San Antonio construction never stops. Whenever you drive around town, you always see construction happening, whether it is a new building or a repaved road.
All of this construction is a good thing. It keeps our neighbors employed and shows we live in a booming community. But construction is also dangerous, and many people suffer serious and life-threatening injuries while doing these jobs.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury working at a construction job site, speak with your neighbors at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers. Our team of San Antonio construction accident attorneys can help determine who caused your accident and can work diligently to hold them accountable for your injuries and your medical bills. You do not have to go through this alone.
Getting Results for San Antonio Construction Accident Victims
The mission of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers is to get maximum compensation for accident victims. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for accident victims; money that goes a long way to help them cover their medical expenses and other financial losses.
Construction sites pose many dangers. Many of these can cause serious injuries and deaths. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 20 percent of all workplace accident deaths happen in the construction industry. No other type of work comes close.
If you have lost a loved one in a construction accident, you may be going through one of the most emotional and challenging times in your life. You may not know what happens next, and you are certainly not thinking about all of the expenses coming up.
Your friends at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers are prepared to help you overcome the challenges you face. Your trauma and grief will take a long time to heal. We can focus on helping you recover maximum compensation for the loss of your loved one. While no amount of money will undo your loss and take away your pain, it can help ensure that you have time to focus on your family and not worry about your finances.
If you have survived a San Antonio construction accident, you may face a lifetime of medical challenges. Getting the compensation you deserve from the negligent party can be vital to your ability to get better. Putting all of your effort and energy into your physical recovery requires a San Antonio construction accident lawyer guiding you through the complex legal process. The last thing you need is to worry about covering your medical expenses and shouldering the financial burden of being out of work.
Construction Sites Present Numerous Hazards
Even when you do everything right and take every precaution, construction accidents can still happen. Construction sites are dangerous places, and you may face countless hazards in a single day's work.
Falls and Falling Objects
Texas has one of the worst construction site fatality rates in the country. Falling is the most common cause of construction accident deaths in Texas. The potential for falling on a job site is great. You can trip over loose items. You can fall from scaffolding. These accidents can cause everything from a sprained wrist to life-threatening injuries.
Falling objects also present serious hazards. Other construction workers working from a height may accidentally drop an object or fail to properly secure an object. When these objects fall, they can seriously injure another worker.
Equipment
Construction equipment ranges from handheld devices like hammers and nail guns to large machinery like forklifts or dump trucks. This equipment is essential to completing the job at hand, but it can also present serious dangers to workers.
If equipment is used correctly but malfunctions and causes an injury, you may hold the negligent manufacturer liable for your injuries. If another worker did not use the equipment correctly or was not trained on the proper use of the equipment, you may hold the other worker or their employer accountable for your injuries.
Collapses
When equipment or ground collapses, it can trap workers and crush them. Collapsing scaffolding can fall on top of workers on the ground and injure any workers using the scaffolding.
When digging a trench or excavating the ground, the walls must be properly built and supported. If not, the ground could collapse, injuring or trapping workers beneath with limited oxygen supply. Negligence can play a key role in a collapse injury—often the result of working too quickly or not being properly trained.
Chemical Exposure
Depending on the type of construction you do, you may be exposed to chemicals regularly. These chemicals can present serious injuries internally if you frequently breathe them.
By wearing appropriate protective gear and taking care to use chemicals as instructed, you can attempt to avoid exposure. But even taking these proactive precautions may not be enough when someone else's negligence is involved.
Electrocution
Many construction sites have exposed electrical wires. As a building is built, the wires will eventually be hidden behind walls, but during construction, they are fully exposed. They may even be live wires.
Touching a live wire can transfer a small jolt of electricity or, if the voltage is too high, seriously injure a construction worker. Having these live wires fully exposed is not proper protocol and can be considered to be the direct result of someone else's negligence.
Common Construction Site Injuries
There are many reasons why you may have suffered an injury on a construction job site. Most of the reasons can trace back to some form of human error. Someone else's negligence may entitle you to compensation from them so you do not pay a penny out of your own pocket.
Just like there are many causes of construction accidents, there are countless injuries that result from those accidents. These injuries range in severity from minor cuts and scrapes to life-threatening internal injuries. In recent years, Texas workplace deaths have increased.
