Workplace Accidents: Beyond Workers' Compensation
Texas construction and industrial workers face the nation's most dangerous job sites. Falls kill 48% of construction workers. Industrial explosions are routine. When companies skip safety to save money, workers pay with their lives.
Common Workplace Accidents
How Texas Job SitesKill and Injure Workers
Construction Accidents
48% of construction deaths are falls
- Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs (48% of deaths)
- Struck by falling objects or equipment
- Electrocution (8.5% of construction deaths)
- Caught between equipment or structures
- Trench cave-ins and excavation accidents
- Crane tip-overs and lifting accidents
Common causes: Inadequate fall protection, poor safety training, rushed schedules
$8.2M settlement - Construction fall from unsecured scaffolding
Manufacturing Injuries
Machine entanglement leads to amputations
- Machine entanglement and crush injuries
- Chemical exposure and burns
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Equipment malfunctions and explosions
- Forklift and conveyor accidents
- Inadequate lockout/tagout procedures
Common causes: Missing safety guards, inadequate training, poor maintenance
$12.5M verdict - Machine entanglement amputation
Oil & Gas Accidents
203 offshore injuries in 2024 alone
- Blowout injuries and explosions
- H₂S and toxic gas exposure
- Equipment failures and fires
- Transportation accidents to/from sites
- Drilling and fracking accidents
- Pipeline explosions and leaks
Common causes: Pressure to meet deadlines, inadequate equipment maintenance
$18.7M settlement - H₂S exposure permanent disability
Warehouse & Logistics
Frito-Lay $71.95M settlement shows scale
- Forklift accidents and tip-overs
- Loading dock falls and accidents
- Falling merchandise and pallets
- Repetitive stress from lifting
- Vehicle collisions in yard
- Conveyor belt entanglement
Common causes: Understaffing, inadequate training, pressure for speed
$71.95M settlement - Frito-Lay warehouse fatality
Texas Workplace Injury Law
Why Texas WorkersHave Stronger Rights
Texas is the only state where employers can opt out of workers compensation. This creates unique opportunities for injured workers to pursue full compensation.
Non-Subscriber Option
59% of Texas employers opt out of workers compensation
Benefit: Can sue employer directly for negligence
Recovery: 2-5x higher than workers comp
Comparative Negligence
Can be up to 49% at fault and still recover
Benefit: 51% recovery even if partially at fault
Recovery: No complete bar to recovery
No Damage Caps
Unlike medical malpractice, no caps on workplace injury damages
Benefit: Full compensation for all losses
Recovery: Economic + non-economic damages
2-Year Statute
Two years from injury date to file lawsuit
Benefit: More time than most injury claims
Recovery: Longer to build strong case
Common Safety Violations
How Employers CutSafety Corners
Safety violations aren't accidents—they're calculated business decisions. When employers prioritize profits over protection, we make them pay the full cost.
OSHA Violations
Penalties: Up to $15,625 per violation
Common Examples:
- Fall protection failures
- Inadequate machine guarding
- Electrical safety violations
- Hazard communication failures
- Personal protective equipment violations
Legal Impact:
Evidence of negligence per se
Training Failures
Penalties: Increased damages for willful disregard
Common Examples:
- No safety orientation for new workers
- Inadequate equipment-specific training
- Language barrier training issues
- No refresher or update training
- Supervisory training deficiencies
Legal Impact:
Direct evidence of employer negligence
Equipment Maintenance
Penalties: Punitive damages for reckless conduct
Common Examples:
- Deferred maintenance programs
- Using equipment beyond safe limits
- Inadequate inspection schedules
- Ignoring manufacturer guidelines
- Cost-cutting on safety equipment
Legal Impact:
Strict liability for defective conditions
The Bottom Line on Workplace Safety
Workplace accidents aren't acts of God—they're predictable results of corporate cost-cutting. When companies choose profits over people, Texas law gives injured workers powerful tools to fight back. Non-subscriber employers gambled that they could avoid workers comp costs. When someone gets hurt, they pay the full price.
Injured at work in Texas?
Your rights depend on whether your employer is a non-subscriber or has workers compensation. Either way, we know how to maximize your recovery under Texas law.