Texas Work Injury Lawyer

Texas Workplace Injury Statistics

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, in 2016, Texas had a private sector workplace injury and illness rate of 2.2 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers. The total number of non-fatal illnesses and injuries that year was 185,299.

Within the goods-producing sectors, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting had the highest rate of injury and illness at 4.1 per 100 full-time workers. Construction had a rate of 2.0, and manufacturing had a rate of 2.5.

Among the service-providing sectors, transportation and warehousing had the highest rate at 3.8. This was followed by retail at a rate of 3.1 and trade, transportation, and utilities with a rate of 3.0. The financial, insurance, and real estate trade had the lowest rate for a service-providing sector at .09.

In 2016, there were also 545 fatal workplace injuries in Texas. This was a 3 percent rise from the year before, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Texas’ fatal occupational injury rate was 4.4 per 100,000 full-time employees.

With fatal injuries, transportation incidents were the most common cause. The second most common fatal injury was falling, followed by contact with equipment and objects. These are not surprising figures. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has dubbed falls, being struck by objects, and being caught-in or between objects as three of the “Fatal Four” within the construction industry and other private sectors.

Common Workplace Accidents

Accidents are caused by many factors. Busy warehouses like Amazon are just one of the many places that have created created unsafe work environments for employees, leading to worker injury. Our workplace injury lawyers at The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers handle claims arising from a wide range of work-related incidents. Some of the most common accidents we handle are:

Construction Accidents

Construction workers face a high risk of injury, particularly around construction vehicles and machinery, high structures, and in work zones open to passenger vehicles. All it takes is for one person to be careless, and you could end up seriously hurt. You also are exposed to potentially harmful substances, materials, and environments. If someone’s negligence causes you to get sick, call us right away.

Work-Related Auto Accidents

Transportation accidents while at work are all too common. You may be struck by another vehicle or machine while in a vehicle. This auto accident could cause serious injuries. You also could be struck by a vehicle while on the ground. Back-over and blind spot accidents are common. If you were struck while you were unprotected, you may suffer from catastrophic injuries. After a work-related vehicle accident, you should contact a work accident lawyer for help.

Forklift Accidents

Forklifts are used in many sectors, including warehousing, retail, and construction. These vehicles may look easy to use compared to other equipment. However, operators require specific training and licensing. If someone operates a forklift without the proper qualifications or permission, or they operate it carelessly, they can cause a serious accident. If you were injured in an incident involving a forklift, do not hesitate to contact us about your legal options.

Heavy Equipment & Machinery Accidents

In many industries, you are often surrounded by large and heavy pieces of equipment and machinery. You may use some of these items, or you may work around them. In either case, you or the operators need the proper training, qualifications, and supervision. Without these elements, the risk of incidents involving equipment and machinery is high.

Oilfield Accidents

Texas is a popular U.S. state for oil and natural gas production. There are more than a dozen fields throughout the state, including the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale. Getting oil from these fields takes a great deal of work. If you work in one of these fields, you face a number of hazards every day, including toxic gases and liquids like hydrogen sulfide, silica, mercury, explosions, falls, vehicle accidents, struck by objects, and high-pressure lines. If you were injured while working on an oilfield, call a work accident attorney as soon as you can.

FELA & Railroad Worker Claims

Numerous freight carriers and passenger rails run through Texas. This means the state has a large number of workers involved with trains, tracks, and rail stations. As one of these workers, you face several hazards while on duty. However, if you are injured, you may not go through the same process as someone injured on a Texas construction site or in a store. Your injuries and compensation may be covered by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). You should contact our FELA attorneys to discuss your legal options right away.

Common Work-Related Injuries

If you get injured at work, you should contact an attorney who can review the situation, explain your rights, and guide you through the process of recovering compensation. Whether you are suffering from moderate injuries, and you expect a full recovery, or you have experienced debilitating injuries, you deserve to seek compensation. You deserve to have a lawyer who will fight for you and seek to maximize your economic and non-economic damages.

At The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, our work injury lawyers, handle claims involving the most common workplace injuries:

• Lacerations
• Soft tissue injuries
• Bone fractures
• Dislocated joints
• Amputations
• Neck and back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Nerve damage
• Hearing loss
• Vision loss
• Respiratory injuries
• Scarring

Whatever injury you are suffering from, call The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers right away.

If I Get Hurt at Work, Do I Get Paid?

If you were injured while working, in most circumstances you will have the right to some level of financial benefits or compensation. However, your options for compensation and the amount you may receive depend on various factors, including who is responsible for your injuries, whether you have workers’ compensation insurance, whether you can pursue a third-party liability claim, the severity of your injuries, your financial losses, and more.

After being hurt at work, call a workplace injury attorney to discuss your options for compensation.

Injury at Work Rights: When You May File a Third-Party Claim

If you got injured at work, you have rights. However, they will differ depending on the circumstances. It is important you determine whether you have a workers’ compensation claim or not, and whether you have a third-party claim or not.

At The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, our workplace accident attorneys represent individuals in third-party liability claims. If a coworker or supervisor caused your injuries, and you have workers’ comp insurance, then you will receive workers’ comp benefits after making a workplace injury report. However, if someone from outside of your employer caused you harm, then you may have a third-party claim.

During a third-party claim, the party that caused you harm may work for another business. For example, on construction sites, there are often multiple businesses and subcontractors. You could be injured by someone working on the same site for a different company.

You could be injured by a pedestrian or someone entirely uninvolved with your work. For example, if you are a construction worker who was working on the side of a road, you could be struck by a driver who was speeding through the work zone.

Your injuries could be the result of a defective product. If you were hurt while working because of a defective and dangerous product, then the product manufacturer or retailer may be liable for your injuries.

Another example of a third-party claim is if you were injured during a violent incident. This is, unfortunately, becoming a more common scenario, such as if someone were to perpetrate a workplace shooting. In these situations, if the offender comes into the environment to intentionally cause people harm you may have a third-party claim against the perpetrator.

I Was Injured on the Job, Can I Sue my Employer?

At The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, we are often asked whether someone can sue their employer after a suffering a workplace injury. The answer is that it depends. If you have workers’ compensation coverage, then you cannot typically sue your employer for your damages.

If workers’ comp insurance does not cover you, and a coworker or supervisor was at fault for your injuries, you may be able to file a claim against your employer and pursue work injury damages.

You may also be able to file a lawsuit if a specific coworker or your employer injured you because of their gross negligence or intentional misconduct. For instance, if a worker assaulted you while on duty, this could lead to a legal claim.

It is unwise to make assumptions about filing lawsuits against your employer after a workplace accident. Instead, you should always speak with a work-related injury attorney to determine your legal rights and potential compensation.

Work Injury Compensation in TX

If you have a valid third-party liability claim, then your attorney will discuss its potential value. Depending on your circumstances, you may pursue compensation for your:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Scarring and other disfigurement
• Disability
• Reduced earning capacity
• Loss of normal life
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of intimate relationship with a spouse

The more serious your injuries, typically, the greater the compensation you can request. This is because more serious injuries often correspond to more time off work, disfigurements or disabilities, and severe physical pain and emotional suffering. Additionally, catastrophic injuries often lead to a loss of normal life and a significantly reduced earning potential, both of which can be compensated for.

However, you should not assume your accident-at-work claim is worth a certain amount without speaking to an attorney.