Accomplished Texas City construction accident attorneys bringing over ten years of courtroom experience to complex jobsite injury litigation.
Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers represents construction workers and surviving family members across Galveston County. To consult with our Texas City, TX construction accident lawyer, please reach out for a free, confidential review.
Construction Accident Lawyer Texas City, TX
A construction accident case is a civil claim arising from injury or death sustained on a construction worksite, brought against negligent general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, engineers, architects, or other parties whose conduct contributed to the harm. The defendant pool is what sets these claims apart. A typical project involves an owner, a general contractor, multiple subcontractors, equipment lessors, a safety consultant, and a design professional, each of whom may bear some responsibility.
Texas adds a wrinkle: most workplace injury claims are governed by the workers’ compensation system, but Texas allows employers to opt out, and many Gulf Coast contractors are non-subscribers. A non-subscriber employer can be sued directly for negligence, and the standard defenses of contributory negligence and assumption of risk are largely unavailable. Our construction accident attorneys in Texas City pursue every available avenue, both against non-subscriber employers and any third party whose conduct contributed to the harm.
Types of Construction Accident Cases We Handle in Texas City
Construction injuries cluster around hazards OSHA tracks under its Focus Four classification. Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers handles the full range of incidents.
- Falls from height. Falls remain the leading cause of construction fatalities, including falls from scaffolds, ladders, leading edges, roofs, and elevated platforms.
- Struck-by injuries. Falling tools, swinging loads from cranes and hoists, materials shifting on a deck, and rolling equipment cause severe head, spinal, and crush injuries.
- Caught-in or caught-between incidents. Trench cave-ins, machine-guarding failures, pinch points, and being crushed between fixed and moving objects result in some of the highest fatality rates.
- Electrocution and arc flash. Contact with overhead power lines, energized circuit panels, and unmarked underground utilities produces lethal current exposures and severe burns.
- Scaffold collapses and failures. Improperly assembled scaffolds, missing guardrails, defective base plates, and overloading cause both falls and crush injuries.
- Crane and hoist incidents. Tipping cranes, dropped loads, signal failures, and operator error produce mass-casualty events on commercial sites.
- Heavy equipment incidents. Backhoe, excavator, skid-steer, and forklift accidents involve both operators and ground personnel struck during operations.
- Toxic exposure claims. Silica dust, asbestos, hexavalent chromium in welding, and lead exposure on bridge work support occupational disease claims.
- Defective tools and equipment. Power tool failures, ladder collapses, and defective fall arrest systems support strict product liability claims against the manufacturer.
- Workplace injuries. Non-subscriber claims and third-party negligence theories often run in parallel.
- Burn injuries. Welding flash burns, hot metal contact, electrical and chemical exposures, and the ignition of nearby flammable materials account for a large share of construction injuries, causing thermal injuries and structure fires.
- Brain injuries. Falls and struck-by incidents are leading causes of TBI on construction sites.
- Spinal cord injuries. Falls from height and crush injuries produce devastating spinal injuries.
- Wrongful death. Fatal jobsite incidents support claims under Texas wrongful death and survival statutes.
Why Choose Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers for Construction Accident in Texas City, TX?
Industrial Construction Trial Background
Construction cases have the best chance of a positive resolution for the plaintiff when litigated by attorneys who understand both the contracting structure and the safety regulations that govern each trade. Mike Streich spent the early phase of his career representing general contractors, owners, and their insurers, including Lloyd’s of London syndicates, in catastrophic injury claims arising from commercial and industrial job sites. He has reviewed daily safety reports, worked through Chapter 95 defenses with corporate clients, and prepared site superintendents for deposition. As a personal injury lawyer in Texas City, TX, Mike now applies that perspective on behalf of injured workers and their families.
Matt Greenberg is a Texas trial attorney with significant verdicts and settlements across catastrophic injury practice areas. Matt is licensed in Texas, Louisiana, and Arizona, holds a J.D. from Baylor Law School, and has earned recognition from Super Lawyers, Lawdragon, and the National Trial Lawyers. He is a member of the American Association for Justice and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
Verdicts and Settlements
Our attorneys have recovered over $400 million for injured clients, including a $20 million industrial burn verdict and additional seven and eight-figure outcomes featuring construction, refinery, and oilfield injuries. Construction cases reward early site preservation, methodical contractor analysis, and willingness to take the case to verdict.
