Our Work Injury Law Firm Fights for the Recovery Clients Deserve
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), over 2 million workplace accidents and 5,000 deaths took place in 2017. A vast number of these accidents were preventable. Unfortunately, worker safety is less important than productivity, efficiency, and profits for too many companies.
The following are examples of common workplace accidents in Texas:
Accidents during evacuation
Forklift accidents
Chemical plant explosions
Construction accidents
Ladder accidents
Offshore accidents
Oil drilling accidents
Scaffolding accidents
Work vehicle accidents
Workplace falls
Accidents that occur on the job rob employees and families of their physical, mental, and financial well-being. Although companies claim to take care of injured workers, the truth is that some insurance companies do everything they can do to cut costs—including cutting benefits to injured people. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a work accident, you have the right to seek full compensation. The guidance of an experienced work accident attorney in Corpus Christi can help you get your life back on track.
Arnold & Itkin is proud to advocate for injured workers. We work tirelessly to ensure our clients get the best possible results. If you suffered injuries on the job, call our Corpus Christi work injury lawyers: (888) 493-1629!
Employers must adequately train employees and remove workplace hazards to mitigate the risks. Unfortunately, statistics show that injuries, illnesses, and death frequently occur in workplaces. They also show that if employers had implemented or followed safety regulations, many of these could have been prevented.
Research paints a clear picture about the danger of injuries in the workplace:
About 50,000 workers die from occupational illnesses each year—about 150 workers each day.
24,000+ workers suffer serious injuries every year and 800 are killed because of workplace violence.
Fall protection in the construction industry was the most violated OSHA standard in 2013.
The Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970
In 1970, the government realized things needed to change. Injury and death were too common despite improved work conditions. When it was signed into law, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 introduced sweeping reforms to improve the safety of the American workforce. New regulations required heightened safety requirements and provided worker awareness regarding their jobs' dangers and specific health risks.
This law served as a pivotal moment to decrease death and injury at industrial jobs. Despite the progress made though, the government can't make sure every single employer in the nation is dutifully following the law. This means that if employees suspect unsafe conditions at a job, they should immediately report them to their supervisors. When employers fail to correct a hazard, which results in harm, they must be held accountable.
Seeking Answers After Chemical Plant, Factory & Other Industrial Accidents
Each day, workers enter industrial workplaces that have stood for decades. They power Texas' massive industrial sector, which in turn powers the state's economy. As this has progressed, so have the laws protecting those who built it. Unfortunately, some employers ignore these laws—creating unsafe work environments. This has led to employees at chemical plants, refineries, factories, and other worksites being put at unnecessary and heightened levels of risk as they work for the good of the companies that neglect their safety.
Common Injuries Resulting from Industrial Workplace Accidents
Industrial work environments—from oil refineries and chemical plants to factories and warehouses—cause a variety of dangers for workers. These dangers may eventually cause catastrophic injuries that forever change the life of a worker and their loved ones. Some, like plant explosions or factory fires, can claim many lives.
Catastrophic injuries that occur in industrial accidents include:
Electrocution and electric shock
Chemical or thermal burns
Falls
Toxic exposure
Crushing injuries
Blunt force and penetrating trauma
Amputation/loss of limb
Brain and spinal cord injuries
$39.75 Million Result for Worker Injured in a Dust Explosion
In 2018, Arnold & Itkin won a settlement for a worker who sustained severe burns in an explosion at a Georgia-Pacific plywood plant after volatile dust particles caught on fire. Two individuals lost their lives in the tragedy. With dedicated investigative work, our attorneys proved companies produced components of a faulty dust collection system and that two companies' negligence was to blame. A court agreed that the companies were at fault and awarded our client $39.75 million in damages. When both companies attempted to appeal the decision, the judge examined our thorough work and decided to deny their attempts out of escaping accountability. This upheld the original court's decision and ensured our client would obtain the financial stability that he needs.
