How Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers Helps After a Construction Accident
A construction accident attorney finds every source of compensation, not just the workers’ comp check. Construction site injuries in Fort Worth often involve several companies working on one job, and each may carry its own insurance.
Our founder, Brad Parker, has practiced law since 1985 and is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
When you hire us, we:
- Investigate what caused the accident, with experts when they strengthen your case
- Find out whether your employer carries workers’ comp
- Identify every third party who may share responsibility
- Gather evidence such as site records, safety plans, photos, and witness statements
- File insurance claims and lawsuits on time
- Negotiate for the full value of your damages and go to court if needed
We work on a contingency fee, so you don’t owe attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
What Causes Construction Accidents in Fort Worth?
Most construction accidents come from preventable safety failures. Workers have the right to a reasonably safe site and safe tools. Common causes include:
- Missing guardrails, fall protection, or harnesses
- Scaffold and ladder failures
- Defective or poorly maintained tools and heavy equipment
- Missing guards on power tools
- Too little training on machinery
- Poor signs and warnings
- Unsafe site conditions and tripping hazards
- Electrical hazards
- Exposure to toxic substances
Types of Construction Accidents We Handle
We handle construction site injury cases of every kind, including:
- Falls from roofs, ladders, and scaffolding
- Slips and falls on the job site
- Struck-by accidents from falling tools, materials, or debris
- Crane, forklift, and heavy machinery accidents
- Trench, excavation, and building collapses
- Demolition accidents
- Electrocution
- Fires and explosions
- Work zone crashes involving vehicles
- Injuries from defective tools and machines
Who Is Responsible for a Construction Accident?
Responsibility depends on who controlled the work and the hazard that hurt you. Several parties may share it:
- The general contractor
- Subcontractors working on the site
- The property owner
- Equipment and tool manufacturers (product liability)
- Equipment rental companies
- Drivers in a work zone
- Government entities that own the project
- Your employer, if it is a non-subscriber
Sorting this out is often the hardest part of the case, especially when you have both a comp claim and a lawsuit available.
Workers’ Comp vs. a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Texas is the only state that lets most private employers opt out of workers’ compensation. That choice shapes your options:
- Your employer has comp. You receive no-fault benefits for medical care and part of your lost wages. Comp pays nothing for pain and suffering, and you usually cannot sue your employer.
- Your employer is a non-subscriber. You may sue it for negligence, and it cannot rely on several defenses, including blaming you or a co-worker.
- A third party contributed. You may sue that party for full damages whether or not comp applies.
Our guide on workers’ comp versus a personal injury claim explains the trade-offs in more detail. For other job injuries, see our workplace accident page.
What Compensation Can You Receive?
In a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek the full value of your losses, which is usually far more than comp pays. Economic damages include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages, benefits, and earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages include physical pain, mental anguish, scarring, disfigurement, impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life. Juries award punitive damages only in a small number of cases involving gross negligence, malice, or fraud.
Construction injuries we see include amputations, crush injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, and electrocution. When a worker is killed, families may have a wrongful death claim.
What Deadlines Apply to Construction Accident Claims?
Several deadlines run at once, and missing one can end a claim. Report your injury to your employer within 30 days, then file a workers’ comp claim within one year. A personal injury lawsuit generally must be filed within two years.
Get medical care right away and tell your employer in writing. Early treatment helps your recovery and documents the link between the accident and your injuries.
About Brad Parker
Fort Worth Construction Accident FAQs
Can I sue my employer after a construction accident in Texas?
It depends on whether your employer carries workers' compensation. If it does, comp is usually your only remedy against the employer, though families may have a claim for gross negligence when a worker is killed. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you may be able to sue it for negligence, and it loses several common defenses.
Can I file a lawsuit if I'm receiving workers' comp?
Often, yes, against someone other than your employer. General contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and drivers who cause a work zone crash can all be third parties. A third-party lawsuit can recover damages that workers' comp does not pay, such as pain and suffering and full lost wages.
What are the deadlines after a construction injury in Texas?
To protect workers' comp benefits, report the injury to your employer within 30 days and file a claim with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, within one year. A personal injury lawsuit generally must be filed within two years. Claims involving government entities can have much shorter notice deadlines.
Who can be responsible for a construction site accident?
Responsibility depends on who controlled the work and the hazard. Possible defendants include the general contractor, subcontractors, the property owner, equipment and tool manufacturers, equipment rental companies, a non-subscribing employer, and drivers in a work zone. Many accidents involve more than one responsible party.
What if I was partly at fault for my construction accident?
Workers' comp is no-fault, so your own mistake generally doesn't bar benefits unless you were intoxicated or hurt yourself on purpose. In a lawsuit, Texas modified comparative fault applies. If you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery is reduced by your share. At 51% or more, you recover nothing.
How much does a construction accident lawyer cost?
We handle construction accident cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront and don't owe attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee will never exceed your recovery, and we explain the exact terms in writing before we begin.
Visit Our Fort Worth Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
209 N Hampton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed