Dallas Work Injury Lawyers

Construction Hazards in a City That Doesn't Slow Down

Dallas is in the middle of a construction surge. From high-rise developments downtown to sprawling infrastructure projects in the suburbs, crews are working around the clock to keep up with the city's explosive growth. But with that speed comes risk—and too often, safety is the first thing sacrificed to meet deadlines. 

On Dallas construction sites, the most common deadly incidents are known as OSHA's Fatal Four:

• Falls from scaffolding or roofs
• Struck-by object incidents
• Electrocutions from exposed wires or power lines
• Caught-in or caught-between machinery or collapsing structures

These aren't freak accidents. They're known hazards—and that means employers have a legal duty to prevent them. That includes:

• Providing fall protection and safety harnesses
• Ensuring cranes and heavy equipment are operated safely
• Keeping job sites free from electrical hazards
• Training workers properly and enforcing safety rules

Our work injury lawyers in Dallas have seen it time and time again. When construction ramps up faster than safety oversight can keep up, workers pay the price. New hires may be rushed onto sites without training. Equipment may be used without inspection. Safety managers may be stretched thin across too many projects. And all it takes is one missed step, one shortcut, or one broken rule for a Dallas construction accident to change a life forever.

When a Developer Cut Corners, Old East Dallas Paid the Price

In 2019, a thunderstorm swept through Old East Dallas, bringing strong winds that should've been no threat to public safety. But a crane on a Greystar construction site hadn't been properly secured—and when the winds hit, the crane collapsed. It tore through a nearby apartment complex, crashing directly into the home of Kiersten Smith, who had been making dinner with her fiancé. She didn't survive.

Arnold & Itkin took on the case and uncovered the truth: Greystar knew better. Their crane operator had worked more than 80 hours that week—an exhausting schedule that likely contributed to his failure to secure the equipment. But this wasn't just about one worker's mistake. Greystar, one of the largest developers in the country, was responsible for supervising the site, ensuring safe staffing, and enforcing proper safety protocols. They failed on every front.

A jury awarded $860 million to Kiersten's family—a verdict that held Greystar accountable for an entirely preventable crane accident in Dallas.

This case wasn't about a construction worker injured on the job. It was about a member of the public who was killed in her own home because a powerful developer failed to take safety seriously. That's why legal accountability matters, and why our Dallas work accident law firm fights for the victims of negligent employers. Workplace safety isn’t just for workers, but for the public at large.

Call a Dallas Work Injury Firm That Gets Results

Few attorneys or firms achieve what Arnold & Itkin has managed to accomplish in a relatively short time. Our firm has won more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements—much of that for workers who were injured on the job.

Our life-changing outcomes for work accident cases include:

• $860 million for a young woman killed by a construction site negligence in Old East Dallas
• $357 million for workers in what remains the largest work injury settlement in Texas.
• $222 million for the widow of a worker killed in a plant accident.
• $209 million for the family of an oilfield worker who died from employer negligence.
• $193 million for two pipeline explosion victims who were working offshore.
• $177.5 million for workers who suffered burn injuries in an industrial accident.

Our unparalleled success in securing substantial settlements demonstrates our deep commitment to workplace safety and justice for injured workers in Dallas and nationwide. Each case we undertake is backed by comprehensive research and a strategic approach, helping our clients seek the maximum compensation due to them. Through meticulous preparation and tireless advocacy, we consistently hold negligent parties accountable. Our passion for justice is reflected in every outcome, offering our clients not just financial relief but hope and the ability to rebuild.

Dallas Manufacturing Is Booming—But So Are the Risks to Workers

In the last five years, Dallas has added over 9.2 million square feet of new manufacturing space, making it one of the fastest-growing manufacturing centers in the country. Low labor costs and rapid development have made the region a national hub for production—but that growth comes with a cost. As facilities multiply and output ramps up, workers face greater pressure, tighter deadlines, and more dangerous conditions.

Unfortunately, the manufacturing sector already has a higher-than-average rate of injury, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Without accountability, rapid expansion leads to higher injury rates. 

The most common manufacturing injuries include:

• Overexertion (34%) from lifting or repetitive tasks
• Slips, trips, and falls (16%)
• Struck-by incidents (10%)
• Repetitive motion injuries (8%)
• Caught-in/between hazards (7%) involving machinery

Industrial injuries tend to happen when safety takes a backseat to speed. In newer plants or rapidly scaling operations, protocols may be skipped, training shortened, or staffing pushed past safe limits. Workers in Dallas's booming industrial sector are often the first to feel the impact of those decisions—physically and financially.

