Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in Texas. Falls, equipment failures, structural collapses, and electrical accidents cause serious injuries and deaths on job sites across the Houston metro area every year. Understanding your legal rights — especially if your employer is a non-subscriber to workers' compensation — is critical.
The Four Leading Causes of Construction Deaths (The 'Fatal Four')
- Falls — the leading cause of construction fatalities, often preventable with proper fall protection
- Struck by object — falling tools, equipment, and materials
- Electrocution — from contact with live electrical wires or improper grounding
- Caught in/between — crushing injuries from machinery, walls, or collapsing structures
Texas Non-Subscriber Construction Cases
Many Texas construction companies opt out of workers' compensation, becoming 'non-subscribers.' Under Texas Labor Code § 406.033, non-subscribing employers cannot assert contributory negligence, fellow servant negligence, or assumption of risk as defenses. This significantly strengthens injured workers' claims.
Third-Party Liability in Construction Cases
Even when workers' comp applies, you may have third-party claims against the general contractor, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers. CDF Law investigates all potential parties, not just the direct employer.