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Construction Accidents: What to Know and When to Get Legal Help
Construction sites are dynamic environments that involve numerous hazards and risks. Despite strict safety regulations and precautions, accidents can still occur, leading to devastating consequences for workers and even bystanders. If you or someone you know has been involved in a construction accident, it’s crucial to understand your rights and know when to seek legal help.
In this article, the construction accident lawyers at Wham & Rogers explore the key aspects of construction accidents, the potential injuries involved, and when it’s beneficial to consult with a legal professional. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us at (832) 592-1108.
Common Construction Accidents and Injuries
Construction sites are replete with potential hazards, and accidents can occur in various forms. Some of the most common construction accidents include:
- Falls: Falls from heights, such as roofs or scaffolding, are a leading cause of construction site injuries. These accidents often result from inadequate safety measures, lack of fall protection, or defective equipment.
- Struck by Objects: Construction workers are at risk of being struck by heavy objects or machinery. Falling tools, building materials, or moving vehicles can cause severe injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or even fatalities.
- Electrocution: Construction sites have a high risk of electrical accidents. Faulty wiring, inadequate grounding, or contact with overhead power lines can lead to electric shocks, burns, and even death.
- Trench Collapses: Excavation work poses a significant danger, with the potential for trenches to collapse. Workers caught in a trench collapse can suffer from crush injuries, asphyxiation, or suffocation.
- Machinery Accidents: The use of heavy machinery and equipment on construction sites increases the risk of accidents. Malfunctioning machinery, improper operation, or lack of proper training can result in severe injuries, including amputations, crush injuries, or limb fractures.
- Chemical Exposure: Construction sites often involve the use of hazardous substances. Accidental exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to respiratory problems, burns, or long-term health issues.
Construction sites have some inherent risks to those working onsite, as well as those who may be nearby. It is important that construction site owners and operators properly train workers and ensure that construction sites are as safe as possible.
What are the Common Causes of Construction Accidents?
Construction sites are inherently hazardous environments, and accidents can occur due to a variety of factors. Some common causes of construction accidents include:
- Electrocution: Construction sites involve the use of electricity, and those nearby may face the risk of electric shocks or electrocution. Contact with live wires, faulty wiring, improper grounding, or inadequate electrical safety measures can result in serious injuries or fatalities.
- Trench Collapses: Excavation work poses a significant risk, particularly in trenches and excavations. A trench collapse can lead to workers being buried under soil or construction materials, causing injuries or death. Failure to provide proper shoring or protective systems, inadequate training, or unstable soil conditions contribute to these accidents.
- Machinery Accidents: Construction sites utilize heavy machinery and equipment, which can cause accidents if not used properly or if there are mechanical failures. Malfunctioning equipment, lack of safety guards, improper training, or inadequate maintenance can result in workers being caught
- Chemical Exposure: Construction workers may be exposed to hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead, solvents, or toxic gases. Failure to provide proper personal protective equipment, inadequate ventilation, or improper handling of chemicals can lead to respiratory problems, burns, or long-term health issues.
- Structural Collapses: Structural collapses, such as building or scaffold failures, pose significant dangers to construction workers. Poorly constructed or maintained structures, lack of structural integrity, or failure to follow engineering specifications contribute to these accidents.
- Fires and Explosions: Construction sites involve the use of flammable materials, welding, or cutting equipment, which can lead to fires and explosions. Improper storage of flammable substances, failure to follow safety protocols, or lack of fire prevention measures can result in severe injuries or fatalities.
- Inadequate Training and Supervision: Insufficient training and lack of supervision contribute to many construction accidents. Workers need proper training on equipment operation, safety procedures, and hazard recognition to mitigate risks effectively. Inadequate supervision may lead to unsafe work practices or shortcuts that can result in accidents.
This list is not exhaustive. There are many potential causes for construction site accidents and injuries. The list above is, however, the most common causes that are frequently reported in accident reports and lawsuits.
Understanding Your Rights
If you’ve been involved in a construction accident, it’s crucial to understand your rights and legal options. In most cases, injured workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation provides medical coverage, wage replacement, and disability benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses, regardless of fault.
However, there are instances where workers’ compensation may not fully cover the damages suffered or when a third party is responsible for the accident. For example, if a defective product caused the injury, the manufacturer or distributor could be held liable. Additionally, if a subcontractor or another non-employer party’s negligence contributed to the accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
When to Seek Legal Help
While workers’ compensation is designed to provide timely benefits, navigating the legal aspects can be complex. Additionally, if you don’t qualify for workers’ compensation, you could be left feeling overwhelmed with your medical expenses or lost wages. In such cases, it can be helpful to seek the guidance of a construction accident lawyer.
