Construction Accident Lawyers in McAllen, TX

Common Causes of Construction Accidents

The capable legal team at Leah Wise Law Firm assists construction workers in the Valley in recovering fair compensation after preventable accidents caused by the following factors:

• Inadequate safety training: When employers fail to provide comprehensive training on hazard recognition and emergency procedures, workers are left vulnerable.
• Failure to provide proper PPE: Neglecting to supply or enforce the use of harnesses, hard hats, and non-slip footwear can lead to catastrophic injuries.
• Corner-cutting: Pressure to meet tight deadlines often results in supervisors bypassing critical safety protocols, such as failing to secure scaffolds or shore up deep trenches.
• Poor site maintenance: Cluttered walkways, loose debris, and poorly marked hazard zones can result in workers paying the price for management's recklessness.
• Equipment negligence: Using outdated machinery or failing to perform regular inspections and maintenance can turn essential tools into potentially deadly threats.
• Inadequate supervision: Without proper oversight, dangerous maneuvers and technical errors go unchecked, increasing the likelihood of injurious accidents.
• Subcontractor negligence: On multi-employer sites, a lack of clear communication between crews can enable struck-by-object and machinery collisions.

Don't let site owners or insurance adjusters convince you that your injury was just an "unavoidable accident". Attorney Leah Wise can investigate every factor and build a case that proves negligence and demands accountability.

Construction Accident Injuries in McAllen, TX

Our firm proudly represents hardworking injury victims suffering from the following types of harm:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Construction workers are at high risk of TBIs due to falls from scaffolding or being struck by falling debris, tools, or materials.  
• Back and spinal cord injuries: Heavy lifting, falls, and crushing incidents frequently cause damage to the spinal cord, often resulting in partial or complete paralysis.
• Severe fractures and broken bones: Due to the presence of heavy machinery and high-elevation work, fractures on construction sites are rarely "simple" breaks.  
• Amputations and crush injuries: Caught-in or -between accidents, such as getting a limb trapped in unguarded machinery, can cause traumatic amputations.  
• Thermal, chemical, and electrical burns: Construction workers face triple the risk of burns from things like exposed wiring, hazardous solvents, and fires and explosions.  
• Internal organ damage: Blunt force trauma from a fall or struck-by incident can cause life-threatening internal bleeding and damage to the liver, kidneys, or other vital organs.
• Heat-related illnesses: Texas consistently leads the nation in heat-related workplace fatalities, with construction workers accounting for over one-third of these deaths.
• Respiratory illnesses and toxic exposure: Inhaling silica dust, asbestos fibers, or noxious fumes from welding and solvents can lead to chronic health conditions.
• Vision loss: Flying debris, sparks, and chemical splashes can cause permanent eye damage or total blindness if proper PPE isn’t provided.
• Emotional trauma: The psychological impact of a near-fatal accident or witnessing a coworker’s injury can invite severe and persistent PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

When negligence sidelines you, Leah Wise Law Firm can pursue justice and comprehensive financial support on your behalf. Our team will document the damage done, prove the impact on your life, and focus on securing the resources you need to move forward.

Types of Compensation Available After a Construction Accident

Construction accidents often involve complex, overlapping layers of liability. We’ll work tirelessly to ensure that every responsible party, from reckless subcontractors to manufacturers of faulty equipment, is held accountable.

Here are the primary types of damages you’ll be eligible to seek after a preventable construction accident:

Texas Construction Accident Laws You Should Know About

When you work with attorney Leah Wise, she’ll use her extensive knowledge of Texas law to protect your rights and maximize your recovery. Here are a few relevant legal guidelines you should be aware of:

The "Non-Subscriber" System

Texas is unique in that it doesn’t require all private employers to carry workers' compensation insurance. However, if your employer is a "non-subscriber", they don’t have the legal protections that workers' comp provides.

This means you can sue them directly for negligence. What’s more, Texas law prevents the employer from blaming you for the accident to reduce your compensation.

Third-Party Liability Claims

Even if you’re receiving workers' comp, you aren't limited to those benefits if a third party was responsible for your injury. In a bustling construction site environment, this might include a negligent subcontractor, the manufacturer of a defective tool, or an outside property owner. We’ll investigate every entity on the site to pinpoint all available sources of compensation.

Comparative Negligence

Texas follows a proportionate responsibility rule, which is laid out in Chapter 33 of the state’s Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Under this rule, you can’t recover damages if your percentage of liability for the initial accident is greater than 50%. If you’re 50% or less at fault, your compensation will be reduced by your assigned percentage of responsibility.

Statute of Limitations

Under Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for a personal injury. Missing this deadline means losing your right to seek compensation entirely.

OSHA Regulations as Evidence

While you can’t sue for an OSHA violation alone, a violation of federal safety standards can be powerful evidence of negligence in a personal injury case. We can review OSHA investigation reports and safety logs to show that the at-fault party ignored the law and put your life at risk.