Hurt on the Job? You need a fierce workplace injury lawyer to Fight For You

Whether you work in a plant, construction site, oil rig, or office, you are entitled to a safe environment. Companies, employers, and even some third parties have a duty to provide safe working conditions. Even though some working environments, like plants and refineries, present tougher challenges, negligent and careless acts should never be tolerated. 

At Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, our lawyers have been fighting for workers’ rights for decades. Our dedicated Houston job injury lawyers have helped injured employees secure the compensation they deserve so they can move on with their lives. 

Every workplace injury presents a unique set of circumstances. Our highly sought team can help clients recover damages in a few different ways, depending on the situation.

  1. The most common way for a worker to recover damages is through a workers’ compensation claim.
  2. In some cases, a third party may have helped cause your accident. If you have been hurt by a defective product or suffered injuries from a toxin, you may be able to file a personal injury claim in addition to workers’ compensation. 

If you or someone you know has been injured in a workplace accident due to the careless or neglectful actions of another, let our skilled team protect your rights today. You can contact a work injury lawyer at our firm for a free consultation of your injuries by clicking here or calling 713-244-5477 or toll-free at 888-229-5094.

Painter lying on the ground in pain holding his knee next to a tipped-over ladder needing to call a Houston work injury lawyer.

How Can a work injury lawyer Help My Workers’ Compensation Claim?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.5 million workers suffered work-related injuries in 2018. The most common injuries were overexertion, slips and falls, and contact with objects and equipment. At Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, we understand being hurt at work can have devastating consequences. 

As medical bills come in and you are too hurt to go back to work, the financial burden can become overwhelming. Most workers rely on workers’ compensation to see them through this difficult time. However, filing a workers’ compensation claim can be challenging. Companies wish to keep workers’ compensation premiums down and are always on the lookout for fraud. As such, an injured worker often has to jump through hoops to file their claim. Sometimes families are counting on workers’ compensation benefits, only to have their claim denied. Others receive far less than they believe they deserve. Having a workplace injury lawyer by your side can ensure you receive your benefits when you need them most. 

Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner has over 70 years of litigation experience. When you are injured in a work-related accident, some of the benefits you may be entitled to include;

  • Full compensation of medical expenses related to your injury, including surgery, hospital stay, and physical therapy 
  • Temporary disability benefits are paid while an employee is unable to work. Generally, the rate is two-thirds of what the average weekly salary or wage would be. 
  • If a hurt worker suffers debilitating injuries and can no longer work, they may be eligible for permanent disability.
  • In other cases, an injured worker may qualify for job displacement benefits. These are supplemental benefits when a worker cannot return to work even after their injuries have stabilized. A worker can seek other employment and gain the training needed to move into a different field. 

When you are injured in a workplace accident, our Houston we can help guide you through the process. If you feel your injuries are due to negligence, you may be able to recover damages from a third party. Talk to a work injury lawyer for a free evaluation of your case. 

What is a Third-Party Claim?

At Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, our lawyers have extensive experience helping injured workers with third-party claims. “Third-party” refers to a person or company that is not your employer who may be found negligible for your injuries. 

For example, suppose you are a delivery driver. While on the road, a commercial 18-wheeler runs a stop sign and crashes into you. Because you were hurt on the job, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, or punitive damages. However, filing a third-party claim against the distracted truck driver would allow you to seek further damages. 

Every work-related accident is unique. Other examples of a negligent third-party include;

  • Property owner negligence;
    • Suppose you are working on a property that your employer does not own. The landowner may owe you a duty of care to provide a safe working environment. If you are injured due to hazardous conditions on the property, you may have a claim against the landowner.
  • Construction sites;
    • Construction sites are notoriously dangerous and often employ numerous safety regulations. Sometimes a subcontractor may come in on the job. If the subcontractor is negligent and it causes you harm, you may be able to seek compensation.
  • Defective products;
    • Often, equipment, vehicles, and other products are instrumental in a worker’s injury. If you are hurt due to a malfunctioning piece of equipment or a defective product, you may have a claim against the manufacturer. 
  • Toxins or toxic substances;
    • If you are injured due to a toxic substance, like poisonous fumes, lead-based paint, or asbestos, you may have a claim against the manufacturer. 