Here are a few indicators that it’s time to seek legal assistance:
- Severe Injuries: If your injuries are severe, causing long-term disabilities, permanent disfigurement, or impacting your ability to work and earn a living, consulting with a personal injury attorney is advisable. They can help assess the true value of your claim, including future medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
- Third-Party Liability: If a third party, such as a contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner, contributed to your accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced attorney can investigate the circumstances, identify liable parties, and build a strong case on your behalf.
- Compliance Issues: Construction sites are subject to numerous safety regulations and standards. If the accident occurred due to a violation of safety regulations or inadequate safety measures, consulting an attorney with expertise in construction accidents is essential. They can help determine if negligence or non-compliance played a role in the accident and hold the responsible parties accountable.
- Complex Legal Procedures: Dealing with legal procedures, paperwork, and insurance companies can be overwhelming, especially when you are recovering from injuries. An experienced attorney can handle all the legal aspects of your case, including gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and representing your interests in court if necessary. This allows you to focus on your recovery while ensuring your rights are protected.
It is important to note that each case is unique, and the circumstances surrounding construction accidents can vary. Consulting with a personal injury attorney who specializes in construction accidents will provide you with personalized advice based on the specifics of your situation. They can guide you through the legal process, protect your rights, and help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.
Get a Free Construction Accident Consultation
If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact Wham & Rogers for a free consultation. Our lawyers have an abundance of experience helping injury victims pursue compensation. Our Board Certified personal injury lawyer has the knowledge and resources you need to obtain maximum compensation.
Get started by calling us at (832) 592-1108, or by completing our online form.
The first step you should take is to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney. Losing a family member to violence or an accident is a staggering blow. It can be hard to know what steps to take and how to protect your family. Wham & Rogers offers experienced, compassionate representation to families suffering from the wrongful death of a spouse, parent or child. If your spouse, parent or child has suffered a fatal injury in an accident or due to the violent act of another, it is important to retain an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible so the attorney can gather and preserve critical evidence before it is destroyed. What damages are recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit? Economic damages , such as medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages and loss of household services can be recovered in a wrongful death claim. Non-economic damages such as emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and mental anguish are recoverable. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the person causing the death acted with malice or gross negligence. These damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and to act as a deterrent to others who may engage in the same wrongful behavior. How long do I have to make a claim for wrongful death? As a general rule, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of the negligence resulting in the fatality . This means you will have two years from the date of the negligence to file suit. However, it is advisable to retain a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible since it is important to gather evidence before it is destroyed. Which family members have a right to file a wrongful death claim? The surviving spouse, children and parents of the person who died has a right to bring a wrongful death claim. If the spouse, children or parents don’t bring the wrongful death claim, then the executor or administrator of the estate has the right to bring the wrongful death claim. What is a survival claim? If your family member did not die immediately, a personal injury claim may be filed for treatment expenses and each beneficiary of the estate may receive a portion of the recovery. Who can be held responsible for the wrongful death of my family member? A person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally caused the death of a person may be held responsible. Examples of wrongful death claims include trucking and automobile collisions, medical negligence, products liability, on the job injuries, and deaths due to inadequate security of premises. How do you prove a wrongful death case in Texas? In Texas, you must prove that a legal duty owed to the deceased was breached, causing the wrongful death. For example, there is a legal duty to operate a truck in accordance with the traffic laws in Texas. If the truck driver is speeding or fails to keep a proper lookout causing a wrongful death, that duty is breached and the trucking company may be liable for the wrongful death. How do I pay for a wrongful death lawsuit? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers handle wrongful death cases on a contingency basis. This means that you do not have to pay us unless there is a monetary recovery in the wrongful death claim. The attorneys at Wham & Rogers are experienced in handling wrongful death claims with skill, kindness and compassion. Please call 832-592-1108 , or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
