Did you know that nearly 20 million people in Texas work in the construction industry? Because of this, the Lone Star State has more construction accidents than any other state in the country. In fact, there were 493 fatal work injuries in Texas in 2013. 
With this in mind, last month, thousands of people marched in Austin to raise awareness in an event called the “The Day of the Fallen” to honor those who die in construction-related accidents. State Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, who helped organize the event, said that one in five of the state’s construction workers ends up suffering an injury during his or her career.
During the event, some in attendance claimed that some builders are misclassifying employees in Texas to avoid paying costs related to injury accidents. Manuel Mendoza, a 55-year-old stucco mason, told the El Paso Times, that he made the trip to Austin because he felt like better safety standards needed to be adopted and enforced in Texas.
“All of the employers should be safe, not just some of them,” Mendoza said, when speaking specifically about construction workers.
Keep in mind, some common construction accidents include:
- Scaffolding and ladder accidents
- Truck accidents
- Crane, forklift and other heavy machinery accidents
- Loading/unloading accidents
- Construction site falls
Having an Attorney Investigate a Construction Accident
Remember, if you live in Texas and have been injured in a construction accident, it may be important to speak to an attorney. You may be entitled to workers’ compensation and/or you may be able to pursue a lawsuit for damages.
As we like to remind readers, employers in Texas have a choice to subscribe to the workers’ compensation system. If your employer does have a policy, you may be able to seek payments for lost income and medical treatment. If your employer is a non-subscriber, then you may be able to seek damages to pay for hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses and lost wages through a lawsuit.
This is incredibly important to note in the construction industry, where Texas seems to have an issue protecting workers. If you are an injured construction worker and you have concerns about paying for legal representation, you should not fear this, as our initial consultation is free.
The Law Offices of Aaron Allison – Austin Personal Injury Attorney
