As the victim of a construction accident in Laredo, Texas, you have rights. Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers can help you navigate this challenging time in your life and fight for the substantial monetary award you deserve. Contact our award-winning Laredo construction accident lawyer for help today.
When you choose Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers, you benefit from a top-rated Texas trial attorney with 25+ years of experience handling complex workplace accident cases like yours. A leader in construction accident litigation in Texas, Roderick C. Lopez has helped injured workers and families recover over $30 million in benefits, settlements, and jury awards.
Make the most of your fight for compensation by turning to our trusted law firm for help. We offer a free initial case evaluation, so contact us to schedule yours today or call (956) 529-7336.
How Roderick C. Lopez, PC Can Help If You’ve Been Injured in a Laredo, TX Construction Accident
It’s easy to get stressed out if you’re injured on a job site in Laredo, Texas. Medical bills can add up quickly. Your injuries can prevent you from going back to work and earning a living. You might have to tap into your savings to cover your costs and make ends meet.
What are your legal options for financial support? Do you qualify for workers’ compensation? Can you sue your employer? What about a liable third party? How can you know exactly what your construction accident case is worth?
You don’t have to struggle with the aftermath of your construction accident on your own. Our Laredo personal injury lawyer is here to help.
When you choose Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers, you choose experienced and compassionate legal representation. You show your employer, at-fault parties, and insurance carriers that you’re serious about winning your case and getting the compensation you deserve.
You’ll be able to focus on your recovery and count on us to:
- Evaluate your situation and fully explain all of the legal options available to you
- Carefully analyze accident reports, proof of OSHA safety violations, photographs, video footage, witness statements, and other evidence pertinent to your case
- Bring in experts to provide insight into the cause of your accident, the extent of your injuries, and what your construction injury claim might be worth
- File all necessary claims and documents with insurance companies and the local court in Webb County, TX, on your behalf
- Aggressively pursue a top-dollar benefits package or settlement during negotiations
- Represent you at trial if you don’t receive a meaningful settlement offer
Choosing Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers gives you the edge you need to get the best possible result in your construction accident case. It also puts a top-rated Texas trial attorney in your corner at no out-of-pocket cost. You only pay if our law firm wins your construction accident case.
Contact our Laredo, TX law office to set up a time for a free, confidential case evaluation today.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Texas?
Statistically speaking, Texas is one of the most dangerous places in the country to work in construction.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 35,200 construction workers in Texas suffered injuries severe enough to require time away from work in 2021. That represented a 10.2 percent increase in serious construction-related injuries from the prior year.
Not all construction workers who get hurt on the job in Texas survive their injuries. In fact, Texas leads the nation in construction accident mortalities.
In 2021, 951 workers in the construction and extraction industries were killed on the job.
Fatal Four
Every year, hundreds of construction workers across the Lone Star State are killed on the job. In 2021, nearly 39 percent of all construction accident fatalities were caused by trips, slips, and falls.
This makes sense since the leading causes of construction accident fatalities, as reported by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, include:
- Falls
- Electrocution
- Caught in/between, and
- Being crushed by an object.
Known as the Fatal Four, these account for 58 percent of all construction accident fatalities every year.
What Causes Most Laredo Construction Accidents?
The construction industry is heavily regulated by OSHA and Texas state law. Despite several laws and procedures on the books to keep job sites and workers safe, accidents are still all too common in Laredo and across the state.
Most often, these construction accidents are a result of negligence, or a failure to exercise a reasonable level of care. Many times, employers cut corners to save time and money, and this puts construction workers at an increased risk of harm.
Some common contributors to Laredo construction accidents include:
- Lack of adequate fall-protection devices
- Failing to provide appropriate safety gear and equipment to workers
- Negligent hiring, training, and supervision
- Unsafe working conditions
- Defective equipment
- Failing to inspect work equipment regularly for defects and malfunctions
- Demanding too much of construction workers
It’s important to identify every potential cause of a construction accident. Our construction accident attorney in Laredo will launch a prompt and thorough investigation to get to the bottom of why and how you were injured on the job site. Once we know the cause, we can begin to understand your legal options and construct a compelling legal claim to get you the compensation you deserve.
How Do I Recover Compensation After My Laredo Construction Accident?
You’ll typically have one or two options for recovering compensation after a construction accident in Laredo: workers’ compensation and/or a lawsuit.
Workers’ Compensation
Construction employers in the state of Texas are typically required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation allows injured workers to avoid the time and expense of a lawsuit and recover limited benefits for work-related injuries.
You can qualify for workers’ compensation if:
- Your employer was required to subscribe to the workers’ compensation system;
- You are a qualifying employee; and
- You suffered a work-related injury in a construction accident.
Benefits can help to cover economic damages related to your medical expenses, lost wages, and disability.
Third-Party Lawsuit
You can potentially file a third-party lawsuit for damages if:
- Your employer did not subscribe to the workers’ compensation system;
- You did not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits; or
- A third party contributed to your construction accident.
Potentially liable third parties might include equipment manufacturers, property owners, co-workers, and contractors.
In a lawsuit, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing assistance
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages can also potentially be awarded in a Texas construction accident lawsuit.
Count on our Laredo construction accident attorney to help you exhaust your legal options and fight to secure all of the benefits and damages to which you’re entitled under Texas state law.
Can Contributory Negligence Affect My Construction Accident Case in Texas?
Potentially, yes.
Since workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, contributory negligence won’t affect your ability to recover benefits.
However, shared responsibility will have a direct impact on a civil settlement or jury award. Texas has a modified comparative negligence system with a 51 percent bar. Once liability exceeds 50 percent, you lose the right to third-party damages. If your liability is equal to or less than 50 percent, you can recover a fraction of the value of your case.
Damages are reduced proportionately. For example, sharing 15 percent fault will cause a 15 percent reduction in damages.
25+ Years of Experience Handling All Types of Construction Accident Cases in Laredo
No matter what type of injury you’ve suffered or what type of construction accident you’ve been hurt in, Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Our award-winning Texas litigator has 25+ years of experience helping clients fight back after all types of accidents, including:
- Trenching accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Transportation accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Demolition accidents
- Scaffolding accidents
- Ladder accidents
- Nail gun accidents
- Brazing accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Crane and hoist accidents
- Electrocution accidents
- Accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries, including brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and burns
- Repetitive motion injury accidents
- Fatal construction accidents
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our legal team in Laredo if you’ve been injured on a construction site. We’re here to listen to your story and help you figure out the best path forward.
How Long Do I Have to File a Legal Claim After a Texas Construction Accident?
It depends.
In Texas, the statute of limitations for construction-related claims is:
- One year if you want to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits (with a 30-day notice requirement), and
- Two years if you want to file a civil personal injury lawsuit for damages.
If a loved one has died in a fatal construction accident in Laredo, TX, you’ll have two years to file a civil wrongful death lawsuit for damages.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Laredo Construction Accident Lawyer
Call Roderick C. Lopez, PC if you’ve recently suffered injuries or experienced the tragic death of a family member because of a construction accident in Laredo, Texas.
Our experienced Laredo construction accident lawyer can help you assert your legal rights and demand the substantial monetary award you need and deserve.
Put a team with 25+ years of experience that’s won millions in your corner. Call us to set up a free, no-obligation case assessment today.
