The DJF Law Firm, PLLC

Houston Construction Accident Lawyers

If you were hurt in a construction accident while performing your job duties in Houston, contact The DJF Law Firm, PLLC today for assistance with your workers’ compensation claim. You could receive benefits to pay for your medical bills and lost wages.

State law doesn’t require employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance to their employees. However, if your employer has coverage, you are entitled to benefits for a work-related injury or illness.

Construction workers have a dangerous profession. You handle toxic substances, heavy machinery, and sharp tools every day. An accident can occur at any time and leave you with a severe injury.

At The DJF Law Firm, PLLC, we understand the serious nature of a construction accident. We are ready to represent you in your claim and pursue the benefits you deserve. Call us today at 832-529-3476 for a free consultation with one of our Houston work injury lawyers.

Common Types of Construction Accidents

The DJF Law Firm, PLLC knows how to handle various types of construction accidents involving scenarios like:

  • Roof and ceiling defects
  • Construction defects
  • Scaffolding accidents
  • Crane accidents
  • Slip/trip and falls
  • Fires and explosions
  • Vehicle collisions
  • Ladder accidents
  • Exposure to toxic substances
  • Fall from heights
  • Struck by objects or equipment

Contact The DJF Law Firm, PLLC immediately after a construction accident. We can review your case and advise you about your available options for recovering the money you need to pay for your medical treatment and other expenses. Without workers’ compensation benefits, you might have to pay out of pocket and face significant financial strain. However, if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you could file a claim with their insurance carrier or file a lawsuit to pursue compensation.

Common Injuries in Construction Accidents

A construction worker could sustain various types of injuries in a construction accident, such as:

  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Overexertion injuries
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Electrical shock
  • Inhaling or ingesting hazardous chemicals
  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Paralysis
  • Loss of limb
  • Repetitive motion injury

A range of illnesses and medical conditions could also result from a construction accident, including:

  • Hearing loss
  • Mesothelioma
  • Cancer
  • Chemical poisoning
  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Mental illness
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological trauma

At The DJF Law Firm, PLLC, we understand your struggles after a construction accident. When a work-related injury prevents you from returning to your job, receiving the benefits you need to afford your medical care is vital. We can help you file a claim with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer so you can heal and get your life back on track.

Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Two types of workers’ compensation benefits are available after a job-related accident: medical and income.

Income Benefits

Income benefits replace part of an employee’s wages after suffering an on-the-job illness or injury. You are only entitled to benefits if your medical condition results from work-related tasks. Workers’ compensation doesn’t cover lost wages if you get hurt while off the clock.

Below are the four main types of income benefits you could receive.

Temporary Income Benefits

Temporary income benefits (TIBs) pay benefits for injuries and illnesses that last for longer than seven days. Payments are 70 percent of the difference between your average weekly wage (AWW) and the income you earn after the accident.

TIB benefits end if one of these events occurs:

  • Your doctor places you at maximum medical improvement, meaning additional treatment isn’t likely to improve your condition
  • 104 weeks have passed since the eighth day of your illness or injury
  • You start earning your average weekly wage

Impairment Income Benefits

If your injury or illness affects your body as a whole, you could collect impairment income benefits (IIBs). IIB payments are 70 percent of your average weekly wage. The doctor will provide an impairment rating to indicate the permanency of your injury.

Your impairment rating will determine the duration of your payments. Every one percent is equal to three weeks of benefits. So, if your impairment rating is 10 percent, you’ll collect up to 30 weeks of payments.

Supplemental Income Benefits

Supplemental income benefits (SIBs) can start when your impairment income benefits end. You must meet multiple conditions to be eligible for SIBs:

  • Have an impairment rating of at least 15 percent
  • Show that you’re seeking employment
  • Have not accepted a lump sum payment for your job-related injury or illness
  • Haven’t returned to work or are earning less than 80 percent of your AWW due to your injury if you have returned to your job

Lifetime Income Benefits

You could receive lifetime income benefits (LIBs) if you have one of these injuries:

  • A spinal injury resulting in complete and permanent paralysis of both legs, both arms, or one leg and one arm
  • Total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes
  • Loss of one foot at or above the ankle and loss of one hand at or above the wrist
  • Third-degree burns that cover 40 percent or more of the body and require skin grafts
  • Loss of both feet at or above the ankle
  • A physically traumatic injury to the brain causing incurable imbecility or insanity
  • Third-degree burns covering most of one hand and the face or both hands
  • Loss of both hands at or above the wrist

Benefit payments are 75 percent of your AWW. The payment amount increases by three percent each year you have a work-related injury.

Medical Benefits

You are automatically entitled to medical benefits if you get hurt in an accident at work. You must seek treatment from an approved doctor in the network if your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer uses a healthcare network.

You could choose your own physician who is not in the network, but you must obtain approval from the network for the insurance company to cover your treatment. Otherwise, you could be responsible for those bills.

Additional Workers’ Compensation Benefits

If your family member dies in a construction accident, you might be entitled to death and burial benefits.

Burial benefits reimburse the person who pays for the burial. You must file the claim within twelve months of the worker’s death and provide proof of the expense.

Death benefits are only available for these eligible family members:

  • Spouse
  • Minor child
  • A child under 25 if enrolled in an accredited college or university
  • Dependent grandchildren
  • Other dependent family members
  • Non-dependent parents if there is no other surviving dependent family

Benefits begin on the day after the workers’ death. Payments are 75 percent of the deceased’s average weekly wage. Coverage will continue until the surviving family member is no longer eligible.

Work-Related Injuries Not Covered by Workers’ Comp or Non-Work-Related Injuries

If you work on a construction site and your employer doesn’t have workers’ comp coverage, if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you could file a third-party claim or lawsuit.

It’s not uncommon for people who aren’t working to pass construction sites in their cars or on foot. A construction accident could endanger the safety and life of a civilian.

A crane could topple over in strong winds, a construction vehicle could collide with a passenger car, or scaffolding could fall off a building to the ground below. If someone else’s negligence caused the accident in which you were injured, you could hold them liable.

Whether you file an insurance claim or lawsuit, you could receive money to compensate for your:

  • Mental anguish
  • Physical impairment or disfigurement
  • Hospitalization, physical therapy, and other medical costs
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Damage to personal property

You could also pursue exemplary damages in a lawsuit against the negligent party. You must show clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with fraud, gross negligence, or fraud.

Contact Us

The DJF Law Firm, PLLC will be your advocate and protect your rights during your ongoing claim. You can count on us to remain by your side and fight to resolve your case favorably.

If you sustained injuries in a construction accident, call us at 832-529-3476 for a free consultation with one of our skilled and trusted Houston construction accident lawyers.