Houston Construction Accident Attorney

More than 5 million workers are injured annually on construction sites, many seriously. It’s important to know an experienced Houston construction accident attorney if you work in this type of atmosphere. Fatal injuries in private construction in the United States increased by five percent from 2011 to 2012, with 775 in 2012, up from 738 in 2011. Construction is among the most dangerous occupations everywhere, but it is especially hazardous to your health in Texas. One out of every 13 Texas residents is employed in the construction industry—1,000,000 workers in all. Because the work is so dangerous and affects so many, it imperative that safety procedures are developed and implemented to prevent injuries and fatalities.

However, this does not appear to be happening in Texas. A recent survey of the state’s construction workers by the Workers’ Defense Project revealed that one in every five construction workers experienced a work-related injury that required medical treatment; 60 percent reported that they had never been given any safety training.

Construction accidents in Texas often cause serious and catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, crush injuries, neck and back injuries, herniated discs, amputations, fractures, organ damage, and burns.

The “Fatal Four” Construction Accident Types

The most common construction accidents fall into four categories:

• Falls
• Electrocutions
• Falling object strikes
• Workers caught inside of or between objects

On sites where serious accidents occur it is often because there are OSHA violations at the site. These are some of the violations that are often found and which can indicate liability should an accident occur:

• Lack of fall protection
• Failure to warn workers of the locations of hazards
• Unstable scaffolding and ladders
• Lack of respiratory protection
• Defective wiring
• Unsafe trucks and heavy equipment
• Hazardous energy problems
• Defective machinery and tools
• Equipment lacking safety guards
• Unsafe overhead lifting of objects and materials
• Lack of  barricades blocking off excavations or trenches

Third Party Defendants

A worker who is injured on the job is generally covered by Workers’ Compensation, a type of no-fault insurance designed to provide limited benefits to the injured worker while protecting the employer from being sued for negligence. A person injured in an accident on a construction site will typically apply for Workers’ Comp benefits, which cover medical care and a percentage of lost wages. Workers’ Comp doesn’t pay anything for the non-monetary damages related to your quality of life, such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, disability, and loss of enjoyment of many things that were important to you before the accident. Receiving Workers’ Comp benefits will eliminate the possibility of suing your employer; however there may be parties other than your employer who caused your accident and can be held liable:

• the owner of the property
• a subcontractor on the site
• the manufacturer of  defective equipment
• an architect or engineer

The Right Lawyer for a Construction Accident Injury

When you’ve been injured on a construction site in Texas, regardless of whether you’re collecting Workers’ Compensation benefits, it is often to your advantage to seek out the advice of an experienced construction accident attorney. If the accident was caused by the careless or negligent act of someone other than yourself or your employer, it might be possible for you to recover monetary compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. This will usually require hiring a personal injury lawyer who has access to a team of experts to investigate your accident in detail and determine what party or parties connected to the project might be liable for your injury.

Houston Construction Accident Attorneys

When you need a lawyer who knows the construction industry and who has the legal knowledge, resources, and experience to launch a vigorous investigation to prove your case, call the Houston accident attorneys at Gordon & Elias, LLP and ask to speak with one of our construction accident attorneys. With sixty years of combined legal experience and a sterling reputation in the legal community, you can count on us to pursue fair compensation for all your losses. The consultation is free, and we never accept payment until you receive a recovery check. Contact us today. No recovery, no bill!