Worksite Injuries in Texas: A Plain-English Guide
Worksites keep Texas moving—construction projects, plants, warehouses, refineries, and oilfields. But they’re also places where serious, life-changing injuries can happen in the blink of an eye. If you’ve been hurt on the job, here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to understanding your options and protecting your future.
Common Causes and Injuries on Texas Worksites
Worksite accidents can happen in countless ways, but some of the most common include:
- Falls from elevated work areas – ladders, roofs, scaffolding, platforms, drilling rigs, and structure framing are all dangerous when fall protection isn’t used correctly.
- Struck-by or caught-in machinery or equipment – operators who are distracted, untrained, or not following safety procedures can easily injure coworkers; missing safety guards on machines also cause devastating accidents.
- Forklift, vehicle, and motorized equipment collisions – busy worksites often run like highways, with traffic, blind corners, and distracted drivers. But here the “cars” have forks, buckets, booms, and swinging counterweights.
- Electrical shocks and arc flashes – these often occur when power should have been shut off to a work area but wasn’t, or when workers weren’t trained to confirm the power was cut.
- Burns, chemical exposures, and explosions – especially in plants and refineries where flammable or toxic substances are present.
- Heat stress and dehydration – particularly dangerous for outdoor workers in the Texas heat.
- Lifting injuries – workers ordered to lift heavy items without training, equipment, or safety meetings can suffer serious back and musculoskeletal injuries.
These accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries: strained muscles, fractures, torn ligaments, pinched nerves, herniated discs, traumatic brain injuries, spinal fractures and severances, amputations, burns, cardiac arrest, heart attacks, and even death.
👉 Related practice areas:
Workers’ Compensation in Texas
Texas is unique—employers are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Whether your employer subscribes to workers’ comp or not makes a huge difference in your legal options.
If your employer carries workers’ comp
- Your medical care and part of your lost wages are covered without proving fault.
- Generally, you cannot sue your employer for negligence (this is called the “exclusive remedy” rule).
- Exceptions: If your employer’s gross negligence caused a loved one’s death, you may still have claims.
- You can also pursue third-party claims against other companies or product manufacturers who contributed to your accident.
- Learn more: Texas workers’ comp benefits.
If your employer is a nonsubscriber (no workers’ comp)
- You can sue your employer for negligence.
- Texas law limits the defenses nonsubscribing employers can use (they cannot blame coworkers or claim you “assumed the risk”).
- You may seek full damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment
👉 Learn more about your options: Workers’ compensation.
Third-Party Claims on Worksites
Most Texas worksites involve multiple companies working side by side. If another company’s unsafe act or defective equipment contributed to your injuries, you may have a separate negligence or product liability claim in addition to workers’ comp benefits.
What To Do After Being Injured on the Worksite
Follow these steps to protect your health and your legal rights:
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Report the injury immediately
- Tell a supervisor in writing.
- Document how the accident occurred, who was involved, and what protective equipment you were using.
- Keep a copy of everything.
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Seek medical attention right away
- If your employer has workers’ comp, use an approved provider in their network.
- Always tell medical providers your injuries are work-related. Insurers often deny claims if this detail is missing.
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Document everything
- Take photos of the scene, equipment, and your injuries.
- Collect witness names, phone numbers, and incident reports.
- Keep safety meeting sign-ins, badge scans, logos, and name tags.
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Preserve evidence
- Do not repair or return equipment until photographed.
- Save boots, gloves, hard hats, PPE, and clothing in the same condition as during the accident.
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Avoid recorded statements
- Insurance adjusters and third parties often record calls. Don’t give statements until you’ve spoken with a lawyer.
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Follow doctor’s orders
- Attend all appointments and treatments. Gaps in care hurt your recovery and your legal claim.
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Stay off social media
- Do not post about the accident or your health status (e.g., photos of workouts or strenuous activity). Insurers monitor accounts to deny claims.
Texas Deadlines (Don’t Miss These)
- Workers’ comp notice: Report within 30 days of the injury.
- Workers’ comp claim: File the DWC-041 form within 1 year.
- Negligence lawsuits: Generally, within 2 years of the incident.
- Wrongful death claims: Typically, 2 years, with some exceptions.
⚠️ Important: Deadlines may run from when you “knew or should have known” the injury was work-related (common in chemical exposure or repetitive trauma cases). Contact a lawyer quickly so evidence isn’t lost.
👉 Related practice area: Wrongful death.
How Leatherwood Law Can Help
By contacting Leatherwood Law immediately after a work-related accident, our legal team can:
- Investigate quickly – secure photos, video, equipment, safety manuals, OSHA materials, and witness statements.
- Identify all liable parties – employers (if nonsubscribers), contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and more.
- Preserve evidence – send notices requiring companies to safeguard all evidence and data.
- Protect your rights and benefits – coordinate workers’ comp benefits while pursuing third-party claims for full damages.
- Value your case properly – account for future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and long-term effects like chronic pain.
- File claims on time – filing early usually strengthens your case.
Talk to Leatherwood Law
If you or a loved one has suffered a worksite injury in Texas, Leatherwood Law is here to help.
📞 Call us at 1-877-664-6665
✉️ Email Intake@leatherwoodfirm.com
We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. Our attorneys explain your options in plain English (or Spanish) and act fast to protect your health, your rights, and your legal claims.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and rights may vary depending on your situation. Contact an attorney to get advice specific to your case.