Recent Work Accident Cases We’ve Filed in Dallas & Beyond

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 178,000 reported occupational injuries in Texas in 2022 alone. 578 workers lost their lives. While many of these catastrophic injuries and deaths occurred in high-risk industries such as construction, transportation, and manufacturing, workers in virtually all fields experienced some harm. The sheer scale of how many workers suffer on the job is why we’re always investigating new incidents or examples of wrongdoing.

Here are recent cases our firm has filed for injured workers:

• Case filed for a sanitation worker injured at a multinational food corporation.
• Helping the father of a passenger killed in a work vehicle accident.
• Representing an employee who was injured in a work vehicle accident.

"The company, they weren't really trying to help me. They weren't really trying to reach out to me at all or anything, so the best thing to do was to get a hold of somebody that could help me, which was Arnold & Itkin." 

- Henry Ollervides, workplace explosion survivor

Common Workplace Accident Cases in Dallas

As Dallas industrial accident attorneys, we realize there is a difference between inherent risks at the workplace and outright negligence or wrongdoing. Workers may be at risk of specific types of accidents due to the nature of their job duties and the environments where they perform these. When work accidents injure workers or claim lives, we utilize our resources to investigate and get to the bottom of what caused the incidents in the first place.

By conducting thorough investigations, we are able to uncover overlooked hazards and systematic safety failures that contribute to workplace accidents. Our team works diligently to compile evidence, which may involve working closely with accident reconstructionists, safety engineers, and medical experts to build a robust case. Understanding the specifics of an accident allows us to tailor our approach to each client’s unique situation, ensuring that all responsible parties are held accountable for their actions or negligence.

These are several of the most common on-the-job accidents:

We have the resources to investigate your accident and reveal its cause. If your employer was negligent, purposefully cut corners, or did anything that jeopardized your safety, we'll find out. If a third party, like the manufacturer of a defective piece of equipment, caused you harm, we'll uncover it. We seek the answers and compensation our clients deserve.

Types of Dallas Work Injuries

Work accidents are serious because they cause injuries that can be devastating. For some workers, an injury means the inability to work until they recover—which is impossible financially for most Americans. For other workers, accidents can cause injuries that change the rest of their lives. These injuries are often catastrophic because those with them often face a lifetime of medical care, reduced mobility, and other difficulties.

Addressing the complexities of these injuries requires both legal skill and empathy, as many affected individuals face extended recovery periods and long-term alterations to their daily lives. This can include navigating psychological trauma that impacts mental health and wellbeing. Our approach is comprehensive, considering future medical needs, rehabilitation, and ongoing care to ensure our clients can regain quality of life and a sense of normalcy. We explore every avenue to assist in covering expenses that extend beyond immediate medical costs, contributing to a holistic recovery.

Common Dallas serious work injuries include:

When a person is hurt because their employer was negligent, they deserve compensation to recover, adjust, and move forward. Our Dallas work injury law firm fights to help workers secure this compensation. While we can't change what happened, we can demand answers from those who could've prevented it in the first place.

What Causes Industrial Injuries? Our Dallas Work Accident Attorneys Explain.

Work accidents don't “just happen.” They are caused by specific acts of negligence, carelessness, and even intentional wrongdoing. Most can be traced to employers who fail to prioritize safety, making work riskier than it should be. In industrial settings, where work is inherently more complex and the stakes are higher, this has disastrous effects.

Regular safety audits and adherence to stringent safety protocols can drastically reduce the incidence of these injuries. Unfortunately, many companies overlook these critical practices in the quest for higher profits. We collaborate with safety experts and industry specialists to dissect each accident, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of underlying factors. Our findings frequently reveal avoidable lapses in equipment maintenance, training, and procedural follow-through.

The following are potential causes of industrial injuries in Dallas:

• Defective tools, equipment, or machinery
• Improper personal protection equipment
• Poorly designed machinery or equipment
• Lack of/improper maintenance
• Inadequate fall protection
• Lack of adequate training and supervision
• Unsafe storage methods
• Improper lighting
• Lack of respiratory protection
• Dangerous use of ladders and scaffolding
• Lack of proper ventilation
• Overwork and fatigue

It only takes an instant for an oversight or safety lapse to injure a worker or claim their life. That's what happened to a worker who lost his life after falling 30 feet as he attempted to unjam a machine inside a silo at a worksite in Rockwall, Texas. OSHA's Dallas Area Office investigated the matter and issued two serious citations against the employer for failing to ensure workers were wearing protective helmets and for failing to implement proper lockout/tagout procedures. 

When employers do not put safety first, injured workers should turn to a trusted industrial accident attorney in Dallas for insight into their rights and options. Many employees mistakenly believe that they are limited to workers' comp benefits, but there may be other routes and sources of compensation, depending on the circumstances at hand.

Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Dallas Job-Related Injury

Insurers are infamously difficult to deal with after an accident, but that is especially true when the insurer represents an employer or is dealing with a large-scale catastrophic event. It’s not uncommon for insurers to act like they’re representing your interests when they’re really acting on behalf of the company.

When someone calls our Dallas work injury attorneys, one of our first tasks is making sure insurance companies know they need to deal with us, not them. We do that for two reasons: one, it takes a huge stressor off a client’s plate. Our firm prepares all the paperwork, deals with their adjusters, and so on. Two, it shows the insurer that you’ve got real resources behind you—and it won’t be so easy for insurers to give us the run-around.

Our no-nonsense approach to dealing with insurance companies is how we’ve managed to secure so many life-changing results. When the insurance company sees our track record, they’re less likely to low-ball plaintiffs.

When a Workers’ Compensation Claim Isn't Enough

Most people file a workers’ compensation claim when they’ve gotten injured at work, and it’s often the right move if they’re looking at minor or temporary injuries. But for a significant number of workers every year, workers’ compensation offers far, far less than what they need to recover.

For instance, workers’ compensation doesn’t address the long-term pain and suffering injured workers experience. Workers who’ve survived a fire, an explosion, or fall often deal with chronic pain, serious physical and mental impairment, and other issues that lower quality of life. Workers who have experienced severe injuries might require adaptations to daily life that are beyond the one-time financial compensation typical of workers' comp packages. Our team is well-versed in exploring alternative avenues of recourse that better address the real, ongoing needs of our clients, underscoring the necessity for personalized legal strategies.

Non-Subscriber Employer Work Injury Cases in Dallas, TX

In Dallas and across Texas, many employers opt out of the state’s workers’ compensation system. These employers, known as non-subscribers, do not carry traditional workers' compensation insurance, which significantly affects how workplace injury cases are handled. This status allows these companies to create their own insurance plans, which may provide medical and wage loss benefits but can also limit the rights and compensation available to injured workers.

The following are examples of non-subscriber employers in the Dallas area:

According to Texas Department of Insurance data, there were 4,872 non-subscriber employers in Dallas as of July 1, 2024. The above list is a mere sampling; the report includes all types and sizes of companies.

For employees injured while working for non-subscriber employers, it is crucial to seek legal counsel from a firm experienced in handling these unique cases. Unlike traditional workers’ compensation claims, non-subscriber claims can involve filing a lawsuit against the employer if their negligence led to the injury. This includes situations involving inadequate training, unsafe working conditions, or faulty equipment. 

Navigating non-subscriber cases requires an attorney who has a nuanced understanding of Texas law and the unpredictable nature of employer-drafted plans. By engaging our services, you gain access to strategic insights and a network of professionals familiar with the intricacies of workplace policies and compensation frameworks. Our approach is holistic, focusing on thorough assessment of accident circumstances, employer practices, and alignment with Texas workers' rights, ensuring you’re comprehensively represented in pursuit of rightful compensation.

If you've been injured working for a non-subscriber employer, our work injury attorneys in Dallas are ready to help. We have the experience to protect your rights and interests.

Where Dallas Work & Industrial Accidents Happen

As one of the economic hubs of the nation, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is no stranger to industrial accidents. Virtually any type of employee, contractor, or subcontractor may be at risk of harm in an industrial accident. Workers face dangers in the area's factories, refineries, and oilfields that surround the area.

Dallas industrial accidents may happen in areas such as:

In each of these settings, it's the responsibility of companies, supervisors, and other employees to make sure they're being safe. Companies must make workers have safety equipment, training, and that their facilities are properly maintained for a safe environment. Likewise, supervisors and workers must ensure they're following their training and respecting the safety of their coworkers. When companies fail in their duty to provide reasonably safe work environments, our Dallas industrial accident law firm is there to set things right.

Fatal Workplace Accidents in Dallas

Texas led the nation with the highest number of workplace fatalities in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For workers in Dallas, the risk of harm in a workplace accident is just too high. Families of workers who have been lost in fires, explosions, falls, and other industrial accidents deserve answers. They deserve the chance to rebuild. That is what our Dallas workplace death lawyers accomplish, taking large corporations and their insurance companies to court, where we expose wrongdoing and help families recover the compensation they need to build more stable futures.

Who Is Responsible for Industrial Accidents in Dallas?

Often, it's companies that are responsible for accidents at industrial sites. While they often try to blame workers and supervisors, it's ultimately the responsibility of companies to train workers, provide safety equipment, and make sure facilities are maintained and safe. Too often, companies take the risk of cutting corners with safety to save money. 