We receive calls daily from injured people who can’t find a doctor to treat them. Their primary care physician won’t see them, and they can’t find an orthopedic specialist who will see them. Sometimes, doctors walk out of the examination room once they find that the patient was in an accident . Why is this happening? There are a number of reasons doctors do not want to see injured patients. Delays in payment by health insurance companies: Health insurance companies may take the position that the patient’s auto insurance personal injury protection coverage is primary and should pay before the health insurance pays. Doctors do not want to wait to be paid until after this issue is sorted out. Health insurance may not pay until subrogation (right to be reimbursed) issues are taken care of, so that the health insurance company knows it will be paid back from any settlement. Harassment by auto insurance companies: Doctors who treat injured patients have become a target of auto insurance companies. Insurance defense attorneys send extremely burdensome, overly broad depositions on written questions (questionnaires) requiring the doctors to dig through years of data about payments received for treating injured patients. Auto insurance companies have also sued doctors who treat injured people, accusing them of fraud, conspiracy and the like. Auto insurers accuse doctors of performing unneeded treatment and/or overcharging for treatment. Auto insurers also retain “hired guns” to testify against treating doctors, criticizing the treating doctor’s every decision, even though the “hired gun” has never seen the patient. Why do insurance companies use these tactics? They want to make it harder for people to receive treatment so they can pay less to injured claimants and increase insurance company profits. How can I find a doctor to treat me following my accident? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers can help facilitate prompt medical treatment for you. Sometimes it is just a matter of letting the health insurance company know their subrogation interests (right to be reimbursed) will be protected. We can also help injured clients access their personal injury protection coverage to pay some of their medical bills. If you have been injured and are having trouble finding a doctor to treat you, please give Wham & Rogers a call at 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
Each year, 600 Texans are killed and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. After a trucking crash, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act after a crash occurs. They immediately send experts to the crash site, photographing and measuring the roadway and interviewing the witnesses. So if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, letters requiring preservation of evidence should be sent immediately to the trucking company and to its insurers. Your lawyer should retain experts to perform computerized mapping of the crash site and to download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler. And then after that, a qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulations that are critical to handling a truck crash claim. If you've been hit by a truck or commercial vehicle in The Woodlands, Spring or Conroe, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Please give us a call at (832) 592-1108 for a free consultation, or submit the contact form here.
What are the Most Dangerous Vehicles on Our Roads? 18 -wheelers are the deadliest vehicles on our highways. Each year, 600 Texans are killed, and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. It’s obvious why 18-wheelers are so dangerous. They weigh twenty to thirty times more than passenger cars, have a much higher ground clearance, and require twenty to forty percent further to stop. Do Truck Drivers Have to Comply with Higher Safety Standards? Because of these dangers, the Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require higher standards for commercial drivers; driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle requires a higher level of knowledge, skill, and physical abilities than is required of other drivers. Truck drivers must know the safety rules and follow them. Trucking companies must have safety policies and implement safety training programs. Truckers must conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of their trucks. Why is Quick Action Essential After a Trucking Collision? If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act when a crash occurs. They send experts to the crash site, to photograph and measure the roadway, and to interview witnesses in order to try to minimize their liability. You need someone acting on your behalf to gather evidence and to ensure evidence is not destroyed. What Must be Done to Preserve Evidence Following a Collision With a Big Rig? Preservation of evidence letters should be sent to the trucking company and its insurers. Experts should be retained to perform computerized mapping of the crash site, and to download the 18 wheeler's electronic control module. A qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulation violations that are critical to handling truck crash claims. When we investigate trucking collisions, we often find that trucking companies fail to implement and follow adequate safety procedures, including failing to conduct the proper pre- and post-trip inspections. These failures to follow safety procedures often lead to otherwise avoidable collisions. Which Law Firm Should I Hire After an 18-Wheeler Collision? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers have the expertise and resources to handle trucking cases. We can get experts to the scene and have them gather data and download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler before vital evidence is lost or destroyed. If you or a loved one has been in a collision with an 18-wheeler, the lawyers at Wham & Rogers can help you. Call 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. None of the information on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
