San Antonio Trench Accident Lawyer
Construction workers are often at much higher risk of on-the-job injuries than those in other industries. Trench collapses can cause both lifelong physical injuries and lasting trauma. If you or a loved one was injured on a job site, a San Antonio trench accident lawyer can help. Your construction accident attorney can determine what types of compensation you may qualify for and guide you through the process so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
How Do Trench Accidents Happen on Construction Sites?
Workers often need to dig trenches to bury wiring or plumbing or to reach the underground portion of the construction site for other reasons. Trenches can collapse if they are dug improperly or if the ground is too soft. When this happens, workers can be trapped under the dirt, which can cause crush injuries, suffocation, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. To prevent collapses, trench walls should be sloped and supported, and workers should not leave other supplies and materials at the edge of the trench.
Workers may not take these safety precautions because they feel pressure to stick to a strict deadline, they do not have proper training, or they are simply careless. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so the cause of an accident is generally irrelevant for this type of claim. However, if the injured worker is able to file a lawsuit, they will need to prove that someone else was negligent. In these cases, how the accident happened and who was responsible will be very important. An attorney in San Antonio can guide an injured person through the trench accident lawsuit process.
When Does an Injured Worker Need a Trench Accident Lawyer?
Filing a workers’ compensation claim is relatively simple, so injured workers are usually able to do this on their own. However, filing a personal injury lawsuit is much more complicated and difficult for an injured person to do themselves. There are two situations where an injured person could file a lawsuit instead of a workers’ compensation claim. First, if a third party is involved in the accident, the injured worker can sue this outside person or company, even if they also receive workers’ compensation benefits. Second, Texas employers can opt out of the workers’ compensation system. When this happens, injured workers can sue their employers.
A successful lawsuit requires proving that the employer was negligent. The injured person’s lawyer will usually need to investigate the accident to find proof of the negligence. Doing this correctly without hurting the injured person’s trench accident case can be difficult, so hiring a San Antonio lawyer is always a good idea. Determining how much compensation to ask for can also be complicated, especially if there is a long-term disability. Many cases settle before going to trial, but this still requires negotiation, which a lawyer will have the expertise to do as successfully as possible.
Discuss Your Trench Accident Case With a San Antonio Attorney Today
Trench accidents can cause serious and life-changing injuries. In San Antonio, employers can choose not to participate in the state workers’ compensation system. When this happens, injured employees need to file personal injury lawsuits instead of workers’ compensation claims. If you have been injured on a construction site, a San Antonio trench accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. Schedule a consultation with Felix Gonzalez Accident and Injury Law Firm today.
