Work Injury Lawyer in Houston

In the greater Houston area, hundreds of thousands of workers are employed in the energy, transportation, maritime, shipping, manufacturing, construction, and other industries. Texas is a state where physically demanding, risky jobs are a constant reality. Whether you work at a construction site, a refinery, an oil or gas well site, a manufacturing facility, a warehouse, or in the maritime industry, there is always the risk of serious injuries on the job. For more than 25 years, the Houston work injury lawyers of The Callahan Law Firm have fought to secure fair compensation for hard-working people who have been hurt on the job. We help our clients seek the financial resources they need to treat their injuries, pay their bills, and support their families. We help workers as they recover from their injuries and try to get back to their normal lives. We understand all too well how negligent companies and their insurance carriers try to avoid responsibility and not pay injured workers the benefits and compensation they deserve. We have battled insurance companies for many years, and we know the tactics and tricks they use. And we use that experience and knowledge to advocate on behalf of people who have suffered workplace injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation about your workplace accident with a work injury lawyer in Houston. When talking with us, you will learn more about your options for pursuing compensation for your injuries and losses.

Common Types of Workplace Accident Cases We Handle

At The Callahan Law Firm, our knowledgeable Houston work injury lawyers have successfully helped clients and their families recover full compensation for these types of work injury claims:

Industrial accidents – These accidents can have a lasting impact on your health and livelihood. If you were hurt on the job, contact us to discuss your what happened and how we can help. When an industrial accident was caused by a negligent third party, we work to get our clients compensation for medical care expenses, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, physical impairment, and more.
Heavy equipment accidents – If you were hurt in a heavy equipment accident while on the job, contact The Callahan Law Firm right away. Heavy equipment refers to heavy-duty vehicles, specially designed for executing construction tasks, most frequently ones involving earthwork operations or other large construction tasks. Founding attorney Michael S. Callahan is a former mechanical engineer and Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. That makes him particularly qualified to handle these type cases.
Construction accidents – Construction sites rank among the most dangerous workplaces in the country. Construction workers face serious risk of life-altering injuries from scaffolding, cranes, forklifts, trucks, falls from heights, falling objects, fires, explosions, or exposure to toxic chemicals and materials. We work to hold the construction companies, site owners, equipment manufacturers and other responsible parties accountable when their actions or negligence caused your injury.
Railroad worker accidents – Railroad accident cases are different from most other workplace accident claims. Workers who are injured are not covered by standard workers’ comp laws but are instead required to seek compensation under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). The act allows injured railroad employees to pursue a claim against the railroad carrier, the carrier’s agents, or employees if their negligence caused the accident. It is crucial to hire an attorney who understands the specifics of how FELA claims need to be handled. If you have been hurt in your railroad job, contact us now.
Pipeline accidents – Pipeline construction and maintenance is hazardous work. Workers can be required to perform their duties not only above ground, but also below ground level or underwater. Far too many pipeline workers are injured in accidents involving heavy equipment, explosions, blowouts, fires, product defects, weld failures, welding mishaps, or due to dangerous and toxic gas leaks. If this has happened to you or someone you love, call us for help right away.
Explosion accidents – When an explosion happens, the resulting injuries can be severe and are often life-threatening. If you suffered severe burns, crushing injuries, vision or hearing loss, amputation, or other serious injuries in an explosion in Houston or anywhere in Texas, contact us to get the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.
Oil rig accidents – Whether working on land or offshore, Oil Rig Workers can be injured due to the negligence of a co-worker, their employer, or another company working alongside them. Both land-based Oil Rig Workers and Offshore Oil Rig Workers face the risk of fatal injuries, amputation, burns, paralysis, back and neck injuries, or other severe bodily injuries. If you have been injured offshore while working on an offshore oil rig, you may have a claim for damages under federal maritime law.
Offshore accidents – Offshore workers depend on their employer and co-workers to keep their vessel safe and seaworthy, adequately maintain tools and equipment, and exercise due care and caution at all times when out in the Gulf of Mexico or another waterway. If you have been hurt or if you lost a loved one in a maritime accident, it is important to talk with an experienced attorney to discuss your legal rights and what can be done to pursue a claim for your damages.

Statistics on Fatal Workplace Injuries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatal work injuries in the United States numbered over 5,190 in a recent year. Traffic accidents were the most common cause of fatalities, with 1,982 deaths. Slips, trips, and falls caused 850 deaths, and 761 workers died because of workplace violence or animal injuries at work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that more than 10 percent (533) of all fatal work injuries in the United States occurred in Texas. Of the 533 fatal injuries in Texas, 498 occurred in private industry, and 35 in the public sector. Men were by far the most likely to suffer fatal injuries (493). Of the 40 women who suffered fatal injuries on the job, 22 occurred in transportation incidents.

Fatal occupational injuries in Texas resulted from these types of incidents in one year:

Transportation incidents – 260
Slips, trips, and falls – 88
Contact with objects and equipment – 66
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals – 57
Exposure to harmful substances or environments – 54
Fires and explosions – 7

People aged 55-64 were the demographic group with the most fatal injuries. The most injuries occurred in production, transportation, and material-moving occupations. The next highest number of injuries occurred in natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.

