How Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers Helps After a Bedford Construction Accident
A Bedford construction accident lawyer sorts out which claims you have, against whom, and under which deadlines. That question is often harder than it looks. The answer depends on whether you were a worker or a bystander, whether your employer carries workers’ compensation, and which other companies were on site.
Brad Parker has represented injured people in Bedford and Northeast Tarrant County since 1985. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
When you hire us, we:
- Investigate how the accident happened
- Find out whether your employer is a workers’ comp subscriber
- Identify contractors, property owners, and manufacturers who share responsibility
- Gather evidence such as site records, photos, and witness statements
- Calculate your damages, including future medical care and lost earning capacity
- Handle the insurance companies and negotiate for you
- File a lawsuit if a fair settlement isn’t offered
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Texas?
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in Texas. According to a Texas Department of Insurance fatal injury census, construction accounted for 27% of all workplace deaths in the state in 2020.
Construction accident cases fall into two groups:
- Workers hurt on the job, including employees of the general contractor and of subcontractors
- People who aren’t part of the project, such as pedestrians, drivers, or visitors hurt by falling debris, a blocked walkway, or a work zone crash
Common types of construction accidents include:
- Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and roofs
- Heavy machinery and forklift accidents
- Struck-by accidents and falling debris
- Electrocutions
- Fires and explosions
- Trench and ground collapses
- Demolition accidents
- Slip and falls on cluttered sites
Why Do Construction Accidents Happen?
Most construction accidents are caused by someone’s negligence, usually a failure to follow basic safety practices. Common causes include:
- Missing or inadequate protective equipment
- Scaffolding without guardrails
- Failure to inspect or maintain machinery
- Poor safety training, or poor training on heavy equipment and power tools
- Tripping hazards and disorganized sites
- Defective tools and equipment
- Missing or inadequate warning signs
- Lack of supervision
The construction company is responsible for keeping the site as safe as reasonably possible for workers and the public. When it fails to, it can be held responsible.
Who Is Responsible for a Bedford Construction Accident?
Responsibility depends on how the accident happened, and several parties often share it. We investigate:
- Your employer, especially if it does not carry workers’ compensation
- The general contractor, which often controls site safety
- Subcontractors whose crews created the hazard
- The property owner
- Equipment manufacturers and rental companies, when a machine or tool failed
- A government entity, on public projects or when a road work zone was unsafe
Workers’ comp or a lawsuit? If your employer subscribes to workers’ compensation, benefits are generally available without proving fault, but they cover only part of your economic losses and nothing for pain and suffering. Texas lets employers opt out of workers’ comp, and a non-subscriber can be sued for negligence. Either way, a claim against a negligent third party may still be possible. Read more in workers’ comp vs. personal injury claims in Texas and on our Bedford workplace accident lawyer page.
Common Construction Accident Injuries
Construction accidents often cause serious or catastrophic injuries. Common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord, back, and neck injuries
- Crush injuries and amputations
- Severe burns
- Eye injuries
- Suffocation
- Toxic chemical exposure
Some injuries appear right away. Others, such as illness from chemical exposure, may not show up for years. If a loved one was killed, see our Bedford wrongful death lawyer page.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Construction Accident?
In a personal injury claim, you can recover economic and non-economic damages. Workers’ compensation pays only part of your economic losses, which is one reason identifying a third party or a non-subscribing employer matters.
Economic damages can include:
- Past and future medical bills
- In-home nursing care and domestic help
- Past and future lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, permanent impairment, and disfigurement.
Punitive damages may be available if the defendant acted with fraud, malice, or gross negligence, proven by clear and convincing evidence.
Keep your bills, pay stubs, and receipts organized. They help prove your losses.
What If I Was Partly at Fault?
In a personal injury lawsuit, Texas modified comparative fault lets you recover as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. Your damages are reduced by your share of fault. If you were 25% responsible, you recover 75%. Construction companies often blame the worker, so we gather the evidence to answer that.
How Long Do I Have to File a Construction Accident Claim in Texas?
You generally have two years from the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. Workers’ compensation runs on its own timeline: you should report your injury to your employer within 30 days or you may lose benefits. Talk to a lawyer early so you don’t miss either deadline.
About Brad Parker
Bedford Construction Accident FAQs
How much does a construction accident lawyer cost in Bedford?
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles construction accident cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront, and you don't owe attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. The fee is a percentage of the recovery agreed in writing before we start, and our fee will never exceed your recovery.
Can I sue my employer after a construction accident in Texas?
It depends on whether your employer carries workers' compensation insurance. Texas lets private employers opt out of workers' comp. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you may be able to sue it for negligence. If it does carry coverage, workers' comp is usually your remedy against the employer, but other parties may still be sued.
Who else can be responsible for a construction site injury?
Construction sites usually involve several companies. A general contractor, a subcontractor whose crew created a hazard, the property owner, an equipment rental company, or the manufacturer of a defective tool or machine may share responsibility. A claim against these third parties can include damages workers' comp doesn't pay.
I was hurt walking past a construction site. Do I have a claim?
You may. Construction companies must keep their sites reasonably safe for the public as well as their workers. Falling debris, blocked or broken sidewalks, and poorly marked work zones can injure pedestrians and drivers. Those claims are ordinary personal injury claims, and workers' comp rules don't apply.
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim?
For a personal injury lawsuit, you generally have two years from the date of the accident in Texas. For workers' compensation, you should report the injury to your employer within 30 days, and there is a separate deadline to file the claim itself. Talk to a lawyer early to confirm which deadlines apply to you.
Visit Our Bedford Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Bedford Office
2317 Plaza Pkwy #100, Bedford, TX 76021
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed