Major workplace accidents in Texas

An accident at work is a sudden fact that, for whatever reason, caused physical or psychological damage, and that happened during a professional activity. The fact at the origin of the accident at work must be unforeseen. This is what distinguishes it from occupational diseases.

In order to recognise the accident at work, the following 2 conditions must be justified:

• You have been the victim of an accident (sudden and unforeseen) in the course of your work.
• The accident caused you physical and/or psychological damage.

Therefore, the accident should be able to be linked to one or more events that occurred while you were under the authority of your employer. It must also be dated with certainty.

The accident is presumed to be of work when it occurs at the company’s premises, even during a pause.

However, the accident qualification at work may be excluded if the accidental act is the result of non-professional acts (e.g. suicide in the workplace due to personal problems).

This damage may be one of the following:

• Cut or burn.
• Muscle pain that appears suddenly after carrying a load.
• Fracture that occurs during a fall or crash.
• Heart disease.
• Emotional shock after an assault in the company.

The recognition of an accident as of professional origin entitles the following compensation:

• In case of work stoppage, compensation paid by Social Security and additional compensation paid by the employer and/or the insurer.
• In case of incapacity for work, specific compensation and additional compensation if your employer has committed a serious offence that caused the damage.

Every job has safety and health standards, however, no matter how attentive you are, work accidents are always present. Injuries can not only put hospitalization employees or even death at risk, but also affect insurance rates, increase compensation claims and in turn, the company’s morale.

According to data published by the , every year, hundreds of thousands of workers are injured at work in the United States, or a total of

Major workplace accidents found in Texas

According to the

• Accidents of falls, slips and stumbles
• Machinery accidents
• Inadequate maintenance
• Objects falling
• Exposure to toxic substances
• Acts of violence by other employees
• Truck accidents

According to the record, the rate of incidents of fatal occupational injuries in Texas was 4.7 per 100,000 full-time employees in 2019.

Private sector employees accounted for 94 per cent of occupational injuries, accounting for 573 incidents in the year mentioned, while the remaining 35 incidents involved public sector employees, thus increasing from 2018.

The occupancy with the highest number of fatal workplace injuries was that of drivers/sellers and truckers with 142 incidents, representing 23 per cent of all fatal work injuries. This was an increase in the total number of incidents from 123 in 2018.

Among the incidents of falls, slips and stumbling blocks, there were 96 episodes, representing 16 per cent of all such events. It was an increase of 71% in the total number of accidents compared to 2018.

With regard to incidents of violence and other injuries by person or animals, 86 events were recorded, representing 14 per cent of all incidents. An increase in the total number of accidents compared to the previous year studied.

Twenty percent of fatal workplace injuries occurred in the construction industry with 123 incidents, compared with 107 incidents in 2018.

Many of the occupations in Texas recorded an increase in the number of fatal occupational incidents from 2018 to 2019.

Deaths by industry

Property production industries

Among private sector goods-producing industries, the construction industry had the highest number of fatal injuries with 123, accounting for 22 per cent of the entire private sector fatally injured. This was an increase in incidents since 2018 (107).

Service-provided industries

Service-providing industries in the private sector, trade, transport, and the utility industry had the highest number of fatal injuries with 195, accounting for 34 per cent of all fatal occupational injuries in the private sector. This was an increase in incidents since 2018 (164).

The industry sub-sector within trade, transport and utilities with the largest number of fatalities was transport and storage with 115 incidents, representing 25 per cent of all incidents in private industry.

Transport incidents (47%), 283 violence and others, injuries by people or animals (14 per cent), falls, slips and stumbles (16 per cent), contact with objects and equipment (10 per cent), exposure to harmful substances or environments (9 per cent), fires and explosions (3 per cent), others not reported (1%).

Government industries

Of the 35 deaths involving government employees, 24 were local government employees. Eleven of those in local government were under police protection.

Lawyers for accidents at work

If you or a loved one is or was seriously injured or sadly witnessed the death of a person in an accident at your workplace, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

At the David Sanchez Legal Offices we will fight to get the maximum compensation benefits for work you can receive. We have recovered more than $500 million for our customers. The costs associated with an accident can be great, so you won’t pay us, unless we win your case.

Call now for a free consultation; if we don’t win, you don’t pay us.

If you have been interested in this content, we invite you to continue reading:

• How is the accident compensation calculated?
• How long a car accident lawsuit in Texas lasts.