If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an accident on a construction site, you need a construction accident attorney on your side to make sure you get all of the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact the Construction Accident Attorneys at Liggett Law Group today and learn your rights with a free consultation.
Injured construction workers need an experienced construction accident lawyer on your side that has thorough knowledge of Texas Laws, and federal laws and regulations governing construction sites.
Don’t settle for less than maximum case value
NEGLIGENCE LEADS TO CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS
It’s no secret that construction is one of the most dangerous industries for workers. Construction workers face risk of injuries daily from heavy equipment, falling objects, electrocution, and getting stuck in-between or crushed by objects.
Many industries carry the potential for serious injury, however, according to OSHA construction sites are the among the most dangerous places to work. Heavy equipment, falling injuries from scaffolding accidents, falling objects, electrocution accidents, and getting stuck in-between or crushed by objects are just some of the risks construction workers face on a daily basis. These dangers must be recognized, planned for, and precautions must be taken to protect workers from being injured.
Employers are required to provide all necessary training and safety equipment to workers, but employers oftentimes try to cut corners to save money. This puts construction workers at an extreme risk for injury. When they suffer an accident, their employer needs to be held accountable. Construction site negligence on the part of a manager, corporation, or manufacturer could contribute to a workplace injury in ways such as:
Equipment breaks, such as safety harness or crane, due to poor design or upkeep
Failing to adhere to OSHA safety standards
Failing to inspect safety equipment
Failing to properly supervise risky activities
Failing to require proper safety gear
Lack of adequate training for workers
Failure to inspect the workplace for slip, trip, fall, or fire hazards
SERIOUS INJURIES ARE POSSIBLE
These hazards are inevitable in these dangerous industries and safety measures must be put in place to minimize the risk. Nearly all unsafe working conditions and workplace accidents are preventable by employers, simply by implementing basic safety procedures and regulations.
Far too many injuries result because adequate warnings were not given to workers, workers received no training, or because workers were operating machinery without proper supervision. In many cases, heavy machinery or other toxic products were not used according to manufacturer instructions, their design was defective, or they were not properly inspected and/or maintained in the workplace.
Any of these injuries could leave a construction worker with huge medical bills and disabilities. If the injury was caused by the negligence of a company or manufacturer, they should be held liable for paying financial damages for unsafe working conditions.
As the leading employer of construction workers in the U.S., Texas is home to over 100,000 men and women who climb scaffolds, operate forklifts, and fill all the other essential roles in building everything from new offices to renovating old homes, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among the busy schedules and quotes to meet, workers also face a high risk of injuries and even fatalities. The U.S. Department of Labor lists 89 construction fatalities in Texas in 2010, the second highest workplace fatality rate.
With so much heavy equipment, building supplies and other dangerous materials involved, it’s easy to see how construction workers can be injured on the job. When proper precautions are neglected, however, the rate and consequences of incidents increases dramatically.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) provides standards that must be met in every workplace and may cite workplaces that fail to properly train and protect its workers.
COMMON HIGH RISK AREAS IN CONSTRUCTION JOBS
Construction (general safety and health provisions)
Electrical (wiring methods, design and protection)
Excavations (general requirements)
Excavations (requirements for protective systems)
Fall protection (scope, application, definitions)
Fall protection (training requirements)
Hazard communication
Head protection
Ladders
Scaffolding
In the case of an injury, worker’s compensation can sometimes step in to offer an amount of compensation. In some situations, a workplace’s insurance coverage may bar an injured worker from seeking more compensation, but proving liability on the part of another party can often overturn this.
Liable parties can vary greatly depending on the situation, from equipment manufacturers to management at the site. To determine who is responsible for injuries at a work site, the experienced Lubbock construction accident attorneys at Liggett Law Group can help review the details of your case.
Construction Workers’ Compensation, Non-Subscribers, and Third Party Claims
Non-Subscriber Employers
Texas is one of two states that do not require employers to subscribe to the workers’ compensation system. However, employers are still responsible for providing a safe workplace. If a construction worker is injured on the job and their employer does not subscribe to workers’ compensation, he or she can file a lawsuit against the employer to recover compensation.
Third Party Claims
If an employer subscribes to workplace insurance coverage, a worker will have a bar against a direct lawsuit per the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act. However, even with a workers’ comp bar, in many cases, an injured party can overcome this lawsuit barrier by showing that a third party was at fault. Viable third parties can include property owners, engineers, architects, contractors and subcontractors, electricians, and equipment manufacturers. All of these are potential third party defendants that can be sued and held liable for their own negligence and fault when a construction accident occurs.
Construction Accident Compensation
Medical Treatment for Injuries
Accidents on construction sites carry a significant financial burden because victims often need emergency medical treatment. Many will also require multiple surgeries, physical therapy, specialty medical equipment, long-term medications and other expensive medical treatment.
Pain and Suffering
The pain and suffering that occurs after a construction accident are real and can be a major emotional shock to the worker in the accident. Recovery often requires mental health treatment.
Lost Wages
Victims are often unable to work while they are recovering, resulting in lost wages. Some victims may suffer permanent injuries that limit an individual’s earning capacity. Because of the substantial financial burden, an experienced construction accident lawyer such as Ted Liggett, will pursue compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and gross negligence among others.
Contact Ted Liggett Lubbock’s Construction Accident Attorney Today
The task of holding a company financially responsible for an injury or death caused by workplace negligence can be intimidating. An employer has a legal obligation under federal and Texas law to do everything possible to provide workers with a safe working environment.
In addition, machine designers and manufacturers have a legal obligation to ensure their machines can be operated safely.
Insurance companies and their teams of lawyers seek to minimize liability exposure and thus may not want to provide fair compensation for a full recovery after a workplace accident occurs. Finding a knowledgeable, experienced Texas workplace accident attorney is key to obtaining fair compensation for the injuries you suffered.
"I would definitely recommend Ted and his staff to anyone who was injured in a serious accident. They truly cared about what happened to me. When I was hurt in my accident I had no idea what to do, Ted walked me through everything making me feel so comfortable. He noticed when I was confused and/or had questions about a particular topic. Ted was so amazing he was honest, as well as upfront with me about everything right away. He made me feel comfortable about everything. I would highly recommend Ted and his group to anyone I know and I would hope that they would choose the right law group."
Far too many injuries result because adequate warnings were not given to workers, workers received no training, or because workers were operating machinery without proper supervision. In many cases, heavy machinery or other toxic products were not used according to manufacturer instructions, their design was defective, or they were not properly inspected and/or maintained in the workplace.