Harker Heights Construction Accident Lawyer
Whether you work from scaffolding at great heights, operate heavy equipment, or are suspended at the top of an unfinished building, construction sites are hazardous places. Competent supervision, adequate training, and safety equipment such as hard hats and harnesses help, but sometimes accidents occur.
If you are an employee or a third-party worker hurt at a construction site, a Harker Heights construction accident lawyer is available to investigate your situation to determine fault and liability for the harm you suffered. Reach out to a dedicated personal injury attorney to discuss your options for compensation.
What to Do if an Employer is Not Insured for Workers’ Compensation
According to Texas Code Sec. 406.002, employers do not have to carry workers’ compensation insurance to pay an injured employee’s lost wages and medical bills for on-the-job injuries.
In these situations, a Harker Heights construction accident attorney would review the circumstances of a construction accident and, if the elements of negligence are met, file a lawsuit against the responsible party, whether it be an employer, supervisor, independent contractor, or even the manufacturer of faulty construction equipment.
Types of Workplace Injuries in Harker Heights
The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for inspecting job sites and monitoring safety protocols. It reports that construction industry fatalities make up one in five private sector deaths, most notably caused by “the fatal four” accidents: falls, caught-between accidents, struck-by accidents, and electrocution.
Falls
Falls are the number one cause of accidents at construction sites. They can result from slipping on a liquid-covered surface, stumbling over construction debris, falling off a ladder, or falling from a building under construction. Injuries can be minor, such as cuts, abrasions, and lacerations, or they can result in broken bones, head trauma, and even death. If someone else’s negligence causes the fall, such as another employee who spills the slick liquid and fails to clean it up, a lawsuit may be viable.
Caught-Between Accidents
Severe injury and death can result when construction workers are caught between heavy machinery, compressed by equipment, or caught and crushed by a collapsing building.
Struck-By Accidents
Construction workers can be struck by almost anything on the job: other people, machinery in motion, or falling construction debris. Some accidents are just that and are not caused by negligence. For instance, if a worker is about to be struck by flying debris but is pushed out of the way, sustaining injuries, the fellow worker who pushed the injured one would not be liable for negligence because the actions were those of a reasonable person.
Electrocution
Since many power tools are used at construction sites, many power cords usually snake the sites. A severed power cord or contact with an overhead or underground power could lead to severe electric shocks and burns, and even electrocution.
Not all construction accidents end in death. And other accidents might include those caused by unqualified supervisors and companies that fail to train workers adequately. Many injured workers will lose wages, incur high medical bills, and suffer great pain. A Harker Heights construction accident attorney could calculate a client’s losses and file a lawsuit against the negligent party that caused them.
Time is Limited for Filing Claims
Under Texas Code Sec. 16.003, construction accidents are personal injuries. The Texas Statute of Limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits is within two years of the damage. Some exceptions apply.
Schedule a Consultation With a Harker Heights Construction Accident Attorney
If your employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, and you are injured on your job, or you are a third-party independent contractor hurt on a construction site, you need an advocate in the courts, from filing a negligence lawsuit to arguing your case before a jury.
A Harker Heights construction accident lawyer is standing by to help you. Schedule your initial consultation today and learn what rights you have to recover compensation from the party whose recklessness harmed you.
