When does your job become a danger zone?
Earning a living should not put your health or your life at risk. But in high-risk industries like oil and gas, construction, and transportation, more than 150,000 Texans are injured at work each year.
Liability is rarely simple
No two workplace accidents are alike, and the party at fault may not be your employer. On multi-contractor worksites, one company’s failure to train workers or maintain equipment can put everyone in danger.
We build your case
We understand the complexity of industrial accident claims. Our attorneys investigate every case, determine liability, and fight relentlessly for the maximum compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and future.
Practice Areas
Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
(281) 500-1000
Workplace Accidents We Handle
Refineries, plants, ports, construction sites, and warehouses keep Texas and Southern California running, and they are some of the most dangerous places to work. We represent workers hurt in:
Oil & gas accidents
Refinery, plant, pipeline, and oilfield incidents, including well site injuries and equipment failures.
Explosions & fires
Chemical plant and refinery explosions, flash fires, and burns from hot work and fuel.
Construction site accidents
Falls from scaffolding and roofs, trench collapses, structural failures, and falling objects.
Crane & rigging accidents
Dropped loads, boom failures, and rigging that should have been pulled from service.
Forklift & warehouse injuries
Forklift rollovers, struck-by accidents, falling stock, and loading dock injuries.
Machinery & equipment injuries
Caught-in and crush injuries, amputations, and unguarded or defective machinery.
Your Rights Depend on Your Employer’s Coverage
Texas is the only state that lets most private employers opt out of workers’ compensation. That choice has a big effect on your case:
If your employer doesn’t carry workers’ comp
Employers who opt out are called “nonsubscribers.” If you were hurt working for one, you may be able to sue your employer directly for negligence. The employer also loses several defenses, such as arguing that you or a coworker caused the accident.
If your employer does carry workers’ comp
Workers’ comp usually prevents you from suing your employer. But you may still have a claim against other companies whose negligence caused your injury, such as a general contractor, a subcontractor, a property owner, or the maker of defective equipment.
If a loved one was killed
Even when the employer carries workers’ comp, Texas law allows a surviving spouse and children to seek exemplary damages if the death was caused by the employer’s gross negligence.
What your claim can include
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one
Every case is different. What you can recover depends on the facts of your case.
What to Do After an Industrial Accident
Report the injury
Tell your supervisor in writing as soon as possible. Texas workers’ comp claims generally require notice to your employer within 30 days.
Get medical care
See a doctor right away, follow the treatment plan, and tell the doctor exactly how you were hurt.
Document the scene
If you can, photograph the area, the equipment involved, and any missing guards, warning signs, or safety gear.
Get witness names
Write down the names and numbers of coworkers and anyone else who saw what happened.
Be careful what you sign
Some employers ask injured workers to sign waivers or benefit plan forms that give up the right to sue. Don’t sign anything before a lawyer reviews it.
Call us
Industrial cases often involve several companies and insurers. We can figure out who is responsible.
What to Know About Texas Workplace Injury Claims
You generally have two years
Most Texas personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. Claims against a city, county, or state agency can require written notice much sooner, sometimes within months.
Shared fault doesn’t end your case
In claims against other companies, you can recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, reduced by your share of fault. A nonsubscriber employer generally can’t use your own negligence as a defense at all.
Safety rules set the minimum
OSHA regulations and industry safety standards set a floor, not a ceiling. When a company ignores them, that can help show it failed to act reasonably.
Hurt in Southern California?
California has its own rules on several of these points. Our founder, Charles Vethan, is licensed in both Texas and California, so call us either way and we’ll explain the rules that apply to your case.
Industrial Accident Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Have a different question? Call us.
- Free, confidential case review
- No fee unless we recover
- We’ll call you back within one business day
Can I sue my employer for a workplace injury in Texas?
It depends on whether your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance. If it doesn’t (a “nonsubscriber”), you may be able to sue for negligence. If it does, you usually can’t sue your employer, but you may have claims against other companies involved. A death caused by an employer’s gross negligence is an exception.
How do I know if my employer has workers’ comp?
Texas employers are required to tell employees whether they have workers’ comp coverage. If you aren’t sure, we can look into your employer’s coverage as part of a free case review.
Who else can be responsible for an industrial accident?
Depending on the facts, general contractors, subcontractors, site owners, staffing companies, and the makers of defective machinery or safety equipment can all share responsibility.
What if I was partly at fault?
If your employer is a nonsubscriber, it generally can’t use your own negligence as a defense. In claims against other companies, you can recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, reduced by your share of fault.
How much does it cost to hire Raven Injury Law?
Nothing up front. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you.
The information on this page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different.