Tragedy struck a Harris County construction site this week when a worker was struck and crushed by machinery being operated at the location. The death of the yet to be identified man occurred in a construction accident in southwest Harris County. The Harris County construction accident specifically occurred at 14800 Almeda Road near the West Riley intersection. The accident occurred Wednesday evening at about 5:00 p.m., as the sun was setting for the day.
Circumstances Surrounding Harris County Construction Accident
According to the Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a worker was operating a large piece of earth-moving equipment. The driver of the machinery somehow struck, crushed, and killed a coworker.
Emergency medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. They pronounced the injured worker dead at the scene.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is mounting an investigation into the specifics surrounding the accident. As of this time, little information has been made available about the incident. Additionally, no statements have yet been forthcoming from the enterprise overseeing the construction site, including any contractor or subcontractor that may have been engaged in operations at the location.
Common Types of Harris County Construction Accidents
Workers being crushed by machinery represents one of the more commonplace types of construction accidents in Harris County and across the country.
The unlucky 13 most commonplace types of Harris County construction accidents are:
- Machinery accidents
- Falls from heights
- Struck-by vehicles of machinery incidents
- Slip and falls
- Repetitive stress injures
- Caught or trapped between equipment or other material
- Electrocutions
- Elevator shaft incidents
- Crane or hoist accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Trench accidents
- Fires and explosions (including from gas leaks)
- Exposure to hazardous toxins and chemicals
Common Types of Harris County Construction Accident Injuries
The aftermath of a Harris county construction accident can include serious and even fatal injuries (as happened at a site in the southwest quadrant of the county this week). The most common types of construction site injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Severe burns (including by fire and chemical)
- Soft tissue injury
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal injury
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Death
What is a Harris County Construction Accident Wrongful Death Case?
When a worker is killed in a Harris County construction accident, surviving family members may be in a position to pursue what is known under Texas law as a wrongful death claim. Texas law delineates which family members may be in a position to pursue a construction accident wrongful death claim:
- Spouse
- Child or children
- Parent or parents
- Personal representative of the deceased individual’s estate
Justice and Compensation in a Texas Construction Accident Wrongful Death Case
Texas law divides the types of compensation a surviving family member may be able to obtain in a construction accident wrongful death claim. First, a person pursuing a Texas wrongful death case me be able to obtain compensation for actual monetary losses and expenses including:
- Last medical bills of deceased family member
- Funeral expenses of deceased family member
- Pain and suffering experienced by deceased
- Lost wages of the deceased
Second, a family member may be able to seek compensation for losses he or she experiences, including:
- Lost support
- Lost earning capacity
- Loss of comfort and companionship
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
Finally, a family member may be able to seek what are known as punitive or exemplary damages in a Texas construction accident wrongful death case. Exemplary damages represent additional compensation if the party that caused the accident leading to the family member’s death is deemed to be willful or the result of gross negligence.
If you’ve lost a family member as the result of a Harris County construction accident (or if you’ve been injured in this type of incident) the legal team at The Doan Law Firm is available to you 24 hours a day by calling (832) 835-0000. We can schedule a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation with you at our offices, located at:
1 Riverview
Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77056
(832) 835-0000
We can also arrange an appointment at your home, the hospital, or online as well. There is never a charge for an initial consultation and case evaluation with a Doan Law Firm Harris County construction accident lawyer.
The Doan Law Firm makes an attorney fee promise to you. We will never charge an attorney fee unless we win your case for you.