How Our Firm Operates
Our Texas City construction accident attorneys handle these matters on a contingency basis. There is no fee unless we recover. Free consultations are available in both English and Spanish.
Understanding Construction Accident Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Construction Accident Cases
Recoverable damages in a construction case depend on the severity of the injury, the parties involved, and whether the employer is a workers’ compensation subscriber.
- Exemplary damages. These may be awarded where the at-fault party’s conduct rises to the level of gross negligence, fraud, or malice. Repeat OSHA citations, ignored hazard reports, and falsified safety records often form the basis of a punitive claim.
- Lost earning capacity. Many construction workers are unable to return to their pre-injury trade, and our firm retains vocational specialists to calculate the lifetime difference in earnings.
- Past and future medical care. This includes acute treatment, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgical care, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment that often extends for years.
- Non-economic damages. These account for the personal toll of an injury, including physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Loss of consortium. Spouses, and in some cases children, may recover for the loss of household services and the relational consequences of a serious injury.
Liability in a construction matter typically extends across the general contractor, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, the property owner, the architect or engineer, and any lessor. For Texas tort claims, fault is allocated under Section 33.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, with a 51% bar on plaintiff recovery. Independent contractor injuries against commercial property owners are governed by Chapter 95 of the same code, with its specific control and actual-knowledge requirements.
Important Aspects in Your Construction Accident Case
A few issues drive every construction claim.
- Site preservation. Equipment, scaffolding, and the scene must be photographed and inspected before they are moved or returned to a lessor.
- Contract review. Master service agreements, subcontracts, indemnity provisions, and additional insured endorsements determine which parties owe duties to whom.
- OSHA citation history. Prior citations, repeat violations, and incident investigations document the contractors’ safety records.
- Daily reports and JSAs. Maintenance records, daily safety reports, and job safety analyses preserve the operational and supervisory record.
- Forum strategy. Where the case is filed often drives settlement value.
Construction Accident Case Timeline
Construction cases progress through identifiable stages, though the pace varies with the severity of injury and the number of parties.
- Site investigation and preservation. Preservation letters to all contractors and lessors, witness identification, and documentation in the first 30 days.
- Medical treatment. Surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing follow-up often extend a year or more for serious construction injuries.
- Contract and insurance discovery. Identification of all responsible parties, additional insured endorsements, and applicable policy limits.
- Pre-suit demand. A formal demand to insurers and at-fault parties once damages are documented.
- Lawsuit filing. State district court or federal court, depending on parties and strategy.
- Discovery, depositions, mediation, and trial. Most construction cases settle, but only when defendants believe the case is genuinely headed to verdict.
What to Bring to Your Construction Accident Consultation
A productive first meeting is built on documents. Bring whatever you have.
- Incident report, OSHA recordable, or any internal investigation summary.
- Hospital records, ambulance bills, ER notes, surgical summaries, and rehabilitation documentation.
- Photographs of the scene, the equipment, your injuries, and any property damage.
- Names and contact information for witnesses, coworkers, supervisors, and first responders.
- Pay stubs, employment contracts, and W-2 or 1099 documentation showing your work status.
The consultation will cover what occurred, the responsible parties, the legal framework, and your next steps.
Texas Legal Resources for Construction Accidents
Construction injury law combines federal occupational safety regulations, federal injury surveillance, and Texas tort principles.
- Federal construction safety standards. OSHA enforces 29 CFR Part 1926, the body of federal safety standards that govern most commercial construction in the United States.
- NIOSH construction safety research. The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health maintains a construction program covering Focus Four hazards, fatality data, and Prevention through Design.
- Federal occupational injury data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the authoritative national source for workplace fatality data.
- Texas non-subscriber framework. Texas allows employers to opt out of workers’ compensation under Labor Code Chapter 406, exposing non-subscribers to direct negligence suits.
- Statute of limitations. Texas personal injury claims must generally be filed within two years under Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
- Local courts. Construction cases involving Texas City are typically filed in the Galveston County district court or the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
These resources are starting points only. Applying them to a specific incident is part of what we do during the consultation.
Reach Out to Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
You should not have to face this alone, and with our Texas City construction accident lawyer, you won’t have to. The attorneys at Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers offer free, confidential consultations to injured workers and families. We work on contingency. Contact us today to get started.
Construction Accident Statistics in Texas City
Texas City sits inside one of the most active industrial construction corridors on the Gulf Coast. Refinery turnaround crews, pipeline contractors, and roadway builders work here year-round. The BLS fatality census recorded 1,032 deaths among construction and extraction workers nationwide in 2024, with 370 of them caused by falls, slips, and trips.
