The construction industry is one of the biggest sectors in the country, employing millions of people and playing a vital role in our economy. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most dangerous industries to work in. Construction workers face serious risks every day, including falls, equipment failures, falling objects, electrical hazards, trench collapses, vehicle accidents, and unsafe jobsite conditions.
If you have been injured on the job and are not sure who to turn to, our Longview personal injury attorneys and legal team can help. At Sorey & Hoover, LLP, we are known for compassionate legal representation, strong advocacy, and the support we give our clients during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. As such, you can trust us to investigate your case, explain your legal options, and determine where compensation may be owed.
We are prepared to assist with your case. Call us now at (903) 230-5600 for a free consultation.
Injured on a Construction Site in Longview or Gregg County?
A construction accident can change your life in seconds. One unsafe decision by a contractor, subcontractor, equipment operator, property owner, or manufacturer can leave a worker with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about when or whether they can return to work.
For many injured construction workers, the first question is whether workers’ compensation applies. For others, the more important question is whether someone outside their employer caused or contributed to the accident. This distinction matters because workers’ compensation benefits may be limited, while a third-party personal injury claim may allow an injured worker to pursue additional damages.
If you were recently injured in a construction accident, it is important to understand that your case may involve more than one potential source of recovery. A Longview construction accident lawyer can review the facts, investigate the jobsite, and help determine whether you may have a workers’ compensation claim, a third-party injury claim, or both.
Common Types of Construction Accidents
Construction sites are active, fast-moving environments where multiple companies may be working at the same time. When safety rules are ignored or communication breaks down, workers can suffer devastating injuries.
Falls From Heights
Falls are among the most common and serious construction accidents. Workers may fall from ladders, scaffolds, roofs, platforms, lifts, unfinished structures, or elevated work areas. These accidents can happen when fall protection is missing, equipment is defective, surfaces are unstable, or workers are not properly trained.
Scaffolding and Ladder Accidents
Scaffolding and ladder accidents can cause broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and fatal injuries. Contractors and site supervisors must make sure that scaffolds and ladders are properly assembled, inspected, secured, and used.
Falling Objects and Struck-By Accidents
Tools, materials, debris, equipment, and unsecured loads can fall from above and strike workers below. A struck-by accident may also involve cranes, vehicles, swinging loads, or heavy machinery. These cases often require a close look at site safety practices, warning systems, and whether workers were properly protected.
Heavy Equipment Accidents
Bulldozers, cranes, forklifts, loaders, excavators, dump trucks, and other heavy equipment can cause catastrophic injuries when operated carelessly or maintained poorly. Equipment accidents may involve blind spots, backup incidents, rollovers, mechanical failures, or a lack of proper training.
Electrocution and Utility Accidents
Construction workers may be exposed to overhead power lines, underground utilities, temporary wiring, defective tools, or unsafe electrical systems. Electrocution injuries can cause burns, nerve damage, heart complications, brain injuries, and wrongful death.
Trench Collapses and Structural Failures
Trench collapses, wall collapses, and structural failures are extremely dangerous because workers can be crushed, trapped, or suffocated. These accidents may be caused by inadequate shoring, poor inspections, unsafe excavation practices, or failure to follow safety standards.
Workers’ Comp for Construction Accidents in Texas
Typically, if you work in the construction industry, workers’ compensation will be the primary coverage that will pay out for your injuries. However, your rights can be complex and difficult to understand, especially if your employer is not being completely transparent with you. Having a Longview construction accident lawyer on your side to protect your rights and explain your options is essential.
Workers’ compensation may provide you with the following benefits:
- Partial lost wage compensation
- Medical cost coverage
- Disability benefits
These benefits can be important, especially when you are unable to work and need immediate medical treatment. However, workers’ compensation does not always cover the full impact of a serious construction accident. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be facing long-term pain, future surgeries, permanent restrictions, reduced earning ability, and major life changes that go beyond basic workers’ compensation benefits.
Construction Accidents and Third-Party Liability
Workers’ compensation claims cover accidents that occurred within the workplace or while performing your work duties. However, oftentimes, this compensation is not sufficient to cover all of your damages. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and your injuries, we may be able to hold a third party accountable for additional damages, such as a maintenance company or equipment manufacturer that played a part in your accident.
A third-party claim is different from a workers’ compensation claim. Instead of seeking benefits from an employer’s workers’ compensation coverage, a third-party claim seeks compensation from another person or company whose negligence caused or contributed to the accident.
Who Can Be Liable for a Construction Accident?
Construction projects often involve several companies, contractors, and vendors. Because of this, liability may extend beyond the injured worker’s employer.
General Contractors and Subcontractors
General contractors and subcontractors may be responsible when they fail to maintain safe work areas, coordinate jobsite activities, warn workers about hazards, or follow required safety procedures. If a contractor’s negligence caused your injury, a third-party claim may be possible.
Property Owners
A property owner may be liable when dangerous conditions on the property contributed to the accident. This may include unsafe premises, hidden hazards, poor maintenance, or failure to correct known dangers.
Equipment Manufacturers
If defective machinery, tools, scaffolding, ladders, safety gear, or vehicle parts caused your injury, the manufacturer or distributor may be responsible. These claims often require technical investigation and expert review.
Maintenance Companies
Maintenance companies may be liable if they failed to inspect, repair, or service equipment properly. Poor maintenance can lead to brake failures, equipment malfunctions, electrical hazards, and other dangerous conditions.
Trucking Companies and Delivery Drivers
Construction sites often involve deliveries, dump trucks, cement trucks, and commercial vehicles. If a negligent driver or trucking company caused your accident, they may be held accountable for your injuries.
Serious Injuries Caused by Construction Accidents
Construction accidents can cause injuries that require emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term medical support. In the most serious cases, injured workers may never be able to return to the same type of work.
Common construction accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Internal injuries
- Eye injuries
- Nerve damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Fatal injuries
These injuries can affect every part of your life. You may be unable to work, care for your family, drive, sleep, move comfortably, or enjoy the activities you once did. A construction accident claim should account for both the immediate medical bills and the long-term effects of the injury.
Compensation Available After a Construction Accident
The compensation available after a construction accident depends on the type of claim, the severity of the injury, and who is legally responsible. Workers’ compensation benefits may cover certain medical expenses and partial wage loss. A third-party injury claim may allow recovery for broader damages.
Potential compensation may include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Future care needs
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Because construction accident cases can involve multiple claims and insurance policies, it is important to have an attorney review every possible source of recovery.
How Sorey & Hoover, LLP Can Help
At Sorey & Hoover, LLP, we understand how overwhelming a serious construction accident can be. You may be dealing with pain, medical appointments, pressure from your employer, insurance calls, and uncertainty about your financial future. Our job is to help you understand your options and take action against the parties responsible for your injuries.
Our legal team can investigate your construction accident, gather evidence, identify liable parties, review insurance coverage, consult experts when needed, and negotiate for fair compensation. If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to take your case to court.
Call a Longview Construction Accident Lawyer Today
If you were recently injured in a construction accident in Longview, Gregg County, or elsewhere, you do not have to handle the aftermath alone. The legal team at Sorey & Hoover, LLP can help you understand whether workers’ compensation, a third-party claim, or another legal option may be available.
Call (903) 230-5600 today for a free consultation. We are prepared to assist with your case and help you pursue the compensation you may be owed.
