What is the Most Common Cause of Injury on a Construction Site?

Last Updated on June 27, 2025 by Beltz Law Group

Construction sites are dynamic and inherently dangerous environments. While safety protocols are in place, the unfortunate reality is that accidents and injuries remain far too common in Texas. These incidents can lead to devastating consequences, from serious physical harm and long-term disabilities to tragic fatalities. If you or a loved one has been injured on a Texas construction site, understanding the common types of accidents, potential injuries, and your legal rights is crucial.

The Beltz Law Group is dedicated to helping injured construction workers and their families navigate the complex legal landscape of workers’ compensation and personal injury claims in Texas. We fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your losses.

The Alarming Reality of Construction Site Injuries in Texas

Construction consistently ranks among the most hazardous industries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the construction industry accounted for the most fatalities (1,075) among all industry sectors in 2023, making it the highest for the sector going back to 2011. Falls, slips, and trips were the leading cause of these fatalities, accounting for 39.2% of all construction deaths. These statistics underscore the critical importance of stringent safety measures and the severe risks workers face daily.

Most Common Causes of Construction Site Injuries in Texas

While many factors can contribute to a construction accident, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) identifies a “Fatal Four” that are responsible for the majority of construction worker deaths:

1. Falls (from a height):
   • Description: This is by far the leading cause of serious injury and death. Falls occur from ladders, scaffolds, roofs, unprotected edges, or through unguarded openings.
   • Common Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, broken bones (fractures), internal bleeding, and paralysis.
   • OSHA Violations: Inadequate fall protection, improper scaffold construction, unsafe ladder use, and lack of guardrails are frequently cited OSHA violations. Employers are generally required to provide fall protection at heights of six feet or higher in construction.
2. Struck By Object:
   • Description: Workers are injured by falling tools, materials, debris, or objects swinging from cranes or other machinery. This also includes accidents where workers are struck by moving vehicles or heavy equipment on site.
   • Common Injuries: Head injuries (concussions, TBIs), crush injuries, broken bones, lacerations, and spinal injuries.
   • OSHA Violations: Failure to secure tools and materials, lack of overhead protection, improper crane operation, and inadequate pedestrian warnings on site.
3. Electrocutions:
   • 

     Severe Accident Lawyer

     Description: Contact with live electrical wires, faulty wiring, ungrounded equipment, or overhead power lines.

   • Common Injuries: Severe burns, nerve damage, cardiac arrest, internal organ damage, and death.
   • OSHA Violations: Lack of lockout/tagout procedures, improper grounding, inadequate insulation, and working too close to power lines without proper precautions.
4. Caught-Between Accidents:
   • Description: Workers get trapped, crushed, or compressed between two or more objects. This can involve machinery, heavy equipment, walls, trenches, or collapsing structures.
   • Common Injuries: Amputations, severe crush injuries, internal injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries.
   • OSHA Violations: Unsafe trenching and excavation practices (leading to cave-ins), unguarded machinery, and improper rigging of loads.

Beyond the Fatal Four, other significant causes of injuries on Texas construction sites include:

• Slips, Trips, and Falls (at ground level): Uneven surfaces, debris, wet conditions, or poor lighting can lead to falls.
• Machinery Accidents: Malfunctions, improper use, or lack of training related to heavy machinery, power tools, and vehicles.
• Chemical Exposure: Contact with hazardous substances leading to burns, respiratory issues, or long-term health problems.
• Fires and Explosions: Often caused by flammable materials, faulty electrical systems, or gas lines.
• Overexertion/Repetitive Motion Injuries: Strains, sprains, and other musculoskeletal disorders from strenuous physical labor.

Common Injuries Sustained on Texas Work Sites

The severity of injuries sustained on construction sites can range from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic, life-altering conditions:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Concussions, contusions, and more severe brain damage from falls or struck-by incidents.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Leading to partial or complete paralysis.
• Broken Bones (Fractures): From falls, impacts, or crush injuries.
• Amputations: Often a result of caught-between accidents or machinery mishaps.
• Severe Burns: From electrical contact, chemicals, or fires.
• Internal Organ Damage: From crush injuries or significant blunt force trauma.
• Lacerations and Puncture Wounds: From sharp objects, tools, or falling debris.
• Hearing Loss: Due to prolonged exposure to loud machinery without proper hearing protection.
• Respiratory Illnesses: From inhaling toxic fumes, dust, or asbestos.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Texas

Texas has a unique approach to workers’ compensation. Unlike most states, Texas employers are generally not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This means:

• Subscriber Employers: If your employer does subscribe to workers’ compensation, it is typically a “no-fault” system. This means you can receive benefits for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. However, accepting these benefits usually means you cannot sue your employer directly for negligence (with very limited exceptions, such as intentional injury or gross negligence).
• Nonsubscriber Employers: If your employer does not subscribe to workers’ compensation, you generally can sue your employer for negligence. In these cases, the employer loses many common law defenses (like arguing you assumed the risk or a co-worker caused the accident), which can make it easier for injured workers to prove fault and seek full compensation for all their damages, including pain and suffering.

Important Note for Construction Projects (Effective September 1, 2023): A new Texas law requires contractors and subcontractors working on building or construction projects to provide workers’ compensation coverage for all employees. Governmental entities are also now required to obtain written proof of insurance from any contractors or subcontractors working for them. This aims to provide a safety net for more construction workers.

Third-Party Liability in Construction Accidents

Even if your employer is a workers’ compensation subscriber, you may still have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party. A third party is anyone other than your direct employer or a co-worker who contributed to your injury. This is a critical avenue for recovering full damages, including pain and suffering, which are typically not covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

Common third parties who may be held liable include:

• General Contractors: If their negligence in overseeing safety or coordinating work led to your injury.
• Subcontractors: If a subcontractor’s actions or negligence created a hazard that injured you (e.g., leaving a trench unmarked, unsafe electrical work).
• Property Owners: If hazardous conditions on the property (not created by your employer) caused the accident.
• Equipment Manufacturers or Suppliers: If a defective tool, machine, or piece of equipment caused your injury.
• Architects or Engineers: If a design flaw contributed to an unsafe condition.
• Other Vendors or Drivers: Anyone on site whose negligence (e.g., delivery driver) caused a collision or other accident.

To win a third-party claim, you must prove the third party’s negligence: they owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and their breach directly caused your injuries and damages.

Your Right to Compensation: How The Beltz Law Group Can Help

If you’ve suffered an injury on a Texas construction site, you have legal rights, and pursuing compensation can be complex. The legal process can be daunting, especially when you’re focused on recovery. The Beltz Law Group has extensive experience in handling construction accident cases across Texas. We can help you:

• Understand Your Rights: Determine whether your employer is a workers’ compensation subscriber or nonsubscriber and what legal avenues are available to you.
• Investigate Thoroughly: Our team will meticulously investigate the accident, gather critical evidence (e.g., accident reports, OSHA citations, witness statements, safety records, expert testimony), and identify all potentially liable parties.
• Navigate Workers’ Compensation: If your employer is a subscriber, we can help ensure you receive all eligible workers’ compensation benefits.
• Pursue Third-Party Claims: We excel at identifying and building strong cases against negligent third parties to maximize your compensation, including damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
• Fight for Fair Compensation: We will aggressively negotiate with insurance companies and, if necessary, take your case to court to secure the full and fair recovery you deserve.

Don’t face the aftermath of a construction accident alone. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better. Evidence can disappear, and witness memories can fade. Protecting your rights begins with prompt legal action.

Contact the Beltz Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation. Let us put our experience to work for you.

Call us at 214-321-4105.