The Texas Department of Insurance publishes the state portion of that census each year. Its 2024 Texas fatality report shows how concentrated the risk is in the trades our construction accident attorneys in Texas City see most often.
- Texas recorded 557 fatal work injuries in 2024. The construction industry accounted for 128 of them, or 23% of every workplace death in the state.
- Eighty of those deaths happened on construction or maintenance sites, which made jobsites the third most common location for a fatal injury after roadways and industrial premises.
- Construction laborers died in greater numbers than any Texas occupation other than truck drivers, with 46 fatalities. Roofer deaths rose 64% in one year, from 11 to 18.
- Heavy and civil engineering construction, the sector that builds highways and industrial infrastructure, saw fatalities climb from 27 in 2023 to 38 in 2024.
Mistakes That Can Damage Your Construction Accident Claim
Most of the problems we see in construction cases start in the first two weeks, long before anyone has hired a Texas City construction accident lawyer. A few decisions made under pressure cost the injured worker leverage that is difficult to recover later.
- Giving a recorded statement to the contractor’s insurer. The adjuster’s job is to lock in a version of events that limits the company’s exposure. Details get simplified, and those simplifications become defense exhibits. You aren’t required to speak with the carrier first.
- Signing the incident report without reading it. Many contractors use forms with pre-printed language that assigns responsibility to the employee. If the description is incomplete or wrong, write your own account and keep a copy.
- Waiting to see a doctor. A gap between the injury and the first medical visit is one of the most common defense arguments in a construction case. Insurers argue that the injury happened somewhere else or wasn’t serious. Prompt care creates the record that ties the injury to the jobsite.
- Letting the scene get cleaned up. Scaffolding gets disassembled. Rented equipment goes back to the lessor. Trench walls get backfilled. After that, an engineer can only work from photographs. Take pictures before you leave the site if you can, and ask a coworker if you can’t.
- Assuming the employer is the only responsible party. On a typical Texas City jobsite, the general contractor, the property owner, equipment manufacturers, and other subcontractors may each owe a duty. When contractor crews are injured during refinery turnaround work, the plant operator often controls the schedule and the permit system. Third-party claims are frequently worth more than the claim against the direct employer.
- Posting about the accident online. Defense counsel routinely subpoenas social media. A photo from a family cookout becomes evidence that you aren’t as limited as you claim. Stay off every platform until the case is resolved.
- Accepting the first settlement offer. Early offers arrive before the full cost of surgery, rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity is known. A release signed for a quick check closes every future claim, including claims against parties you haven’t identified yet. Our construction accident attorneys in Texas City, TX don’t evaluate settlement value until the medical picture is stable.
Texas City Construction Accident Lawyer FAQs
How much does a Texas City construction accident lawyer cost?
We handle construction cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing up front, and we are paid a percentage of the recovery only if we win. If there’s no recovery, there is no attorney’s fee. The initial consultation is free.
Can I sue my employer for a construction accident in Texas?
It depends on whether the employer carries workers’ compensation. Texas allows employers to opt out, and many Gulf Coast contractors do. A non-subscriber can be sued directly for negligence. If the employer subscribes, your remedy against it is generally limited to comp benefits.
Who can be held responsible besides my employer?
General contractors, equipment lessors, manufacturers of defective tools, and design professionals can each face liability. Property owners who keep control over the work may face premises liability claims. Our Texas City construction accident lawyers identify every entity on the site before deciding whom to pursue.
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim in Texas City?
Texas sets a two-year limitations period for most personal injury and wrongful death claims under Section 16.003 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Claims against a government entity can carry much shorter notice requirements. Preservation letters and contract discovery take time, so don’t wait.
What if the contractor says the accident was my fault?
Texas uses proportionate responsibility. You can still recover if your share of fault is 50% or less, and the award is reduced by that percentage. Contractors blame the worker to shift the numbers. Site records and witness testimony usually tell a different story.
What is my construction accident case worth?
No honest construction accident attorney in Texas City can answer that in the first meeting. Value depends on the severity of the injury, whether you can return to your trade, and the insurance available.
Can I recover punitive damages against a contractor?
Texas permits exemplary damages when the plaintiff proves fraud, malice, or gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence under Chapter 41 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Falsified training records and repeat citations for the same hazard support this claim.