Nonfatal Work Injuries

Over 2.6 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses occurred in private workplaces in the U.S. in one recent year. In over 1 million cases, a worker missed at least one workday. In the private sector, 12 days was the average time out of work.

Most Common Types of Workplace Injuries

These nonfatal injuries were the most common:

Sprains, strains, and tears – 266,530
Injuries from slips, trips, and falls – 211,640
Back injuries – 128,220

What Is a Third-Party Claim in a Work-Related Accident?

A third-party claim is a claim against someone (a company or individual) other than your employer (or a co-worker) that seeks to hold them responsible for their negligence in causing a workplace accident. You could have a third-party liability claim if you were hurt at work and the negligence of someone other than your employer (or a co-worker) caused or contributed to the accident and your injuries.

It is important to know that you can have a third-party workplace accident claim even if your employer was partially at fault for the accident. In that instance, the at-fault third-party can still be held responsible for their percentage of the negligence that caused or contributed to the accident and your injuries.

In addition, the fact that your employer had workers’ compensation insurance at the time of your workplace accident does not affect whether you have a third-party claim. In other words, even if your employer had workers’ compensation insurance, you could still have a third-party claim.

In Texas, the law does not require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If your employer did not have workers’ compensation insurance at the time of the accident and is a “non-subscriber”, you may have a claim against your employer for negligence in addition to a third-party claim.

Understanding Third-Party Lawsuits in the Workplace

Here are a few examples of third parties that could be potentially liable for a workplace accident in Texas:

The driver of a vehicle involved in a work-related car accident or truck accident
The operator of industrial machinery such as a forklift or other heavy equipment
A subcontractor (not your employer) on the work site
A vendor performing tasks or supplying a product or equipment on the work site
The general contractor
The manufacturer or retailer of a defective product

A successful third-party workplace accident claim could allow you to recover compensation for all your accident-related losses, including medical expenses, lost income, loss of earning capacity, physical impairment, disfigurement, pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and more.

What You Need to Know about Texas Workers’ Comp and Non-Subscriber Injuries

A Texas employer who does not carry workers’ compensation insurance is called a “non-subscriber.” If injured in Texas while working for an employer that is a non-subscriber, an injured employee is allowed to bring a negligence claim against his or her employer and file a lawsuit when necessary.

Examples of employer negligence in non-subscriber cases include:

Failure to provide an employee with a safe workplace
Failure to provide an employee with the tools and equipment needed to perform work in a safe manner
Failure to adequately train an employee
Failure to adequately train co-workers
Failure to provide competent co-workers
Injury caused by the negligence of a co-worker
Negligent supervision
Inadequate staffing

Texas does not require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage. In fact, some of the biggest employers in the State have chosen to go without worker’s compensation insurance. Doing so frees the non-subscribing employer from many of the regulations associated with the State-run worker’s compensation program. But by not carrying workers’ compensation insurance, the non-subscriber employers lose certain legal protections. Most importantly, an employer that is a non-subscriber can be sued for negligence by an employee who suffers a work-related injury or occupational illness. When an employer carries workers’ compensation insurance and an employee suffers a non-fatal injury on the job, the injured employee’s claim against the employer is limited to the benefits available under Texas’s workers’ compensation law. Those benefits include medical treatment, partial wage replacement, and defined disability benefit payments. When an employer is a non-subscriber, it may be held liable to an employee for the full extent of the injured employee’s medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, as well as non-economic damages such as physical impairment, pain, and suffering, lost quality of life, and loss of consortium. In addition, if the workplace injury is caused by a third party (for example, by the negligence of another company or its employee), a claim can be made by the injured employee against that third party.

What You Need to Know About Offshore Accidents

Offshore accidents that happen on offshore oil rigs and seagoing vessels are not covered under Texas workers’ compensation law but instead are covered by federal statutes. Those statutes provide injured maritime workers with the right to seek benefits and compensation from their employer for work-related injuries and occupational illnesses.

Jones Act – The Jones Act, officially called the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, allows injured seamen to file suit against their employers or the owner or operator of their vessel for negligence that leads to their injuries that occur on a vessel while in navigable waters. This negligence may include negligent acts by the vessel’s captain or other crew members, negligence of the injured seaman’s employer (such as negligent hiring, retention, and/or training), or negligence of the vessel’s owner or operator. A seaman can also seek compensation for his or her injuries that are caused by the vessel being left in an unseaworthy condition.
Death on the High Seas Act – The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) gives the families of maritime workers aboard vessels in international waters the right to file a wrongful death claim against the owner or operator of the vessel. A wrongful death claim brought under DOHSA is different from traditional wrongful death claims that are brought under state law. DOHSA allows families of eligible deceased workers to recover economic losses caused by the worker’s death, such as the loss of his or her financial contributions to the family. Families may also be entitled to compensation for the emotional distress and loss of companionship caused by their loved one’s passing.