When this causes an accident, they should be held accountable. That's what our Dallas industrial accident attorneys work to accomplish every day.

Legal Responsibilities of Dallas-Area Employers

OSHA was founded in 1970 to help protect American workers. Over the decades, the agency has played an instrumental role in decreasing work-related deaths and injuries. However, they can't prevent all of them. It's the legal obligation of companies to follow OSHA's rules for a safe work environment.

OSHA requires that Dallas employers:

• Provide safe work areas.
• Post warnings for any hazards present at a worksite in relevant languages.
• Make sure worksites meet OSHA standards.
• Ensure workers have access to the right tools and properly maintained equipment.
• Provide safety training in a language that workers understand.

Employers must report severe work injuries and fatalities to OSHA as quickly as possible so the agency can investigate. Fatalities must be reported within 8 hours; serious injuries requiring in-patient hospitalization must be reported within 24 hours. When OSHA investigates a work injury or fatality and discovers violations, the agency may issue citations against the employer. Even when these penalties are thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, it is not enough. 

OSHA citations are serious, but they do little to help a worker who has already been injured. A Dallas work accident attorney can help you hold your employer or other party accountable. 

Working in Dallas: About the City, Its Workforce & More

Dallas is industrially, economically, and culturally diverse. As a part of the nation’s fourth-largest metropolitan area, the City of Dallas enjoys local economic growth that has not been significantly affected by the downturn of any one industry. Since 2008, the unemployment rate in Dallas has remained lower than the national average.

In the city’s early years, Dallas relied primarily on farming and its location along Native American trade routes. It was the construction of multiple rail lines through Dallas that brought the area much of its initial growth. By 1900, Dallas was a leader in the cotton market. In the 1930s, the discovery of oil near Kilgore, which is located just east of Dallas, brought the petroleum market to the area. The oil boom continued with discoveries in the Permian Basin, Texas Panhandle, and Gulf Coast, and Dallas established a solid foothold as a hub of the oil and gas market.

The economy in Dallas is driven by telecommunications, manufacturing, and engineering, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies. AT&T, Energy Transfer Equity, CBRE, Southwest Airlines, Texas Instruments, HollyFrontier, Dean Foods, and Jacobs Engineering are some of the biggest corporations headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Texas Instruments alone employs 10,000+ people at its Dallas plants and headquarters.

Leading Occupations in Dallas

According to employment information for Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the civilian workforce is comprised of about 4.22 million people. 4.08 million were employed as of March 2022.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington workers are employed in the following industries:

• Trade, transportation, and utilities (876,600 workers)
• Professional and business services (722,100 workers)
• Education and health services (483,500 workers)
• Government (453,200 workers)
• Leisure and hospitality (392,400 workers)
• Financial activities (360,700 workers)
• Manufacturing (293,200 workers)
• Mining, logging, and construction (225,700 workers)
• Other services (126,800 workers)
• Information (85,600 workers)

If you live and work in the Dallas area and were injured, Arnold & Itkin is here to help. A Dallas workplace accident attorney at our firm can talk to you about the incident itself, the impact your injury is having on your life, and what options you have in bringing forth a lawsuit. You might be surprised to find that you have more rights than you think.

Dallas Links & Resources

What a Dallas Work Injury Lawyer Can Help You Recover

After a work injury, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Injuries are expensive, and they place significant stress on workers. A local work injury law firm in Dallas can help alleviate this stress by working to secure the compensation you need to move forward. This way, you can focus on your recovery rather than how you're going to pay the bills.

Our Dallas work injury lawyers often recover losses associated with:

Our Dallas industrial injury lawyers can help you seek the compensation you need rather than the compensation you're offered. Often, companies offer settlements after serious accidents. While it may seem like they're doing the right thing, they're often trying to escape full accountability. Once a settlement is accepted by a worker or their family, further legal action becomes impossible. An industrial accident lawyer can examine your settlement offer and investigate the details of your case to make sure you're getting the help you need. When you work with Arnold & Itkin, we'll fight for fair compensation for your medical bills, cost of future care, lost wages, and any other types of losses caused by the accident.

Act Fast! Call a Workplace Accident Attorney in Dallas Now: (888) 493-1629

You need to act fast if you've been injured at work—call our offices and find out what we can do to help. Even while you're in the hospital, your employer might be working to find a way to prove that the accident was your fault or that your injuries are the result of a pre-existing condition. It's unfortunate but true; many companies care more about profits than people. Our Dallas workplace injury law firm doesn't stand for that. We want to help you get the full support you deserve.

Call (888) 493-1629 for help from a Dallas injury law firm that refuses to back down, even when the situation is complicated.