What should I do if a family member died on a Texas City jobsite?
Surviving spouses, children, and parents may bring wrongful death claims. The estate may also bring a survival claim for the decedent’s own damages. Fatal incidents trigger an OSHA investigation, and that file becomes central evidence.
Do I need a construction accident lawyer in Texas City if I’m receiving workers’ comp?
Often, yes. Comp pays limited medical and wage benefits, not pain, impairment, or the full loss of earning capacity. A third-party claim against a negligent contractor or manufacturer can recover those damages while comp benefits continue.
What happens during the free consultation?
Our Texas City, TX construction accident attorneys listen to what happened, review any documents you have, and identify the parties involved. We tell you whether the case is worth pursuing. Questions about working with our firm are welcome at any point.
Important Resources for Texas City Construction Accident Cases
Most Dangerous Locations for Construction Accidents in Texas City
Construction injuries in Texas City cluster in two settings: the petrochemical complex on the city’s south and east side, and the highway corridors TxDOT is rebuilding through Galveston County. These are where our Texas City construction accident attorneys see the most jobsite claims.
Industrial and jobsite areas
- The refinery and chemical row along Loop 197 and SH 146. Contractor crews handle turnarounds and maintenance inside plants where process fires and explosion incidents remain a recognized hazard.
- The Port of Texas City. Dock rebuilds, terminal expansion, and marine construction expose workers to crane, rigging, and water hazards.
- New development along FM 1764 and in Lago Mar. Framing, roofing, and slab work on new subdivisions produce falls and struck-by injuries.
Highway work zones
- I-45 (Gulf Freeway). TxDOT’s widening project between FM 1764 and the Texas City Wye has kept crews working within feet of live traffic. The TxDOT work zone data shows more than 28,000 crashes in Texas work zones in 2025 and 203 deaths, including seven roadside workers.
- FM 1764 (Emmett F. Lowry Expressway). Reconstruction from I-45 to SH 146, including the SH 146 overpass, has meant repeated lane shifts and barrier work.
- SH 146 and SH 3. Both carry heavy truck traffic to the plants and port. Both also cross active TxDOT work.
A worker struck by a dump truck in one of these zones may have both a jobsite claim and a separate truck accident claim against the driver’s employer.
What Are Important Local Resources for Texas City Construction Accidents?
After a jobsite injury in Texas City, TX, these agencies and providers handle the first response, the medical care, and the safety investigation. Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers does not endorse any organization listed here, and inclusion is not a recommendation.
- Texas City Police Department, 1004 9th Avenue North, (409) 643-5720. Responds to jobsite incidents involving vehicles or public roadways and prepares the initial report.
- HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland, 6801 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, (409) 938-5000. The closest full-service emergency room and acute care hospital to most Texas City jobsites.
- OSHA Houston South Area Office, (281) 286-0583. Covers Galveston County, receives employer fatality reports, and conducts jobsite inspections.
- Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, (800) 252-7031. Handles workers’ compensation claim questions and publishes the state fatality data.
About Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers
Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers was founded by Matt Greenberg, whose career has always been on the plaintiff’s side, and Mike Streich, who came over from the defense bar before the two started Greenberg Streich together. Mike spent a year as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company, and Super Lawyers has named him a Texas Rising Star nine times, most recently in 2025. Our attorneys have recovered $5.9 million for a worker injured in a construction accident. Matt’s Montgomery County verdict remains the largest recorded personal injury verdict in that county.
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“Mike Streich is an outstanding injury attorney, and I am deeply grateful for everything he has done for my family. He represented us in a wrongful death case after my children’s father was tragically killed due to a company’s negligence. It was the most painful and overwhelming time of our lives, and Mike handled our case with compassion, strength, and unwavering dedication.” — Regina Brown
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Additional Resources for Texas City Construction Accident Cases
- What to Do After a Serious Accident in Texas
- How Recent Texas Legal Changes Affect Personal Injury Cases
- 5 Questions for Your Catastrophic Injury Consultation
- Proving Negligence in Slip and Fall Cases
Contact Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers
If you were hurt on a Texas City construction site, or lost a family member to a jobsite incident, our attorneys can review the facts and explain your options. Initial consultations are free, and there is no fee unless we recover for you. We’ll go through what happened and explain how the claim moves forward. We return calls and messages promptly. Contact us to schedule a free case review with a construction accident attorney in Texas City, TX.
