Lubbock Construction Accident Attorneys
Billions Won by Proven Construction Injury Lawyers
Each day, construction workers walk into some of the most dangerous workplaces in America. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released data which reveals just how dangerous construction jobs are: construction workers make up 1 out of every 5 fatalities in private sector jobs.
In fact, OSHA’s data from 2016 shows that of 4,693 deaths, construction workers accounted for 991 of them, or 21 percent of all workplace fatalities.
Workers at a construction site face safety risks including heavy machinery, elevated heights, and hazardous materials. Though these things are necessary to have a functioning construction site, employers are legally obligated to mitigate workplace risks as much as possible. Any time a construction injury or death happens, it is a result of an employer's failure to provide a safe work environment.
The Lubbock construction accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin have held some of the largest construction companies in Texas accountable for unsafe practices. We've represented workers who lost their ability to walk, lost limbs, suffered serious burns, or suffered other types of grievous harm in construction accidents. Our firm made sure these workers received everything they needed to pay for medical care, provide for themselves, and rebuild their lives. We've won billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements; when you need an attorney who has the resources and track record to get results, call Arnold & Itkin LLP.
If you have experienced an injury due to negligence, call our Lubbock construction accident attorneys at (888) 493-1629 today for a free consultation.
The Four Fatal Threats to Construction Workers
While examining the causes of workplace deaths, OSHA noticed a set of four common perils that commonly play a role in deadly accidents. These factors account for 63 percent of the industry deaths in 2016 and are known as the Fatal Four. If employers properly protected employees from the Fatal Four through compliance with safety regulations, 631 workers that died in 2016 might still be alive today.
The Fatal Four consists of the following:
- Falls (38.7%)
- Struck by object (9.4%)
- Electrocutions (8.3%)
- Caught in-between (7.3%)
If construction deaths were random and unpredictable, regulators would have a greater challenge in making workplaces safer. However, data shows that hazards are predictable, and, as a result, preventable. Employers must take responsibility for the well-being of their workers. Lives are invaluable—and profits are never a valid reason to cut corners with safety.
Types of Construction Site Accidents
Though deaths are not always the result of an accident, injury to workers can change their lives forever. After a serious accident, an individual may experience exorbitant debt, severe pain, and a decreased capacity to earn a living.
Common construction accidents include:
- Slips and falls
- Scaffolding accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Accidents involving machines
- Electric shock
- Roofing collapse
- Struck by falling tools or debris
Recent Lubbock Texas Construction Accidents
Lubbock is one of the largest cities in West Texas. With a population of about 250,000, the city is projected to have over 320,000 residents within the next few years. As more people decide to call Lubbock home, there will be more expansive construction projects to accommodate them. Without accountability, the growing city may be subject to construction accidents in the coming years.
Recent construction accidents include the following:
- In October of 2008, a construction worker was killed after he was crushed by a concrete block. The accident was caused when a backhoe experienced a critical failure and dropped the heavy block on the man.
- In March 2004, a construction worker’s pipe crane fell into a ditch. Once rescue crews reached the man, medical workers were unable to save his life.
- In July 2017, a worker was killed when a crew member of a team that was paving the Marsha Sharp Freeway fell into the path of a machine.
Arnold & Itkin Fights for Lubbock Construction Workers
When incidents such as the above happen, Arnold & Itkin LLP fights for the well-being of construction workers. Our firm has won billions of dollars for clients who are seeking recovery for their medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other hardships. Hundreds of our results were worth $1 million or more, and dozens of them were worth $10 million or more.
In one of our most notable cases, we won a $44 million verdict for a supervisor who was overseeing a construction project when a crane collapse led to the loss of his leg above the knee. His verdict is still the largest verdict ever handed down for an amputee victim in U.S. history. This result (and every result) represents another person who could afford to get the treatment and long-term care they needed.
Construction Accident FAQ
What are the most common construction accidents?
Falls are the most common type of construction accidents, accounting for about one-third of construction worker injuries in the U.S. each year. This includes falls from heights, such as ladders or scaffolding, and also slip and fall or trip and fall accidents. A serious fall could leave a construction worker with life-changing injuries or may even be fatal. Other common construction accidents involve being struck by a swinging or falling object, electrical injuries, and being caught in or between equipment or materials.
What causes construction accidents?
Construction work is hazardous, but this is no excuse for accidents that leave workers seriously injured or killed. Every accident can be traced to a specific cause, and as Lubbock construction injury lawyers, our goal is to identify that cause so we can seek answers and accountability for survivors and families.
The following are common causes of construction site accidents:
- Inadequate or incorrect fall protection for workers on scaffolding or other elevated structures
- Inadequate protection for ground workers to prevent falling objects or debris
- Slip and trip hazards caus1ed by debris, materials, or other substances at the construction site
- Missing or defective guards or protection on power tools and heavy machinery
- Defective or dangerous machinery, tools, or equipment
What can a Lubbock construction accident lawyer do to help me?
After a construction accident, you need help. You need medical treatment and you need financial assistance to cover medical care and your lost earnings, but you may find that help is hard to come by. Instead of treating you fairly and giving you the aid you deserve, your employer may try to avoid their responsibility. You might find that your workers' compensation claim is ignored, delayed, or denied. You might be pressured into returning to the construction site before you're ready. If your employer is not covered by workers' comp, you may be confused about how to recover benefits for your injuries.
Our team at Arnold & Itkin can address all of your concerns. We can answer all of your questions and help you take the right steps to get the treatment, support, and care you deserve. With all of our attorneys' experience in the field of construction injury claims, we are confident in our ability to help you. We never back down from a fight because we believe in helping good people recover from the worst situations.
Free Construction Accident Consultation
There is no upfront cost to calling our construction injury firm in Lubbock. We provide free consultations to discuss your legal and financial options, and we take no fee unless we win your case. There's no risk to calling us, but call soon—the state of Texas only gives you two years from the date of your injury to file a claim. Speak with us today to learn what you can do to secure your future.
If you or a loved one has been injured, call (888) 493-1629. If we take your case, you pay no upfront costs and no fees unless we win.