CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT LAWYERS
Workers in the construction industry may be exposed to a variety of hazardous situations, as they regularly use heavy machinery, scaffolding and power tools.
No matter how careful people are, unforeseen events occur that could end up injuring or killing construction workers. Falls, electrocution, carbon monoxide poisoning, injuries from falling steel and wooden beams or other objects, overexertion from lifting, exposure to chemicals and asbestos, and incidents involving heavy machinery are just a few examples of incidents that could result in injury or death.
If you suffered injuries or lost a close relative in a worksite accident, our construction accident lawyer in Texas at Trujillo & Sanchez, P.C. stand ready to recover the money you need to rebuild your life.
Why Do You Need a Construction Accident Lawyer to Claim Compensation in Texas?
A construction accident lawyer can investigate the accident and all relevant factors to gather data and evidence. This information is vital to moving a lawsuit forward and successfully claiming workers’ compensation benefits. If you have been denied the benefits you deserve, we will help correct any issues with your claim and demand what the insurance company owes you.
At Trujillo & Sanchez, P.C., you’ll find a nearby construction accident lawyer who will fight for your case, so that you get the maximum benefits possible.
What Compensation Can We Get for Your Texas Construction Accident?
Like most manual labor jobs, if you’re injured while working in construction, you’re likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) explains how a workers’ compensation claim can pay for:
Medical benefits for treatment.
Income benefits and disability benefits.
Occupational rehabilitation benefits.
Death benefits for dependents.
Of these benefits, the two most prevalent are medical and income benefits.
Medical Benefits for Workers’ Compensation
In Texas, workers’ compensation will pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses for your work-related injury or illness. When receiving medical care, you may be able to choose your doctor under certain circumstances. However, for the most part, you will need to select a doctor from a specified list. In addition, there are special rules for changing your physician.
If your claim is in a healthcare network, you must choose a doctor from that network. If you receive treatment from a doctor outside of the network without approval from the DWC, you will pay for your medical expenses out-of-pocket.
If your claim is not in a healthcare network, you are free to choose a doctor at will. However, the DWC cautions you not to select a doctor prohibited from providing workers’ comp treatment in Texas. The state offers a list for you to check.
Income Benefits for Workers’ Compensation in Texas
Income benefits cover a portion of the wages you lost due to your construction accident. You could receive four types of income benefits, depending on the type and duration of your injury:
Temporary Income Benefits (TIBs)
You may receive temporary income benefits if your construction accident injury causes you to lose some or all your income for more than seven days. Benefit payments are 70% of the difference between your average weekly wage and the amount of money you can earn each week post-accident.
TIBs end when you have either:
Reached maximum medical improvement (i.e., your injuries are not medically expected to get any better).
Returned to work and are earning as much money as before.
Run out of TIB payments after 104 weeks.
Impairment Benefits (IIBs)
Impairment benefits compensation for work-related illness and injury that permanently (or likely permanently) affects your body. The benefit amount is 70% of your average weekly wage. An impairment rating you receive from your healthcare provider will determine the duration of your payments.
The impairment rating is the percentage of permanent damage done to your body.
You would receive three weeks of impairment benefit payments for every percentage point of damage. For instance, a 20% impairment rating would yield 60 weeks of IIBs (3 x 20 = 60). The DWC generally does not assess IIBs until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement; therefore, payments wouldn’t start until after temporary income benefits have ended.
Supplemental Income Benefits (SIBs)
You may receive supplemental income benefits from the insurance carrier after your IIBs have ended if you did not accept a lump-sum payment for your construction injuries and you:
Have an impairment of 15% or greater
Have not gone back to work, or, if you have, you earn less than 80% of the average weekly wage for that job.
Can show that you actively seek work
These benefits payments are 80% of the difference between 80% of your average weekly wage and the weekly amount you received after you returned to work if you returned.
Lifetime Income Benefits (LIBs)
You could receive benefits for the rest of your life if you have total and permanent loss of use of a body part. The body parts specified by the Texas Division of Compensation include:
The complete and permanent loss of eyesight in both eyes
Loss of hands or feet
Spinal injuries resulting in paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries
Third-degree burns covering certain parts and portions of the body
Types of Construction Accidents in Texas
A construction worker can sustain on-the-job injuries in countless ways. For example, the top 10 construction accidents include:
Falls.
Falling debris.
Electrocutions.
Explosions or burns.
Machinery accidents.
Getting trapped under materials.
Trench or ground collapse.
Being run over by a vehicle.
Excessive physical labor.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data, there were 5,333 worker fatalities in 2019 (3.5 per 100,000 full-time workers), averaging more than 100 per week or approximately 15 fatalities every day.
In addition, nearly 20% (1,061) of private industry worker fatalities in 2019 occurred in construction.
What Injuries Are Caused by Construction Accidents?
Construction workers who experience accidents can suffer these severe injuries:
Burns or electrocution
Spinal cord injury that could cause paraplegia or quadriplegia.
Eye injuries, including visual impairment or blindness.
Hearing injuries from working around noisy machinery.
Broken bones or injuries to joints or bones, including knee, ankle, neck, shoulder, or back.
Illnesses caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.
Head or brain injury.
In addition, due to excessive manual labor in construction, employees in this industry frequently suffer injuries such as:
Repetitive motion injuries.
Muscle and joint damage due to overuse.
Heat stress in hot conditions that can lead to brain, heart, or kidney damage, possibly causing death.
Hypothermia or frostbite resulting in loss of fingers, toes, and parts of the face in cold climates.
We Will Pursue All the Benefits You are Entitled to Receive
At Trujillo & Sanchez, P.C., we’ll fight to get you the maximum construction accident compensation benefits possible. We’ve recovered over $500 million in damages for our clients. The expenses associated with an accident can be high, so you won’t pay us unless we win your case.
Call (972) 529-3476 now for a free consultation. An experienced construction accident lawyer in Texas can fight for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us!
What compensation can we get for your construction accident in Texas?
Like most manual labor jobs, if you’re injured while working in construction, you’re likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. A workers’ compensation claim can pay for:
- Medical benefits for treatment.
- Disability benefits through workers’ compensation.
- Occupational rehabilitation benefits.
- Death benefits for dependents.
At the Law Offices of Trujillo Sanchez, we’ll fight to get you the maximum construction accident compensation benefits possible. We’ve recovered over $500 million in damages for our clients. The expenses associated with an accident can be high, so you won’t pay us unless we win your case.
Call now for a free consultation; if we don’t win, you don’t pay us!