A serious construction site injury can create financial pressure while leaving you uncertain about who is legally responsible. A Beaumont construction accident lawyer could investigate the site operations and determine which party controlled the conditions that led to your injury. This review can be especially important on complex worksites where several companies may share responsibility.
A work injury attorney from our firm could investigate how the accident occurred while protecting evidence that may be important to the claim. That review could also help address attempts to shift responsibility. At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, we help injured construction workers understand which legal options best fit their employment circumstances and the facts surrounding the accident.
Construction Sites Create Multiple Hazards
Construction work combines heavy equipment, elevated surfaces, electrical systems, moving vehicles, temporary structures, and crews from different companies. A single safety failure can expose workers to significant harm. An attorney from our firm who handles construction accident claims in Beaumont may investigate hazards such as:
- Falls from scaffolds, ladders, roofs, or platforms
- Struck-by accidents involving vehicles, tools, or materials
- Electrocution or contact with live wiring
- Equipment failures or inadequate machine guarding
- Trench, structure, or scaffold collapses
- Unsafe worksite conditions or inadequate training
Liability often depends on whether the responsible party controlled the worksite condition and had actual or constructive knowledge of the danger. Proving that connection may require documentation showing how parties managed the site and which party had authority over the area where the accident occurred.
What if Your Employer Does Not Carry Workers’ Compensation?
State law does not require most private employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance. It commonly labels employers that choose not to participate as non-subscribers, which means your recovery may depend on a personal injury claim alleging that the employer’s negligence caused your construction injury.
Under Texas Labor Code § 406.033, an injured employee bringing a qualifying claim against a non-subscriber must prove employer negligence. The statute also prevents the employer from relying on several defenses that are normally available in negligence cases, including contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and negligence by a fellow employee. These rules can significantly affect how you develop a claim against a non-subscriber.
Some companies carry workers’ compensation coverage, which may provide benefits to employees after a workplace injury, but a separate personal injury claim can still arise if an independent third party contributed to the accident. A lawyer from our firm handling accident claims involving construction work in Beaumont may examine how the accident occurred to determine whether responsibility extends beyond the employer.
Liability May Extend Beyond the Employer
Construction projects often involve several types of companies, including:
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Property owners
- Vendors
- Transportation companies
- Equipment manufacturers
Any of these parties may bear responsibility if they created an unsafe condition, supplied defective equipment, ignored a known danger, or negligently controlled part of the work. Our attorneys representing construction accident victims in Beaumont may examine the roles of these separate entities and determine whether their conduct contributed to your injuries.
Tex. Lab. Code § 417.001 recognizes that an employee with a compensable construction injury may pursue damages against a liable third party. State law also generally imposes a two-year deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Since important evidence can disappear well before that deadline, an early investigation may help preserve records and identify the companies that you may need to include in a claim.
Call Our Beaumont Attorneys To Discuss a Construction Site Injury
A construction injury may become more complicated when several companies share a worksite, especially if questions arise about workers’ compensation coverage or third-party liability. Speaking with a Beaumont construction accident lawyer could clarify who may be responsible and which legal option best fits your situation.
At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, we could examine the circumstances surrounding the accident and help protect the evidence you need to support your claim. Contact us to discuss your situation and better understand your legal options.