If you or someone you love has been injured in such a way you believe a third party could be held liable, contact our work injury lawyers at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner.

What Does My Attorney Need to Show for a Third-Party job injury Claim?

To have a successful third-party claim, your work injury lawyer in Houston, Texas, will need the skills and resources to demonstrate specific criteria. 

  1. First, that your injuries resulted in a work-related accident.
  2. That the third party owed you a duty of care
  3. That the third party was negligent and failed in this duty of care
  4. And lastly, that you were injured. 

If you have been hurt on the job due to the negligence or careless act of a third party, you may be able to seek damages. Unlike workers’ compensation benefits, a third-party claim seeks compensation similar to a personal injury claim. 

You may be entitled to;

  • Full compensation of your medical expenses
  • Lost wages if you are unable to work
  • Loss of future income damages
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Possible punitive damages against a grossly negligent party

It is important to note that a successful claim against a third party may mean your compensation is subject to subrogation. The subject of subrogation is complicated. When you are hurt in a work-related accident, workers’ compensation benefits cover your medical needs and lost wages. If you are successful in recovering damages from a third party, you may be required to pay back those medical costs and lost income. The injured worker keeps what is left, usually pain and suffering damages and possible punitive damages. 

If you or someone you know has been hurt in an accident at work, you may have questions. Contact our job injury lawyers for a free consultation today. 

Male painter sitting on the ground crying in pain and holding his elbow. If you’ve been injured on the job, our team of job injury lawyers is ready to fight for you.

What Are the Common Types of Workplace Injuries in Texas?

Workplace accidents are responsible for thousands of on-the-job injuries every year in Texas. At Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, our Houston work injury lawyers aggressively work to obtain the compensation clients need to rebuild their lives and face the future. We have extensive experience representing clients who have suffered different types of injuries in the workplace, including;

Admiralty and maritime injuries

Admiralty and maritime laws are very complex. When a worker is injured due to dangerous conditions on a ship, platform, dock, or rig, our exceptional admiralty and maritime injury attorneys in Texas can help. We represent people injured in barge and vessel accidents, boating collisions, cargo ship accidents, drowning incidents, ship channel accidents, and injuries related to the Death on the High Seas Act, the Jones Act, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

Oil and gas injuries 

Injuries in an oil refinery, oil and gas field, and offshore oil rigs are common in Texas. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury due to neglect, call today.

Construction injuries

Construction jobs are one of the most dangerous occupations for Americans. Often, workers operate from great heights or with dangerous machinery and equipment. Employees hurt in construction often sustain debilitating injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured at work, our construction accident lawyers can help.

Electrocutions

When a worker is working around exposed cords, wires, faulty electrical outlets, or power lines, they are in danger of electrocution. Electrocution injuries are often very serious and can be deadly. 

FELA and railroad claims

FELA exempts railroad employees from state workers’ compensation statutes, leaving injured railroad workers a different path to recover damages. Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner have extensive experience with FELA and railroad claims. Call today for a free evaluation of your case. 

Mesothelioma and asbestosis injuries caused by asbestos exposure

Long-term exposure to asbestos on the job can cause long-term illnesses, including lung cancer. On-the-job exposure to asbestos could come from manufacturing products with raw asbestos, working in a building, or working with materials that contain asbestos. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, contact our asbestos lawyers now.

Workplace burns

Workplace burns can be debilitating and cause life-long injuries. Burns from extreme heat or cold, chemical burns, friction burns, and radiation can cause nerve damage and disfiguring scars. 

Motor vehicle accidents

Many workers spend their days driving vehicles, whether they are commercial truck drivers hauling loads across regions or bus drivers helping children to school. Those who drive for a living are exposed to all the dangers of the road, including distracted drivers, motorists under the influence, and hazardous weather which can result in a motor vehicle accident.

