Harlingen Work Accident Lawyers

Personal Injury Trial Attorneys Serving Brownsville, Cameron County, & Hidalgo County, TX

 Work accidents are an unfortunate reality across the United States. These injuries occur daily to workers of all kinds, especially those in high-risk and dangerous work environments. A work accident can drastically interrupt your life with a temporary or permanent disability, depress your livelihood, cause pain and suffering, and threaten you with severe financial distress. 

Fortunately, most workers in the U.S. can turn to workers’ compensation programs for benefits such as medical expenses and wage replacement. Workers’ comp, however, is limited in what you can recover. For example, it does not compensate for pain and suffering or emotional distress. Wage benefits are also statutorily limited. 

When a worker has been injured due to a third party’s negligence, a personal injury claim may be filed against the at-fault party seeking damages unavailable through workers’ compensation.

At Ried Pecina Trial Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers can represent you in these cases with skilled and trial-tested legal representation. We can thoroughly investigate all the factors involved in your work accident to determine all who may be held liable for what you have suffered. 

Request a free consultation with a Harlingen work accident attorney by contacting us online or at (956) 225-2509. Hablamos Español.

Overview of Texas Work Accidents 

Work accidents can result in minor to major injuries, catastrophic injuries, and even death. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in the country in 2021, marking an 8.9-percent increase from 4,764 in 20201. Additionally, work-related medically-consulted injuries totaled an alarming 4.26 million in the same year.

Specific industries tend to have higher rates of work injuries due to the inherent risks involved in the job. For instance, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation often report high injury rates due to heavy machinery use, hazardous materials, and strenuous physical labor. 

The leading causes of work injuries typically include slips, trips, falls, contact with equipment and overexertion. 18% of the 1,176,340 nonfatal work injuries resulting in days away from work in 2020 were related to slip and fall accidents. However, even office workers can become injured if environmental safety issues are ignored. 

Types of On-the-Job Injuries 

Types of injuries that can occur to workers vary greatly depending on the nature of the job and the accident. They can range from minor cuts and bruises to serious and catastrophic conditions such as fractures, burns, traumatic brain injuries, and even fatalities.

Examples of injuries can include: 

• Strains and Sprains: Common injuries from heavy lifting or repetitive motion.
• Cuts and Lacerations: Resulting from using sharp objects or machinery.
• Fractures and Broken Bones: Occurring from falls, being struck by objects, or machinery accidents.
• Burns: Related to jobs that involve fire, chemicals, electricity, or hot equipment.
• Concussions: Resulting from falls, being struck by an object, or vehicle accidents.
• Hearing Loss: Occurring in jobs with high noise levels, such as construction or factory work.
• Eye Injuries: Associated with flying debris, chemicals, or intense light.
• Repetitive Stress Injuries: Related to repeated motion over time, such as typing or assembly line work.
• Heat Stroke: In jobs involving high temperatures or strenuous physical labor.
• Respiratory Problems: Resulting from exposure to dust, mold, or toxic fumes.
• Amputations: Severe injuries from accidents involving heavy machinery.
• Chemical Poisoning: In jobs involving handling or exposure to hazardous substances.
• Back Injuries: From heavy lifting, falls, or repetitive motion.
• Electrical Shocks and Electrocution: Occurring in jobs involving electrical work, such as construction.
• Exposure to Harmful Substances: Leads to various health issues, depending on the substance.
• Musculoskeletal Disorders: Occurring from heavy lifting, repetitive motion, or maintaining awkward postures.
• Psychological Trauma: From accidents, violent incidents, or high-stress environments.
• Occupational Diseases: Conditions caused by exposure to risk factors in the workplace, such as lung diseases, skin disorders, or certain types of cancer.
• Falls from Height: Leading to various injuries, depending on the height and surface, typically associated with construction, warehouse, and factory work and in other industrial environments.
• Crush Injuries: Occurring when a part of the body is squeezed between two heavy objects.
• Puncture Wounds: From stepping on or coming into contact with sharp objects.