Cuts and Scrapes
These injuries might seem minor, and you may even want to just wipe away any blood and keep working. But you should not discount any type of injury you suffer. Even cuts can become infected, causing long-term injuries.
Cuts and scrapes can happen when equipment is used improperly, when you trip and fall over equipment left out, or come into contact with an exposed nail or sharp object. All of these incidents could result from someone else's negligence. With the right San Antonio construction accident attorney at your side, you can attempt to hold them liable for your injuries and get every dollar you deserve.
Broken Bones
One of the most common construction worksite injuries includes broken bones. Tripping and falling over loose equipment left out can easily cause a broken bone; so can a fall from a height. Even improper use of a hammer can crush a finger bone easily.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Falling objects, tripping and falling, and falling from a height can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Concussions are the most well-known TBI, but far from the only.
Any injury involving the brain requires immediate medical attention. You may have bleeding in your brain that requires surgery to release the pressure on your skull. TBIs can be fatal, and you do not even have to receive a direct blow to the head to have a TBI. So if you have suffered any injury on a construction worksite where you could have a head injury, see a doctor immediately.
Joint Injuries
Construction work often involves repetitive motion. These repetitive movements can place extra wear and tear on your joints.
Joints can also suffer serious injuries when you fall—for instance, tripping or falling from a scaffolding. While these injuries may appear minor, they can cause excruciating pain and long-lasting effects.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often associated with soldiers. But PTSD can happen to anyone who suffers a serious injury or traumatic life event.
When you suffer a construction injury, you may live in fear that your injury will happen again; that you will suffer a more serious injury next time. This can prevent you from doing your job well—in turn, making it difficult for you to earn a living and provide for your family.
Do not discount PTSD and other mental and emotional scarring you may have after a worksite injury. These are traumatic injuries that you need to take seriously.
Steps to Take After Your San Antonio Construction Accident Accident
When you suffer an injury at work, you may want to remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible. You might be embarrassed and just want to leave. That can be a mistake. The steps you take right after your construction worksite accident can play a vital role in your ability to collect maximum compensation for your injuries.
Call 911 and Alert Your Supervisor
Calling 911 can send emergency medical personnel to your worksite to give you medical aid. They could transport you to the hospital for further treatment if necessary. You should also alert your supervisor. If your employer caused your injury in part, you may have a workers' compensation claim, and your supervisor will need to file a report documenting exactly what happened.
Get a Police Accident Report
Calling 911 will also send police to your worksite. They will speak with you and other witnesses to help determine what happened. This report can provide crucial information about how your accident happened. In some cases, it may also contradict the report from your employer, showing they may be hiding something.
Get a Copy of Your Employer's Accident Report
Your supervisor will document your accident. You need and are entitled to a copy of that report. You want to get that report quickly so you can give it to your San Antonio construction accident lawyer to review.
Take Pictures
If your injuries prevent you from taking this step, ask a trusted friend to help. You want to get pictures and videos of the entire accident scene, your injuries, and any equipment involved in your accident. This evidence can help to show exactly how your accident occurred.
Talk to Witnesses
On a construction job site, there may be many witnesses to your accident. Getting their perspective can provide insight into the moments leading up to your accident. Your lawyer would want to know every person who may have information so they can try to speak to them and get their perspective.
Keep a Journal
Write in your journal every day. Detail your pain levels, any obstacles you had to overcome, and any setbacks in your recovery. Telling your daily struggle in your own words can help you remember every hurdle you faced and also show exactly how your injuries have negatively impacted your life.
Contact Dolman Law Group
When you suffer any worksite injury, especially a serious one that may threaten your ability to earn a living, you should try to pursue compensation from the negligent party. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers stands ready to help you collect maximum compensation for your injuries.
San Antonio Construction Accident FAQs
Suffering a construction accident injury can cause you serious pain, but also confusion about what comes next. You may have questions not only about your physical condition and whether you can work again, but also about how you pay your bills.
That is where the guidance of a San Antonio construction accident lawyer can help. Your legal advocate can answer your questions and guide you through the complex legal process ahead, all in an attempt to collect maximum compensation for you.
Your neighbors at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyer stand ready to answer your questions. Below are some of the most common questions we receive from construction accident victims. If you have more specific questions for us, we are only a phone call away.
