Construction workers in Texas face some of the highest injury risks of any industry. When safety protocols fail, the result can be catastrophic spinal cord trauma leading to permanent paralysis.
Most severe construction injuries trace back to negligence — unsafe job sites, OSHA violations, defective equipment, or inadequate supervision. Victims may have the right to pursue compensation through workers’ compensation and/or a third-party personal injury claim.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury on a job site, speaking with an experienced Austin construction accident attorney
or Austin spinal cord injury lawyer is critical.
Catastrophic Falls
Serious falls are the number one cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries and permanent paralysis in the construction industry. Falls are also the leading cause of death in construction, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. In 2021, falls caused 37 percent of all deaths in construction in the U.S. In Texas, falls were responsible for 16 percent of fatal injuries in 2023.
Falls in construction can involve ladders, scaffolds, working from roofs or heights, missing personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be provided by employers, and dangerous workplace conditions. Falls from heights are more likely to cause permanent paralysis than same-level falls.
Scaffolding Accidents
Accidents involving scaffolds and scaffolding are frighteningly common in the construction industry. Although federal law requires scaffolds to be installed, built and maintained according to specific OSHA safety standards, construction companies often fall short of these requirements, leading to unsafe and faulty scaffolds. Falls from scaffolding collapses can cause catastrophic spinal cord injuries and permanent paralysis.
Crushing Incidents
A construction worker’s back, neck and spine can suffer serious harm in a workplace crushing incident. Getting crushed by heavy equipment or machinery, vehicles, forklifts, collapsing structures, or falling objects can cause immense blunt-force trauma to the spine. Major spinal fractures and severe vertebral damage from compression can result in injuries such as paraplegia or quadriplegia.
Trench Collapses
When a construction job involves excavation, the collapse of a trench that has been dug can bury workers under thousands of pounds of soil. This can result in serious and fatal injuries, including spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis. The weight of the soil can crush workers and trap them for long periods of time. Falling into a trench can also cause catastrophic spinal cord injuries.
Transportation Accidents
Working on a construction site that is on or near a roadway in Texas exposes workers to the risk of serious work zone crashes. In 2023, 40,170 people were injured in work zone accidents in the U.S. Transportation accidents involving construction vehicles can also lead to paralyzing spinal cord trauma and other severe back injuries.
Explosions
Explosions can occur at construction sites in Texas when there are issues such as the improper storage of flammable or combustible materials, faulty electrical components, gas leaks, and poor worker training. The force of an explosive blast can injure the spinal cord through blunt-force trauma or shrapnel that inflicts penetrating wounds.
Getting Help for Your Construction Accident Case in Texas
Permanent paralysis is a catastrophic injury that will come with a lifetime of related personal losses and financial costs. If a paralyzing spinal cord injury occurs on the job at a construction site in Texas, the victim may be able to recover financially through a workers’ compensation claim and/or a personal injury lawsuit.
Discuss your paralysis claim with an experienced personal injury attorney in Austin, Texas from FVF Law Firm – Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers for more information after a serious incident in Texas. We offer no-cost, no-pressure case reviews to inform injured workers of their legal rights. Contact us today for yours.