Slips and falls

Some of the most common injuries are slip and fall injuries. Workers exposed to wet floors, icy surfaces, uneven walkways, obstructed walkways, and poor lighting can suffer a fall. Most slip and fall workplace accidents are preventable. Workers can suffer spinal cord injuries, broken and dislocated bones, and torn ligaments. 

Falls from heights

Two construction workers helping their injured coworker. If you've been injured in your workplace, contact a Houston work injury attorney now.

Falling is the leading cause of death for workers in America. Poorly built structures, faulty equipment, and loose platforms can all contribute to falls. When a worker falls from a great height, like a construction worker or a painter on a tall building, it can result in broken, fractured, and dislocated bones. Falling can also cause traumatic brain injuries and internal organ damage.  

Overexertion

Overexertion can happen when a worker injures the muscles, tendons, or ligaments, engaging in strenuous activity. Activities could include pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, or carrying. An overexertion injury could happen quickly with one activity or over time after years of engaging in the same strenuous tasks. 

Struck by objects

Falling, flying, rolling, or swinging objects are very dangerous hazards. If an object strikes a worker, they often suffer blunt force trauma, internal organ injuries, eye injuries, lacerations, and traumatic brain injuries. 

Being struck against an object

Some working environments pose an environmental danger of being thrown against walls, doors, windows, machinery, railroad tracks, vehicles, or other objects. A worker can suffer head trauma, broken bones, fractures, or lacerations. Construction site workers may inadvertently be pushed into ditches or other ground openings, causing fall injuries.

Entanglement

When a worker becomes entangled in heavy machinery, the injuries are often catastrophic or deadly. Workers’ loose clothing, limbs, or fingers can get caught in rollers and gears. An employee may suffer tearing, crushing, or lose limbs. 

Repetitive motion

Also called cumulative trauma, repetitive motion injuries are caused when a worker suffers an injury due to excessive repetition of a small-range task. Typing on a keyboard hours a day for decades or working on an assembly line at a factory doing the same small activity can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome damages the nerves and can cause chronic pain. 

Violence

Violence in the workplace can take many forms. Perhaps you are a worker that must deal with the public. Delivery personnel, servers, bank tellers, and retail cashiers may face assaults from customers or attacking animals. Violent acts can happen between co-workers, as well. If you have been assaulted by a co-worker or customer, Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner can help.

Explosions at work

Explosions are incredibly devastating. Explosions frequently result in life-altering injuries and permanent disability or death. The source and cause of the explosion that caused the injuries or burns are crucial determinations that form the basis of a personal injury explosion case.

If you feel that you or a loved one has suffered an injury in an explosion resulting from negligence, you may have grounds to bring a personal injury claim.

Determining the cause of an explosion and the parties responsible is a complex process. Perhaps the blast that caused your injury was caused by a defective product in your home. On the other hand, if an explosion at a refinery or petrochemical facility or another industrial accident caused your injury, there could be a variety of factors contributing to its cause:

We have handled a significant number of cases involving explosions related to gas pipelines, industrial plants, refineries, and petrochemical facilities.

The explosion victims we represent come to us with devastating burn injuries. We know from experience that the monetary, mental, and physical costs of recovering from a burn injury are staggering. A burn injury can require months (sometimes years) of hospitalization, doctors’ visits, and physical therapy, often requiring extensive counseling to overcome the mental trauma sustained from a burn injury.

Plant explosions

Fire from an explosion at a chemical plant. If you've been injured in an explosion at a plant, contact a Houston work injury lawyer now.

Was your home destroyed in a plant explosion? Were you injured near a plant explosion?

In 2013, the West Fertilizer Plant exploded, leveling the small Texas town, taking the homes of hundreds with it. As many as 200 people were injured and 14 people were killed in the industrial explosion and the rescue efforts that followed.

Serious and often fatal blasts, like the West, Texas explosion, affect more than just workplace accidents to those employed by the plant; individuals and families are also left to rebuild after a business destroys the lives and livelihoods of those around it.