How are construction sites regulated?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates all construction worksites. This government agency enforces workplace safety by helping to ensure that an employer and any other companies operating on a job site remain compliant with safety regulations.
Compliance with OSHA regulations helps to reduce the number of worksite injuries. It can also help to reduce the severity of any injuries caused. But construction sites are dangerous and even the most compliant of companies that operate job sites may still end up with injured workers. To find out if someone else's negligence caused your injuries, speak with a trusted construction accident lawyer in San Antonio right away.
I was injured passing by a construction site. Do I have any legal options?
Construction sites often operate in crowded areas. You have probably walked under some scaffolding at some point. They put this up for your safety.
But, that protection is not always sufficient. As a passerby, you are entitled to a safe area to walk. If you suffer an injury, you may hold the property owner or a contractor liable for your injuries by proving their negligence.
I am already collecting workers' compensation benefits. Who can I sue?
Many companies often operate on the same construction site. These companies employ different people, all of which may be liable for your injuries. Your employer may also be liable.
When you suffer an on-the-job injury, you can collect workers' compensation benefits under your employer's workers' compensation policy. That may prevent you from collecting additional compensation from your employer, but not from another company.
Called third-party liability, if you can prove another company or an employee of another company caused your construction worksite injuries through negligent action, you could collect additional compensation from them. This is often well worth the time and effort because workers' compensation coverage may only cover your precise medical expenses and lost wages. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may have a much larger financial burden to cover.
How do I know if I even have a case?
You speak with a construction accident lawyer in San Antonio. When you suffer injuries at work, the last thing you need is to worry and stress over paying your bills. By wondering if you have a case, you may overwhelm yourself with these concerns.
Partnering with a legal advocate can help you reduce your stress and anxiety. Your lawyer can investigate your construction accident, review the evidence, and determine whether someone else's negligence caused or contributed to your accident. If so, you can work with your legal advisor in an attempt to hold the negligent party liable for your injuries and collect money from them.
How much is my San Antonio construction accident case worth?
This is the question construction accident victims ask us most frequently.
Ultimately, the answer depends on:
- Number of medical procedures
- Amount of time you spend out of work
- Whether you can return to work
- Prescription medications required
- Length of hospital stays
- Whether you need rehabilitation
- Amount of in-home care required
Each of these items not only comes with a great deal of time and effort on your part, but also with heavy costs. The more severe your injuries, the more likely it is that you might recover a substantial amount of money. To help give you an idea of how much money you may collect, speaking with a San Antonio construction accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident is your best move.
What damages could I get?
Every construction accident and every construction injury is unique.
But there are some common damages your lawyer might try to get you, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost income
- Lost earning potential
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Present and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
Your ability to physically recover from your injuries can cost an astronomical amount of money. Even minor injuries can cost a ton. A concussion, while a serious injury, is often not life-threatening and it can cost millions of dollars to fully recover from.
It can be vital to your ability to make a full recovery that you partner with a trusted construction accident attorney in San Antonio. You deserve legal guidance that works to protect your rights and to collect every dollar you deserve.
My injuries prevent me from going back to work. What do I do now?
Some of the most serious construction accident injuries will prevent victims from ever returning to work. Not only can this create immense anxiety, it also means that you now have concerns over paying your regular bills. When this situation happens, the family members often feel pressure to take on extra work and cover the financial loss suffered. It is important to remember that this is not their burden to bear on their own.
When you cannot return to work because of your workplace injuries, you may need a lifetime of compensation. It is not your fault that you cannot work. Your path to collect maximum compensation would be to hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries.
To do that, your lawyer would attempt to prove that:
- Someone else owed you a duty of care to act in a reasonably safe manner;
- They breached that duty of care by failing to act safely;
- Their actions caused an accident; and
- You suffered an injury as a result.
This might seem straightforward, but to prove this legally is much more difficult. It requires an intense investigation of your construction site accident. Your lawyer must speak with multiple witnesses and consult with medical experts. That is why you must speak with our legal advisors right away.
I already got a settlement. What good is a San Antonio construction accident lawyer?
You need to know that the insurance company is not looking out for your best interests. The insurance company representing the negligent party in your construction accident may contact you just days after your accident. You might get excited when the insurance adjuster tells you that they are calling to offer you a settlement.