The first step you should take is to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney. Losing a family member to violence or an accident is a staggering blow. It can be hard to know what steps to take and how to protect your family. Wham & Rogers offers experienced, compassionate representation to families suffering from the wrongful death of a spouse, parent or child. If your spouse, parent or child has suffered a fatal injury in an accident or due to the violent act of another, it is important to retain an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible so the attorney can gather and preserve critical evidence before it is destroyed. What damages are recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit? Economic damages , such as medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages and loss of household services can be recovered in a wrongful death claim. Non-economic damages such as emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and mental anguish are recoverable. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the person causing the death acted with malice or gross negligence. These damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and to act as a deterrent to others who may engage in the same wrongful behavior. How long do I have to make a claim for wrongful death? As a general rule, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of the negligence resulting in the fatality . This means you will have two years from the date of the negligence to file suit. However, it is advisable to retain a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible since it is important to gather evidence before it is destroyed. Which family members have a right to file a wrongful death claim? The surviving spouse, children and parents of the person who died has a right to bring a wrongful death claim. If the spouse, children or parents don’t bring the wrongful death claim, then the executor or administrator of the estate has the right to bring the wrongful death claim. What is a survival claim? If your family member did not die immediately, a personal injury claim may be filed for treatment expenses and each beneficiary of the estate may receive a portion of the recovery. Who can be held responsible for the wrongful death of my family member? A person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally caused the death of a person may be held responsible. Examples of wrongful death claims include trucking and automobile collisions, medical negligence, products liability, on the job injuries, and deaths due to inadequate security of premises. How do you prove a wrongful death case in Texas? In Texas, you must prove that a legal duty owed to the deceased was breached, causing the wrongful death. For example, there is a legal duty to operate a truck in accordance with the traffic laws in Texas. If the truck driver is speeding or fails to keep a proper lookout causing a wrongful death, that duty is breached and the trucking company may be liable for the wrongful death. How do I pay for a wrongful death lawsuit? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers handle wrongful death cases on a contingency basis. This means that you do not have to pay us unless there is a monetary recovery in the wrongful death claim. The attorneys at Wham & Rogers are experienced in handling wrongful death claims with skill, kindness and compassion. Please call 832-592-1108 , or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
We receive calls daily from injured people who can’t find a doctor to treat them. Their primary care physician won’t see them, and they can’t find an orthopedic specialist who will see them. Sometimes, doctors walk out of the examination room once they find that the patient was in an accident . Why is this happening? There are a number of reasons doctors do not want to see injured patients. Delays in payment by health insurance companies: Health insurance companies may take the position that the patient’s auto insurance personal injury protection coverage is primary and should pay before the health insurance pays. Doctors do not want to wait to be paid until after this issue is sorted out. Health insurance may not pay until subrogation (right to be reimbursed) issues are taken care of, so that the health insurance company knows it will be paid back from any settlement. Harassment by auto insurance companies: Doctors who treat injured patients have become a target of auto insurance companies. Insurance defense attorneys send extremely burdensome, overly broad depositions on written questions (questionnaires) requiring the doctors to dig through years of data about payments received for treating injured patients. Auto insurance companies have also sued doctors who treat injured people, accusing them of fraud, conspiracy and the like. Auto insurers accuse doctors of performing unneeded treatment and/or overcharging for treatment. Auto insurers also retain “hired guns” to testify against treating doctors, criticizing the treating doctor’s every decision, even though the “hired gun” has never seen the patient. Why do insurance companies use these tactics? They want to make it harder for people to receive treatment so they can pay less to injured claimants and increase insurance company profits. How can I find a doctor to treat me following my accident? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers can help facilitate prompt medical treatment for you. Sometimes it is just a matter of letting the health insurance company know their subrogation interests (right to be reimbursed) will be protected. We can also help injured clients access their personal injury protection coverage to pay some of their medical bills. If you have been injured and are having trouble finding a doctor to treat you, please give Wham & Rogers a call at 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
Each year, 600 Texans are killed and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. After a trucking crash, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act after a crash occurs. They immediately send experts to the crash site, photographing and measuring the roadway and interviewing the witnesses. So if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, letters requiring preservation of evidence should be sent immediately to the trucking company and to its insurers. Your lawyer should retain experts to perform computerized mapping of the crash site and to download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler. And then after that, a qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulations that are critical to handling a truck crash claim. If you've been hit by a truck or commercial vehicle in The Woodlands, Spring or Conroe, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Please give us a call at (832) 592-1108 for a free consultation, or submit the contact form here.
