Fort Worth Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction Injury Representation in Fort Worth

If you were injured on a construction site in Fort Worth or anywhere in Tarrant County, Daspit Law Firm can help you hold the right companies accountable. We represent laborers, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, roofers, and equipment operators after falls, collapses, and equipment accidents. Consultations are free, and you pay no fee unless we win.

Most construction sites have many employers working side by side. That means your best path to full compensation may be a claim against a company other than your own employer.

Construction Work Across Fort Worth and Tarrant County

Fort Worth has grown quickly in recent years, and it shows on the ground. Highway crews work along I-35W, I-20, Loop 820, and SH 121. Cranes rise over Downtown and the Cultural District. New subdivisions, apartments, and schools keep spreading through north Fort Worth and toward Keller, Burleson, Mansfield, and Weatherford, while AllianceTexas keeps adding warehouse space.

Fast schedules and layers of subcontractors raise the risk. Crews are pushed to finish, safety meetings get skipped, and no one takes ownership of hazards that cross trade lines.

Common Construction Site Accidents

OSHA highlights four leading causes of construction worker deaths: falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in or caught-between incidents, and electrocutions. We see all four, along with other serious hazards.

Falls From Heights

Falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolds, and unprotected floor edges cause many of the worst injuries we handle. OSHA's construction fall protection rules require guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems in many situations. Our article on a scaffolding collapse at a Port Arthur LNG construction site shows what happens when scaffolds are not built or inspected correctly.

Struck-By and Caught-In Accidents

•      Workers hit by falling tools, materials, or crane loads

•      Workers struck by backing dump trucks, loaders, or other heavy equipment

•      Trench and excavation collapses that bury workers

•      Workers pinned between equipment and walls or vehicles

Electrocutions and Other Hazards

Contact with overhead power lines, energized circuits, and damaged extension cords can cause electrocution and severe burns. Renovation work on older Fort Worth buildings can also expose crews to asbestos, which we cover on our asbestos and mesothelioma page.

Who May Be Liable for a Construction Injury

•      General contractors who control site safety

•      Subcontractors whose crews created the hazard

•      Equipment rental companies and makers of defective scaffolds, lifts, and tools

•      Property owners who keep control over how the work is done

•      Engineers and designers whose plans created unsafe conditions

Texas limits a property owner's liability to contractors and their employees under Chapter 95 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. In general, the owner is liable only if it exercised or kept some control over the work and had actual knowledge of the danger. Our Fort Worth premises liability lawyer page explains how owner duties work in other settings.

Texas Law for Construction Workers

Workers' Comp Coverage on Construction Jobs

Texas does not require most private employers to carry workers' compensation, and many construction companies choose not to. Contractors on certain government construction projects must provide coverage, though. If your employer has coverage, report the injury within 30 days and file within one year with the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation. Comp benefits do not cover pain and suffering, so a third-party claim can matter a great deal.

When Your Employer Is a Non-Subscriber

If your employer opted out of comp, you can sue it for negligence, and it loses defenses such as contributory negligence and assumption of risk. See our page on non-subscriber work injuries for details.

Filing Deadlines and Shared Fault

Most construction _injury and wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003. Under Chapter 33, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred if you are more than 50 percent responsible.

What to Do After a Construction Site Injury

•      Get medical care right away, at JPS Health Network or the nearest emergency room

•      Report the injury to your supervisor in writing

•      Photograph the area, equipment, and any missing guardrails or tie-off points

•      Write down the names of co-workers and the companies on site that day

•      Keep pay stubs, badges, and any texts about the job

•      Talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement or signing a release

Damages in Construction Injury Cases

Compensation may include medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, and physical impairment. When a fall or collapse takes a worker's life, a spouse, children, and parents may bring a Fort Worth wrongful death claim. Injuries from forklifts and machines away from an active jobsite are covered on our industrial accident page.

Why Construction Workers Choose Daspit Law Firm

Founding attorney John Daspit is a former insurance defense lawyer who now represents injured people. He knows how contractors' insurers point fingers at each other, and how to keep the focus on the companies that controlled the site. He also worked on the litigation following the 2005 BP Texas City refinery explosion. We offer free consultations 24/7, home and hospital visits, English and Spanish service, and no fee unless we win.

Speak With a Fort Worth Construction Accident Lawyer

Call (888) 273-1045 or send us a message to set up a free case review. The sooner we start, the sooner we can lock down site records and witness accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue the general contractor if I work for a subcontractor?

Often, yes. Workers' compensation generally protects only your own employer. A general contractor that controlled site safety, or another subcontractor whose crew created the hazard, may be sued for negligence. In some projects a contractor provides comp coverage for everyone on site, which can affect who can be sued, so the contracts need review.

What if I am an undocumented construction worker?

Your immigration status generally does not prevent you from filing an injury claim for medical bills, pain, and other losses in Texas. You have the right to safe working conditions and to hold negligent companies accountable. Our team speaks Spanish and keeps your conversations confidential. Talk to us before assuming you have no case.

Is the property owner responsible for my construction injury?

Sometimes. Under Chapter 95 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, an owner is generally liable to a contractor's employee only if it exercised or kept control over the work and actually knew about the danger. Owners who direct how work is done or ignore known hazards may be liable.

How long do I have to file a construction accident lawsuit in Texas?

Most claims must be filed within two years of the injury under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003. Workers' comp requires notice to your employer within 30 days and a claim within one year. Waiting can also mean losing evidence, since sites change daily as work moves forward.

Will OSHA's findings help my construction injury case?

They can. OSHA citations and inspection reports are often used as evidence that a company ignored safety rules. OSHA does not pay compensation, though, and a lack of citations does not mean the site was safe. We gather OSHA records along with photos, site logs, and expert opinions to build your claim.