Construction Accident Lawyer
Anyone who has ever worked on a construction site in Texas knows the risks involved. Many construction sites represent barely controlled chaos, with hundreds of workers manipulating heavy machinery and materials. Even the best-run site is bound to see a few accidents.
Indeed, there are more than 150,000 construction-related accidents each year in the United States. While many of these accidents only resulted in minor injuries, some are life-threatening and even fatal. And even a relatively “minor” injury can leave a worker with a pile of unpaid medical bills and mounting expenses. So it is important to seek legal advice from an experienced lawyer regarding options for seeking compensation. Attorney Keith B. French is a qualified Texas workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer who can offer you advice and representation following a construction accident.
Does Workers’ Compensation Fully Cover a Construction-Related Accident in Texas?
Just about every employer at a construction site is required to have workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. Workers’ comp is designed to provide “no-fault” benefits to workers who are injured on the job. This means that unlike a personal injury lawsuit, you do not have to prove your employer’s negligence caused your injury. Nor can your employer refuse coverage simply because your own actions may have contributed to a construction accident.
But filing a workers’ comp claim is no guarantee of benefits. Construction companies rely on insurance companies to provide coverage. And insurance companies are quite adept at denying or limiting workers’ compensation claims for a host of technical reasons. By working with a construction accident lawyer, you can help to ensure you are not improperly denied the full amount of workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to under the law.
It is also important to note that workers’ compensation does not cover all of an injured worker’s lost wages or medical costs. That is why you may need to explore the possibility of bringing a separate lawsuit. While workers’ compensation generally protects employers from such lawsuits, such protection does not cover third parties whose negligent actions caused an accident. For example, if a worker is injured due to a defective piece of equipment, the manufacturer may be liable. Or if an accident is caused by someone who is not affiliated with the job site, they can also be sued. And in some cases, an employer’s actions may be so reckless or negligent that an employee can step outside of workers’ comp and pursue a separate legal claim.
Contact Keith B. French Law Today
Construction companies and their insurers are often quick to pressure injured workers into accepting workers’ comp settlements. Such settlements may be for far less than what the worker is entitled to under the law. That is why you should never agree to settle without first speaking to an experienced Pearland construction accident lawyer who can review your case and offer you an independent assessment of your claim. Contact Keith B. French Law, PLLC, today to schedule a free consultation.