Industrial plants dot the Texas landscape, providing a backbone to many local economies, providing jobs and revenue. These plants have a duty to operate responsibly and maintain safety standards to protect those who share a community with a:

  • Fertilizer plant
  • Chemical plant
  • Paper plant
  • Petrochemical plant
  • Refinery

When these plants fail to protect their community, they should be held responsible. Common causes of plant explosions include:

Inadequate or improper handling and storage of toxic and flammable materials

Poorly maintained machinery

Violations of regulatory requirements, including OSHA standards

A plant explosion can have a far-reaching impact, causing injury to people who don’t work there. A sudden fire, a cloud of smoke, and a resulting explosion can cause:

Serious visible personal injuries, including broken bones, lost limbs, and burn injuries

Serious invisible personal injuries, including toxic exposure to potentially cancer-causing agents or traumatic brain injury, overexposure to otherwise ‘safe’ chemicals such as ammonia, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In addition, plant explosions can destroy homes and businesses or cause serious environmental damage. While industrial plants and refineries are part of the fabric of Texas, severe and even fatal injuries are not.

Our Houston work injury lawyers also handle injuries related to noncompliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

Why hire a lawyer When you’ve been hurt on the job?

At Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, we believe every employee has a right to work in a safe environment. When a third party’s negligent or careless acts cause a preventable accident, they should be held accountable for your injuries.

Workplace injury claims can be challenging. You need a dedicated and resourceful Houston work injury attorney to fight for the critical evidence required in your case. As Texas’ oldest plaintiff trial law firm, Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner has the skills and experience you need to secure the compensation you deserve.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to negligence, let our workplace injury lawyers of Houston, Texas, protect your rights. You can contact us for a free consultation of your injuries by clicking here or calling 713-244-5477 or toll-free at 888-229-5094.

Austin Work Injury Lawyer

Brownsville Work Injury Lawyer

San Antonio Work Injury Lawyer

Free Consultation

We offer a free consultation to prospective clients. If you have been injured and wish to speak to one of our attorneys in a no-cost consultation, please call us at (713) 222-7211. or toll free at 713-222-7211

Real trial lawyers, real results

Our Record of Success

$250+

million

Drug Litigation

$201+

million

Plant Explosion

$88

million

Automotive Defects

$60

million

Drug Litigation

$60

million

Chemical Plant Fire

$35

million

Premises Liability

Our Awards

Best Law Firms - Badge 2024
Best Lawyers Best Law Firms US news 2023.
Abraham Watkins Best Lawyers Award for 2022.
Best Lawyers Best Law Firms US news 2021.
Best Lawyers Best Law Firms US news 2020.
Best Lawyers Best Law Firms US news 2019.
Best Lawyers Best Law Firms US news 2018.
Top 10 Wrongful Death US 2022.
Top 20 Motor Vehicle Accidents - 2022.
Top Verdict Top 50 Personal Injury
Top Verdict US 2022 Top 100
Number 1 settlement for wrongful death in Texas 2022.
Number 1 for Pedestrian Accident Settlements in TX for 2022.
Number 1 for Wrongful Death Settlements in TX for 2022.
Firm Award - Top 10 Motor Vehicle Settlements in Texas 2022
Best Premises Liability Lawyer Award.
Top 20 Best Lawyer Award for Abraham Watkins.
Top 100 Best Lawyer Award 2021 for Abraham Watkins.
2021 Top 10 Practicing Lawyers in Texas Award.
2021 Top 10 Personal Injury Verdict Award.
2020-top50-personal-injury-verdicts-us-abraham-watkins.
2020-top100-verdicts-us-abraham-watkins.
2020-top20-verdicts-tx-abraham-watkins.
2018-top100-motor-vehicle-accident-verdicts-us-abraham-watkins.
2018-top100-premises-liability settlements us abraham watkins.
2018-top50-verdicts-tx-abraham-watkins.
2018-top50-verdicts-tx-abraham-watkins.