Dallas Construction Accident Lawyers Fighting for Injured Workers

TL;DR (In short): Harper Law Firm represents Dallas construction workers injured on job sites throughout the metroplex. While workers’ compensation provides basic benefits, many construction accident victims have third-party claims against equipment manufacturers, property owners, general contractors, and subcontractors that can provide full compensation. Our litigation-focused approach maximizes recovery.

Dallas’s Construction Industry

Dallas has experienced explosive growth over the past decade, and construction activity touches every corner of the metroplex. From towering downtown developments to sprawling suburban subdivisions, construction workers build the infrastructure that supports the region’s continued expansion.

This construction boom means thousands of workers face dangerous conditions daily. Falls from heights, struck-by accidents, electrocutions, and equipment malfunctions cause serious injuries and deaths on Dallas construction sites every year.

Harper Law Firm provides aggressive representation for construction workers injured on Dallas job sites. We understand that workers’ compensation often provides inadequate compensation for serious injuries, and we work to identify third-party claims that can provide full recovery.

Downtown and Uptown Development

Dallas’s urban core has seen continuous high-rise construction. Office towers, residential buildings, hotels, and mixed-use developments have transformed the skyline. These vertical construction projects present particular hazards related to working at heights, crane operations, and material handling.

The concentration of construction activity in dense urban areas creates additional challenges. Tight sites, pedestrian traffic, and traffic congestion all complicate safe operations.

Northern Suburb Expansion

The explosive growth of Frisco, McKinney, Allen, and Prosper has generated tremendous construction activity. Master-planned communities require not only home construction but also supporting infrastructure including roads, utilities, schools, and commercial developments.

This sprawling residential construction employs thousands of workers across numerous sites. The pressure to complete homes quickly can lead to safety shortcuts.

Infrastructure Projects

Major highway projects including I-635 LBJ reconstruction, I-35E expansion, and various interchange improvements employ thousands of construction workers. These projects involve working alongside active traffic, creating additional hazards.

Common Construction Accidents in Dallas

Falls from Heights

Falls remain the leading cause of construction worker deaths in Texas. Workers fall from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, elevated work platforms, and incomplete structures when fall protection fails or isn’t implemented.

OSHA requires fall protection for workers above six feet. When employers fail to provide guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems, they bear responsibility for resulting injuries.

Dallas high-rise construction and commercial roofing projects create constant fall hazards. Even experienced workers suffer serious injuries when safety equipment fails.

Struck-By Accidents

Construction sites are dynamic environments where heavy equipment, cranes, and material handling create struck-by hazards. Workers are injured by falling objects, swinging loads, moving vehicles, and equipment malfunctions.

Proper site management requires coordination of material handling, traffic control, and worker positioning. Failures in coordination lead to serious accidents.

Caught-Between Accidents

Workers suffer caught-between injuries when trapped between moving equipment and fixed objects, caught in machinery, or buried in trench collapses. These accidents often cause catastrophic injuries or death.

Trenching and excavation work presents particular dangers. OSHA requires protective systems for trenches deeper than five feet. When employers skip these protections, collapse accidents result.

Electrocution

Electrical hazards exist throughout construction sites. Contact with overhead power lines, energized equipment, and improper temporary wiring causes electrocution deaths and severe injuries.

Even non-fatal electrical injuries can cause lasting damage including cardiac problems, nerve damage, and severe burns.

Equipment Accidents

Construction sites use numerous types of heavy equipment including cranes, forklifts, excavators, and concrete trucks. Equipment malfunctions, operator errors, and inadequate maintenance all contribute to serious accidents.

Going Beyond Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Comp Limitations

Texas workers’ compensation provides wage replacement and medical benefits regardless of fault. However, these benefits have significant limitations. Workers’ comp typically pays only partial lost wages and doesn’t compensate for pain and suffering.

For workers with catastrophic injuries, workers’ compensation often leaves them significantly undercompensated for their losses.

Third-Party Claims

Many construction accident victims have claims against parties other than their employers. These third-party claims aren’t limited by workers’ compensation restrictions and can include all categories of damages.

Potential third-party defendants include general contractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, equipment rental companies, subcontractors, and design professionals.

Product Liability Claims

Defective construction equipment, tools, and safety equipment cause many accidents. Manufacturers can be held strictly liable for defective products without proving traditional negligence.

Non-Subscriber Claims

Texas doesn’t require employers to carry workers’ compensation. Non-subscribing employers can be sued directly for negligence, potentially providing better compensation than workers’ comp would have.

Identifying Liable Parties

General Contractor Liability

General contractors maintain overall site safety responsibility, even when subcontractors perform the actual work. They must coordinate safety among trades, maintain safe conditions, and ensure OSHA compliance.

When general contractors fail to implement adequate safety programs, they face liability for worker injuries regardless of who employed the injured worker.

Property Owner Responsibility

Property owners who hire contractors retain certain safety responsibilities. This is particularly true when owners maintain control over aspects of the work or know about hazardous conditions.

Subcontractor Liability

When one subcontractor creates hazards that injure workers from another subcontractor, the negligent party can be held liable. Complex projects involve many subcontractors whose work overlaps.

Equipment Manufacturer Liability

Equipment that malfunctions due to design defects, manufacturing problems, or inadequate warnings creates manufacturer liability. These claims provide compensation when equipment failures contribute to accidents.

OSHA Regulations and Construction Safety

Federal Safety Standards

OSHA establishes comprehensive construction safety standards addressing fall protection, scaffolding, excavation, electrical safety, and personal protective equipment.

OSHA violations provide strong evidence of negligence in civil lawsuits. Documented violations demonstrate that responsible parties knew or should have known about hazards.

Citation Records

OSHA requires employers to maintain injury records. These records, along with citation histories and inspection reports, provide evidence supporting liability claims.

Harper Law Firm’s Approach

Comprehensive Investigation

Construction accidents involve complex situations with multiple potential causes and liable parties. We investigate thoroughly, working with safety experts and engineers to establish what happened and who bears responsibility.

Evidence Preservation

Construction sites change rapidly after accidents. We act quickly to preserve physical evidence, obtain photographs, and secure equipment for inspection.

Aggressive Litigation

We prepare every case for trial. This approach produces better settlements and ensures we’re ready when cases require litigation.

Contact Dallas Construction Accident Lawyers Today

If you’ve been injured on a Dallas construction site, you may have claims beyond workers’ compensation. Harper Law Firm offers free consultations to evaluate your potential third-party claims.

We work on contingency—you pay no fees unless we recover compensation. Our aggressive representation helps injured workers obtain full compensation.

Contact Harper Law Firm today – Dallas construction accident lawyers fighting for injured workers.