If you get injured in a roofing accident or a loved one dies in a fatal roofing disaster in Austin, the best way to seek justice is with help from a Austin personal injury lawyer. You’re already going through enough as you try to heal from your serious roofing accident injuries. Allow an experienced attorney to advocate for you throughout the legal process to improve your case outcome and overall legal experience.
A roofing accident is a type of disaster that can occur when someone is working on or around a roof. It is often a work-related accident that affects the employees and contractors who are working hard to install or repair the roof of a building. Whether or not you have grounds to file a claim after a roofing accident in Austin depends on the circumstances, including whether someone else caused your accident.
A roofing accident can refer to many different types of harmful incidents surrounding the occupation of roofing, or the job of installing, maintaining, repairing and removing roofing materials. These accidents can include falls, electrical incidents, tool and equipment accidents, ladder accidents, and structural collapses.
Falls are the number one type of roofing accident in Austin. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a lack of proper fall protection was the most commonly cited safety standard violated in fiscal year 2024.
A worker may fall off of a roof due to issues such as:
Employers in roofing are legally required to supply adequate fall protection to all workers who work from certain heights. When working on a roof, this generally includes a safety harness and line securing the worker to the roof. Skipping this important safety measure increases the odds of a terrible roofing accident.
A roof collapse occurs when part of the materials that make up the roof of a building give way. This could occur because of material deterioration over time, defective roof tiles, or poor installation/construction. Roof collapse could refer to a hole that a worker falls through or the entire roof crumbling. Both accidents can be extremely dangerous.
Roof collapse incidents can lead to workers getting trapped beneath roofing materials in addition to suffering serious injuries from the initial fall. Depending on the age of the building, a roof collapse could also expose workers and others in the area to harmful substances present in the building materials that enter the air, such as asbestos.
Roofing accidents are one of the most dangerous types of construction industry incidents due to the risk of falling from a great height. Any type of roofing accident could give the victim the right to recover financial compensation for related losses. An injured worker’s legal rights and options will depend on who caused the injury.
Possible defendants that could be named in a roofing accident claim in Austin are:
The accident may need to be investigated to determine its cause. If you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you, your lawyer can bring a claim against one or more parties on your behalf to help make you whole again.
If you get injured in a roofing accident as an employee in Austin, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, Texas is the only state that doesn’t require workers’ comp for employers. It is also not something that is available to independent contractors. This means it may not be an option for you, depending on your classification as a worker at the time of the accident.
Qualifying for workers’ comp does not require you to prove negligence, or someone’s failure to use ordinary care. The drawback is that it generally will not result in as much financial compensation as a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent employer could. This is why it’s important to speak to an attorney before accepting a workers’ comp settlement; if your employer was negligent, a lawsuit might be the better option.
You may be able to file both types of claims if you are an employee who is covered by workers’ compensation in Austin and a third party (someone other than your employer) caused your roofing accident. In this scenario, you could receive a workers’ comp settlement as well as bring legal action against the party responsible for your injuries.
A roofing accident can leave lasting damage both physically and emotionally. These accidents often result in severe injuries, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, severe spinal cord injuries, amputations, paralysis, internal injuries and wrongful death.
These traumatic incidents are often preventable and caused when someone is negligent or careless. In this situation, it can be critical to consult with a personal injury lawyer in Austin about your legal options. A lawyer will guide you through each step of making a physical and financial recovery.
If you have grounds to hold someone accountable with a personal injury claim, this could lead to financial compensation for all of your past and future losses, including pain and suffering. A lawyer will review your case to inform you about the best course of action moving forward.
At FVF Law Firm, we have more than 100 years of combined legal experience. When you hire us after being injured in a roofing accident in Austin, we will conduct an exhaustive investigation to identify liable parties and gather evidence. We will educate you on all of your rights and help you pursue fair case results using personalized legal services.
Start with a no-cost, no-pressure consultation, where you can learn more about your case and make informed decisions. Contact us today by sending us a message or calling (512) 640-2146 to schedule your free initial case evaluation.
