If you or your loved one were injured while working in a construction zone, a Midland construction accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris LLP, our experienced team of work accident attorneys is ready to take on the most prestigious home builders, commercial construction companies, subcontractors, and their insurers. We are prepared to fight aggressively on your behalf, and our compassionate attorneys have plenty of experience in this area.
About Midland, TX Construction Injuries
Midland, TX, is home to a booming population that continues to grow, thanks to natural gas and oil production. As more people flock to the area, more houses, apartment buildings, offices and commercial buildings spring up.
The construction industry has a reputation for being dangerous in any state. However, builders work as quickly as possible when they are pressed to keep up with a rapidly increasing population. Work sites become more hazardous when crews are rushed, leading to more frequent injuries among construction workers.
Non-Subscriber Claims
Texas does not require all employers to buy workers’ compensation insurance. These employers who refrain from offering it are called “non-subscribers.” If an employee is seriously hurt while working for a non-subscriber, they can still file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
Third-Party Non-Subscriber Claims
In the Texas construction industry, a third-party non-subscriber claim arises when an injured worker can sue someone other than their employer for their injuries. Negligence must be involved in the accident to qualify as a third-party non-subscriber claim. In these instances, the injured worker’s employer does not provide workers’ comp insurance.
Independent contractors, for example, who get seriously injured at a construction site, can file a claim against the home builder or the property owner’s insurance, as long as negligence was involved.
What is Negligence?
In legal language, negligence is the failure to act reasonably and responsibly. Examples of negligence at a job site could include:
- Improper equipment
- Failure to provide adequate lighting
- Failing to mark a hole or pit in the ground properly
- Allowing an inexperienced worker to operate heavy equipment
- Demanding that workers or contractors continue working in unsafe conditions
Ultimately, negligence at a construction site can manifest in a thousand ways. A seasoned construction accident lawyer can help an injured worker in Midland, TX identify various types of negligence that can occur and pinpoint whose insurance may be responsible.
Injury Settlements Explained
When a worker is injured at the job site, an insurance company may contact them immediately with a tiny settlement offer. Victims and their families must realize that if they accept this initial settlement check, they will be unable to sue for more compensation later, even if the medical bills continue to pile up or if the victim picks up an infection in the hospital. Some insurance companies even pay bonuses to their representatives who convince a victim to accept a small settlement offer.
In short, speak to a qualified Midland attorney before accepting any settlement offer for construction site injuries.
Reach Out to a Midland Construction Accident Attorney Today
Call a skilled Midland construction accident lawyer if you or your family member were seriously hurt and need to file for compensation.
We at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris LLP have helped many construction workers and independent contractors get the money they deserve for workplace accidents. We can help you even if your employer does not purchase workers’ comp insurance, or if you are an independent contractor who needs to sue a homebuilder or commercial property owner. We will fight aggressively to get you the money you deserve for your injury.