They know you are out of work and they know you have medical bills piling up. They could use this knowledge to their advantage to try to settle your case for much less than it is worth. The insurance company generally wants to make you go away for as little money as they possibly can. That goal is the exact opposite of yours.
Your San Antonio construction accident lawyer, however, shares your goal of collecting maximum compensation. The right lawyer can actually increase your settlement. The insurance adjuster may lie to you and tell you that a lawyer will just take money from you because the offer you have now is the absolute best one they can offer. Do not believe them.
Many accident victims underestimate the value of their claim and the amount of money they need to recover so they do not pay a dime out of their own pocket. This often leads to tragic situations where victims end up on the hook for medical bills resulting from an accident they did not cause. If you take the initial settlement offer from the insurance company, you will waive your right to bring any future claims against them for this accident. Months or years later, when you still have medical expenses to cover, it will be too late. You will have no recourse.
Using the services of a San Antonio construction accident attorney, you can avoid this situation. Your lawyer can help you create an accurate estimate of your future medical needs. This could help prevent you from taking a settlement that leaves you paying out of pocket.
I was working as a subcontractor. Who can I sue?
Working as a subcontractor on a construction site, you may be unsure of who is responsible for your injuries. Generally speaking, the property owner, site developer, and general contractor must maintain a safe working environment.
To know for sure who may be at fault for your injuries, speak with a San Antonio construction accident attorney right away. Your legal representative can evaluate your accident and determine who may be at fault. Knowing this is the first step toward your recovery.
Why would a San Antonio construction accident lawyer need to hire qualified experts?
Construction accident injuries often involve complex medical diagnosis and treatment. Even the most experienced construction accident lawyers can gain a better understanding of your needs with the help of medical experts. These experts can also provide clarity that can help you understand what you face and how much money you would need to recover.
Experts can also provide insight into OSHA violations. They can provide testimony about what a company did wrong and how that played a part or directly caused your injuries. Together with these types of experts, your legal team can try to show that you are entitled to compensation from the negligent party for your construction accident injuries.
How long do I have to think about whether to sue?
Every state has a limit on the amount of time you have after an accident to file a claim for damages against the negligent party. This law is called a statute of limitations and Texas limits this time to just two years.
Looking forward, two years might seem like a long time. But when you consider all of the obstacles you may face during that time, it will fly by.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be out of work the entire time, you may be in and out of the hospital, and you may have to endure painful rehabilitation. Each of these steps on your path to recovery will take time and focus. While you are doing that, your lawyer can be focused on getting you maximum compensation.
Your lawyer also needs time to fully investigate your accident and collect relevant evidence. By partnering with a construction accident lawyer in San Antonio right after your worksite accident, you give your legal team ample time to complete their work. When your lawyer is not rushed, they can fully evaluate your accident and work to hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries.
How can a San Antonio construction accident lawyer help me?
The right lawyer can help you in many ways. Your lawyer takes on the legal responsibilities so you can focus on your health and wellbeing. In the most serious cases, you may never return to work. This can wreak havoc on your mental well-being. Taking the time necessary to absorb your new way of life and enjoying the comfort of close family and friends is vital. You can do that when your attorney takes on the responsibility of managing your construction accident injury claim.
Not all lawyers are created equal. Not every law firm has the resources and experience necessary to take on a complex construction accident injury claim like yours. You deserve a lawyer with experience in helping construction job site injury victims recover.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers is here for you. Contact us today to speak with a legal advocate who can guide you on your path to recovery.
What We Do for Our San Antonio Construction Accident Clients
After suffering injuries in a construction accident in San Antonio, you do not want to deal with legal processes on your own. That is why we are here.
We take on the legal burden and could help you by:
- Investigating your construction accident, gathering evidence, and determining who was negligent in causing your injuries.
- Review your medical records, police reports, if any, and your employer's documentation of your accident.
Partner with medical experts to gain a more complete understanding of your medical prognosis and estimate how much money you would need to avoid paying anything out of pocket.
At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, we have the drive and resources necessary to help our clients recover from their injuries. You need a San Antonio construction accident lawyer guiding you toward a suitable outcome.
Contact us today at 833-552-7274 to learn more about how we could help you recover from your construction injuries.
San Antonio Office
921 S St Mary's St #2
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 361-2039