safely do so, collect contact information from any witnesses. If you aren’t able to accomplish this, try to find a coworker or someone else who can help. Take photos of the accident scene and the surroundings. This information will be critical for documenting your injury claim.
You likely need to report the incident to your supervisor or the general contractor who is in charge of the project. You might also need to report the incident to your employer’s workers’ comp insurance. Before you do so, however, contact a construction accident lawyer for guidance. Never admit fault or speculate on the cause of an accident until you speak to an attorney. Doing so could provide leverage for the insurance company to deny your claim.
If you did not obtain medical treatment at the scene, go to the emergency room as soon as possible for evaluation. This will ensure you get a full evaluation and any treatment you might need. Request copies of your records also, so you can provide them to your attorney.
Keep all documentation and records in one place where they can be safe. You should also consider writing down everything you can remember while it’s still fresh in your mind.
When to Talk to a Construction Site Accident Lawyer
Legally, you can pursue a construction accident insurance claim on your own. From a more practical perspective, however, you should consider at least consulting with an attorney.
Worksite injury claims can be challenging to document and prove. An experienced Texas workers’ compensation lawyer understands exactly how to accomplish this. A law firm that has experience with jobsite injury cases also has the resources you need working for you. Your attorney and legal team can investigate the accident and recover the critical evidence necessary to make your case.
Construction accident claims can be highly complex. Depending on who had fault for your injuries, you could be dealing with multiple parties and their insurance carriers. Having an experienced lawyer of your own can help level the playing field.
Your attorney will help protect your legal rights and ensure you take the necessary steps to file your claim within the required time period.
Finally, having an attorney can help ensure you get the maximum possible settlement. If the insurance company won’t settle, your lawyer might have to file a lawsuit. If so, having an experienced litigator on your side can be invaluable.
Before you provide any statement or report to the insurance company, take advantage of the free consultation offered by most Texas personal injury attorneys. The Zimmerman Law Firm provides free consultations, and you owe no legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Contact a Texas Construction Accident Lawyer Now
The Zimmerman Law Firm has an impressive history of helping Texas injury accident victims get the justice they deserve. Since 1962, we have fought to get justice for injury victims throughout Texas. We have a unique focus on more than just financial compensation. We believe you deserve to get your life back after an accident, in every possible way.
We provide highly personalized and compassionate service, zealous representation, and the resources you need to get through this challenging time.To schedule your consultation or to speak directly with a Texas construction accident attorney, contact our office now.