Common Types of Work Injuries

Workplace accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries. However, given the dangerous nature of many industries in the Houston area and throughout Texas, including construction, maritime work, oil and gas production, and offshore drilling, workplace accidents have a far greater risk of causing catastrophic, life-altering injuries, including:

Back and neck injuries
Spinal cord injuries including paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries
Crush injuries
Broken bones
Amputation
Burns
Exposure to toxic chemicals and fumes
Respiratory injuries
Fatalities

How Our Houston Work Injury Attorneys Can Help You

If you or a loved one have been injured in a work accident, you need dedicated legal representation to ensure that you and your family are treated fairly and receive full compensation under the law. At The Callahan Law Firm, our experienced Houston work injury attorneys can help you secure the financial recovery you need and deserve by:

Conducting our own independent, thorough investigation into your workplace accident to preserve critical evidence we can use in your case, including accident or incident reports, accident scene photos, surveillance footage, and eyewitness statements.
Using our founding attorney Michael S. Callahan’s education and experience in engineering, working with other engineering and accident reconstruction experts to determine how the incident happened and who is responsible for the damages you have suffered.
Filing a lawsuit when necessary and aggressively developing your case through the litigation process.
Skillfully negotiating for a settlement or resolution of your case, when possible, that provides you with fair and full compensation.
Taking your case to trial and presenting it to a jury, when necessary, and fighting for the justice you and your family deserve.

At The Callahan Law Firm, we believe in a personal approach with each of our clients. We purposefully limit the number of cases that we accept so that each of our clients and their cases gets the attention and effort they deserve. We make ourselves available to speak with you in person, over the phone, or by video call, and work to keep you updated on the progress of your case and answer any questions you may have along the way. In sum, it is important to us to be there for you and your family during this critical time. Our trial lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and skill to take on the big companies and insurers on your behalf. With our backgrounds in engineering and the insurance industry, we are able to successfully take on the most complex workplace injury cases. Our founding attorney, Michael S. Callahan, also holds Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. That distinction is awarded to less than two percent of attorneys in Texas, reflecting our firm’s experience and success in the courtroom. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Houston work injury attorney from The Callahan Law Firm today. We can discuss your accident and injuries, and you can learn more about your legal rights and options. You will also learn how our firm can help you and your family secure maximum financial recovery for the harm you have suffered. You owe no fee for our services unless you win.

Workplace Injury

What Should I Do After a Workplace Accident?

To protect your health and your rights, you should take the following steps after a workplace accident:

Seek medical attention immediately.
Verbally notify your employer of the accident as soon as possible.
Report the accident to your employer in writing when you are able, and keep a copy for yourself.
Contact an experienced workplace accident attorney to discuss your legal options, which may include a personal injury claim, a workers’ compensation, or both, depending on your situation.
Keep track of your time off from work and medical providers.
Follow your physician’s treatment plan.

What Types of Workplace Injury Cases Does Your Law Firm Handle?

The legal team at The Callahan Law Firm handles personal injury claims in a wide range of workplace injury cases, including those that involve:

Industrial accidents
Manufacturing accidents
Construction accidents
Heavy equipment accidents
Transportation accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents
Pipeline accidents
Explosions
Railroad worker accidents
Oil field accidents including oil rig accidents
Maritime accidents and other offshore accidents

Do I Need a Workplace Injury Lawyer?

While you can file a workplace injury claim without the assistance of a lawyer, it can be a confusing and challenging process, especially if you are still recovering from injuries. An experienced attorney can provide the guidance you need and handle the details of your claim to help you get the most compensation available under the law.

If your employer does not have workers’ compensation coverage or if a third party was responsible for your accident, having an experienced workplace accident lawyer becomes even more crucial as the attorney can help determine who is responsible, ensure a proper investigation is done and critical evidence is preserved, and file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party on your behalf.

How Long Do You Have to File a Workplace Injury Lawsuit?

If a personal injury lawsuit needs to be filed because of a workplace accident, under Texas law, the general rule is that the lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of the accident. If you miss the deadline, you will likely lose your right to make your claim. That is why it is important to consult with a workplace accident lawyer as soon as possible to determine your rights when your claim must be filed, and take the necessary steps to maximize your financial recovery.

I Was in an Accident at Work. What Benefits Can I Claim?

It depends. If you were hurt on the job because of the negligence of a third party (a person or company – not your employer – who caused your injury), your claim can include compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, physical impairment, and more. If the negligence of your employer caused your injury and your employer did not have workers’ compensation insurance, you may be able to make a claim for negligence against the employer for compensation for these same elements of damages. If your employer did have workers’ compensation at the time of your injury, a workers’ comp claim can be made for benefits such as medical care and lost wages. And if a loved one tragically passed away due to work-related injuries, your family could be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim or death benefits from workers’ compensation. In many instances, more than one of these claims can be made. A knowledgeable workplace accident attorney can determine the type of claim or claims that can be made to ensure you and your family are fully compensated under the law.