At the Hollingsworth Law Firm, we call Houston, Texas home. That means our personal injury attorneys and support staff are just as familiar with the ongoing construction projects throughout Harris County as our clients and the rest of our communities.
In what seems like a never-ending approach to making Houston bigger and better, construction projects are visible at nearly every turn. Most of these large projects throughout the city involve the use of scaffolding.
The requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards for scaffolding used in the construction industry are exact, and leave no room for interpretation. While important to each job, scaffolding failures can lead to significant injuries and fatalities throughout Texas.
To follow strict safety protocols on construction sites, construction companies, contractors, subcontractors, and third parties must follow OSHA’s standards to the letter, or workers — and the public — are placed directly in harm’s way.
Here is what our Texas residents need to know about scaffolding at construction sites, and who can be held liable for these tragic accidents.
What are the Most Common Causes of Scaffolding Accidents in Texas?
Scaffolding plays a major role in our city’s construction projects. In most cases, construction workers take great care to ensure the scaffolding is safe and functioning properly, as their very lives may be at risk if even one safety component goes unchecked.
Some of the most common causes of Texas scaffolding accidents include, but are not limited to:
- Absent or inadequate fall protection
- Debris falling from scaffolding, striking those below
- Failure of specific scaffolding parts
- Lack of or defective safety equipment
- Overloaded scaffolding
- Planking or support giving way
- Scaffolding with manufacturing or design defects
- Uninspected or poorly inspected scaffolding
- Worker slips, trips & falls
Unfortunately, scaffolding accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, neck and spine injuries, paralysis, and wrongful death. If you are a worker who was injured in a scaffolding accident or a passerby who was hurt because of falling debris or scaffolding failures, contact our skilled personal injury attorneys in Houston today to learn more about our commitment to pursuing real results for each of our clients.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Scaffolding Accidents, Injuries, and Fatalities in Texas?
If you are a construction worker who was injured in a scaffolding accident in Texas, multiple parties may be held liable for your injuries.
The potentially liable parties may include:
- Construction companies
- Scaffolding companies
- Vendors or outside contractors responsible for erecting the scaffolding
- Outside contractors are responsible for maintaining the safety of the scaffolding
If your employer is liable for the scaffolding accident, pursuing the financial compensation you are entitled to for your injuries or the loss of a loved one will be evaluated based on the employer’s workers’ compensation coverage. In Texas, employers are not required to carry workers’ compensation, so if your employer does not have coverage, we may pursue the company through a personal injury claim.
The same is true for passersby who are injured by negligence at a construction site. It is not uncommon for pedestrians to walk under scaffolding to get to work, school, or other destinations each day. When the scene is not monitored closely for potential safety hazards, people are going to get hurt. When they are, we are here to help them pursue the liable party — or combination of parties — for their full financial recovery.
Contact Our Scaffolding Accident Attorneys in Houston, Texas Today
If you or someone you love has been injured or lost their life in a scaffolding accident caused by negligence in Texas, contact our dedicated Houston personal injury lawyers at the Hollingsworth Law Firm today by calling 713-637-4560 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
Our skilled bilingual truck accident lawyers and support staff represent clients throughout the state of Texas on a contingency basis, so you never pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
If you are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve, so are we. Let us take the lead.