What are the Most Dangerous Vehicles on Our Roads? 18 -wheelers are the deadliest vehicles on our highways. Each year, 600 Texans are killed, and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. It’s obvious why 18-wheelers are so dangerous. They weigh twenty to thirty times more than passenger cars, have a much higher ground clearance, and require twenty to forty percent further to stop. Do Truck Drivers Have to Comply with Higher Safety Standards? Because of these dangers, the Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require higher standards for commercial drivers; driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle requires a higher level of knowledge, skill, and physical abilities than is required of other drivers. Truck drivers must know the safety rules and follow them. Trucking companies must have safety policies and implement safety training programs. Truckers must conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of their trucks. Why is Quick Action Essential After a Trucking Collision? If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act when a crash occurs. They send experts to the crash site, to photograph and measure the roadway, and to interview witnesses in order to try to minimize their liability. You need someone acting on your behalf to gather evidence and to ensure evidence is not destroyed. What Must be Done to Preserve Evidence Following a Collision With a Big Rig? Preservation of evidence letters should be sent to the trucking company and its insurers. Experts should be retained to perform computerized mapping of the crash site, and to download the 18 wheeler's electronic control module. A qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulation violations that are critical to handling truck crash claims. When we investigate trucking collisions, we often find that trucking companies fail to implement and follow adequate safety procedures, including failing to conduct the proper pre- and post-trip inspections. These failures to follow safety procedures often lead to otherwise avoidable collisions. Which Law Firm Should I Hire After an 18-Wheeler Collision? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers have the expertise and resources to handle trucking cases. We can get experts to the scene and have them gather data and download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler before vital evidence is lost or destroyed. If you or a loved one has been in a collision with an 18-wheeler, the lawyers at Wham & Rogers can help you. Call 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
1. Do I really need a personal injury lawyer? Yes, if you have a significant injury, choosing the right lawyer to handle your injury claim matters. Now more than ever, having the right lawyer can make a tremendous difference for the success of your claim. Insurance companies use sophisticated negotiation tactics to help them minimize your claim, or even avoid paying altogether. And make no mistake—the claims adjuster is not on your side. The adjuster, in a very real sense, is your opponent, and is specifically trained to make sure you don’t receive the maximum recovery you’re entitled to. 2. Does it really make a difference which lawyer I hire? Absolutely. The stronger your lawyer, the stronger your claim. Insurance companies keep track of which lawye rs have the experience, the resources, and the willingness to fight for their clients. They know which law firms are high-volume firms looking for a quick, easy settlement, and which lawyers are willing to do the hard work of fighting to get full justice. We have had clients contact us because a high-volume firm dropped their case after the insurance company “denied liability” and refused to pay quickly. 3. How do I find the best personal injury attorney? First, look at the lawyer’s qualifications and credentials. For example, the State Bar of Texas has a Board of Legal Specialization that certifies lawyers who are experts at handling personal injury claims. Fewer than 3% of Texas lawyers are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. You should also check the lawyer’s ethics. One of the best sources is Martindale-Hubbel’s attorney ratings. The highest rating is AV-Preeminent—which means the lawyer is considered ethical by his peers and has demonstrated the highest level of competence. Next, consider the size of the firm. If you are represented by a large law firm, chances are you will not be represented by the best, most experienced lawyer at that firm, and your case will instead be “handed down” to an associate for handling. Hiring a “boutique” litigation firm, with fewer lawyers handling fewer cases, will mean that the firm’s top lawyers are directly involved in the handling of your claim. Beware of firms that advertise “billions of dollars in past recoveries.” Quite often, those recoveries include class action case results, involving thousands of clients, with each client receiving a relatively small recovery. Look instead for a lawyer who has a record of achieving substantial recoveries for individual clients. Find a lawyer who has “been there, done that.” Specific experience is important, so look for a lawyer who has widespread experience handling serious injury claims, including wrongful death claims, truck crash cases, and complex cases involving complicated injuries such as paralysis and traumatic brain injury. Wham & Rogers attorneys have over 70 years combined experience in personal injury law. Mark Wham is Board Certified in Personal Injury Law. Rene Rogers has been AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbel for 30 years. Ryan Wham attended one of the best law schools in the country, the University of Texas School of law and was a member of UT’s prestigious Law Review. Prior to going to work for his parents at Wham & Rogers, Ryan worked at one of the largest law firms in the world. If you are looking for a highly qualified, experienced personal injury firm, contact Wham & Rogers for a free consultation. Call 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 .
We are often asked whether pedestrians or cars have the right of way on pathways and at intersections. Many trails or pathways which cross intersections have stop signs. Pedestrians and bicyclists must obey these signs when they come to an intersection. When approaching an intersection, pedestrians should always stop and look both ways before crossing the intersection. If there is a traffic control device, pedestrians should always wait for the “walk” light to be illuminated before proceeding. Pedestrians, cyclists, and runners should slow down to allow enough time when nearing an intersection that is not controlled by a traffic signal.
What does my insurance company have to pay me for a car wreck? Do they have to replace my vehicle?
Take these steps after a collision to protect you and your rights in a Houston, The Woodlands and Spring car crash.
Two wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against Panera Bread Co.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. None of the information on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The verdicts and settlements listed are representative and are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of other claims.
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