"It sends a message to all companies out there that you can't cut corners when it comes to safety." - Attorney Kyle Findley
When Employers Don't Protect Their Workers, We Stand & Fight
Construction work is dangerous; employees work at great heights, deal with heavy objects, and are likely exposed to toxic chemicals while on the job. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), 21% of all fatal injuries occur at construction sites nationwide. Studies conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics say that 1 in 5 of every job-related fatality was someone who worked in construction.
These numbers demonstrate that construction employers fail to protect workers enough. As a result, workers can sustain catastrophic injuries on the job—in many cases, in preventable accidents caused by the employer's negligence. Workers trust employers, believing that they will abide by federal regulations to make work environments as safe as possible. Unfortunately, employers fail to do so, resulting in severe accidents.
When they fail to take these necessary measures, they must be held liable for their workers' injuries.
The "Fatal Four" Construction Accidents
OSHA conducts an annual report to determine which construction accidents are the most common. Out of all the injuries that occur annually, OSHA identified the most common fatalities—known as the "Fatal Four."
The Fatal Four is comprised of:
Falls: 39.9% of total construction fatalities
Struck by Object: 8.4% of total construction fatalities
Electrocution: 8.5% of total construction fatalities
Caught In-Between: 4.3% of total construction fatalities
Most wrongful death investigations reveal that a worker's death could have been prevented if employers had followed safety procedures. OSHA estimates that if 40% of workplace accidents are preventable, more than 500 lives could be saved every year through compliance with safety requirements.
Common Hazards at Construction Sites
Aside from failing to abide by safety regulations, human error can also cause accidents. Whether it is the carelessness of a supervisor or the mistake of a worker, this can significantly affect safety on the job.
Examples of hazards that can cause accidents in construction sites:
Common Accidents & Injuries at Corpus Christi Construction Sites
Scaffolding Accidents Scaffolding is a temporary structure often erected incorrectly—making them shaky and unsteady. Research shows that over 4,500 scaffolding accidents occur every year. More than 70% of injured workers said there was a lack of support, they slipped, or a falling object struck them.
Falling from a Height Construction workers work on high levels while climbing on a roof, a ladder, or working on scaffolding. Unfortunately, it is common for workers to suffer severe injury after falling from an elevation. OSHA reported that 660 fatalities occurred because of falling from a height in 2014.
Ladder & Stairway Accidents Ladder accidents commonly occur because the wrong ladder was used, it was in poor condition, or it was misused. OSHA statistics show more than 24,000 injuries and 35 deaths occur annually because workers fall from a ladder or stairway. 50% of these injuries required workers to take time off work.
Defective & Dangerous Equipment Complex machinery and equipment are commonplace in construction sites—and serious injuries can occur if they are not properly used or if they are defective. For this reason, workers need to receive training on how to use machinery to prevent forklift accidents or crane accidents.
Harmful Chemicals & Toxic Exposure Construction workers are also at risk for being exposed to harmful chemicals that can cause serious health issues. Exposure to toxic chemicals can cause workers to suffer skin and throat irritation, burns, respiratory problems, and more. Employers need to follow OSHA safety standards on hazardous chemicals; if they are not followed properly, they put workers at risk.
The Corpus Christi economy is driven by oil and petrochemicals and tourism; aerospace and aviation are also strong players. The Port of Corpus Christi, which is the fifth largest in the United States and handles mostly agricultural and oil products, also plays a significant role in the city’s economy. The biggest employer by workforce size is the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, which employs about 6,200 civilians. Other top employers are the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System (5,400 employees), the Corpus Christi Independent School District (5,200 employees), and H-E-B Grocery Company (5,000 employees).
Much of the workforce in Corpus Christi is employed in wholesale and retail trade, services, and government. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the civilian workforce in Corpus Christi was 204,500 people as of March 2022. 193,600 of those people were employed, leaving the city with an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which was slightly above the national unemployment rate of 3.6%.
The top five employment sectors in Corpus Christi in March 2022 were:
Government (34,800 workers)
Trade, transportation, and utilities (33,300 workers)
Education and health services (30,700 workers)
Leisure and hospitality (26,500 workers)
Mining, logging, and construction (19,300 workers)
There are numerous colleges and vocational schools in Corpus Christi, including Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (formerly Corpus Christi State University), Saint Leo University Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, Southern Careers Institute, Vogue Cosmetology School, and Career Centers of Texas Corpus Christi. There are six Corpus Christi school districts responsible for providing public primary and secondary education for the area’s youth. The city is also home to a number of private and charter schools.
Contact Our Corpus Christi Work Accident Lawyers: (888) 493-1629
If you have suffered injuries in a workplace accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. When you need an attorney, turn to the lawyers who injured workers rely on during the most challenging circumstances of their lives: Arnold & Itkin. We are known as one of the foremost litigators and worker advocates in the nation because our firm has won some of its most prominent work-related accident cases, helping hundreds of employees and contractors get the money they need to move forward.
Frankly, injured workers are outgunned when it comes to being prepared for trial. As soon as employees get injured, the company goes into cover-up mode; we know because we've seen it hundreds of times before. Your coworkers and boss might be good, loyal people, but your company's HR and risk management department only sees you as a liability. If you want a chance at recovering, you need a lawyer who knows what it takes to win. Arnold & Itkin has the resources, litigation skill, and experience to help you obtain the maximum results.
When employers don't protect workers, we're there to demand they provide answers, no matter what. Call (888) 493-1629.
What Are the Most Common Workplace Accidents in Corpus Christi?
As a plant and refinery hub, Corpus Christi is a location of workplaces filled with dangers for workers. Each day, plant workers in the area face the risk of explosions, toxic exposure, and other industrial dangers. Employers are aware of these hazards, and it's their legal and moral obligation to protect their employees from them. When they don't, serious injuries can result—forcing survivors to undergo extensive medical treatment, depending on the severity of the situation. These injuries have long-term consequences for employees and their families, taking away their financial stability while burdening them with huge medical bills.
What Should I Do After a Work Injury in Corpus Christi, TX?
If you were injured while working at a chemical plant, factory, or another worksite in the Corpus Christi area, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Then, you should inform your employer about your injury. As soon as possible, you should also talk to an attorney. A legal professional with experience in industrial injury claims will be able to inform you of your rights and options. With a competent industrial accident attorney on your side, you can feel confident that you'll be able to get the support and care you need to rebuild.
Who Will Pay for My Medical Care After a Work Accident?
The short answer is your employer should pay for your medical care. This is often done through workers' compensation, a type of insurance covering all on-the-job injuries—regardless of who's to blame. Employers are protected from lawsuits by injured workers, and workers can pursue benefits without proving someone else caused their injuries. But what if your employer does not carry workers' comp insurance? If they are a nonsubscriber, they can be sued by injured workers. They have limited defenses because they chose to waive workers' compensation coverage, and there is no cap on the amount of damages an injured worker can recover. At Arnold & Itkin, we are here to protect workers' rights, no matter what.
What If My Loved One Was Killed While Working?
If your loved one was killed on the job, our Corpus Christi work death lawyers can fight for the compensation you need to move forward. We may be able to help recover damages such as funeral expenses, medical bills, lost wages, loss of companionship, future living expenses, and possibly more. Our team understands the challenges that families face after losing a member, and we're ready to aggressively fight for answers from the people who could've prevented your suffering. While nothing can change what happened to you, our wrongful death lawyers are ready to help you find answers. We thoroughly investigate every case we take to make sure we're holding the right parties accountable. No case is too complicated. No company too big for us to challenge.
Why Should I Hire a Corpus Christi Work Accident Lawyer?
The company you work for should treat you fairly if you were injured. They should handle your claim quickly and help you get the care you need until you can return to work. Unfortunately, this does not usually happen. Construction companies try to avoid responsibility, and workers' compensation insurance providers drag their feet when investigating claims. Workers are left wondering how they will get the care and support they need. An attorney levels the playing field between big corporations and construction workers.
