Houston Heavy Equipment Accident Lawyer

In some occupations, large equipment, machines, and vehicles are necessary to get the job done. As an employee, you work with and around them every single day. Unfortunately, this constant exposure puts you at a greater risk for injuries or death.

If you were hurt in a heavy equipment or machinery accident, your entire life changes. Your routine as an able-bodied worker is now hindered by your injuries, need for medical attention, and possibly a long-term disability or disfigurement. Depending on the type and extent of your injuries, you may look forward to going back to work after a few weeks or months of healing. However, significant injuries could drastically alter your abilities, requiring you to seek a different occupation. A catastrophic injury may result in a disability, placing you in need of more compensation.

Whatever your circumstances after a work-related accident, at The Krist Law Firm, P.C., our team of Houston workplace accident attorneys have the experience, resources, and skills you need to pursue compensation. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one, call us today at 281-283-8500 .

We will get to know you, investigate the cause of the accident, and help you seek a financial recovery through a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim. We will always fight for you to receive the maximum possible compensation for your injury or loss.

Heavy Equipment and Machinery Accidents

In any occupation that requires heavy equipment, machines, and vehicles, there are risks of particular types of incidents, including:

• Vehicle collisions
• Backing up or blind spot accidents
• Collisions with equipment or machinery
• Being pinned between equipment and objects
• Machine entanglement
• Falling or flying objects

These types of accidents happen for a variety of reasons, including inadequate training and qualifications. Many pieces of machinery require specific education, and large vehicles usually need a specific type of license. When workers who are poorly trained, unqualified, and inexperienced operate heavy equipment and machinery, the risk of an accident and injury rises dramatically.

However, even experienced and licensed operators can cause accidents if they are careless or reckless. People who know the safety regulations and who decide to take short cuts or pay minimal attention at work are often the reason why harmful and fatal accidents occur.

Common Types of Injuries

Due to the size and weight of many pieces of equipment, machinery, and vehicles used at work, you can experience significant or catastrophic injuries when you are in an accident. You may be subjected to serious injuries that require a great deal of medical care and time away from work. You may also suffer debilitating injuries that leave you unable to work at all. While your injuries will be unique to you and the incident that caused them, it is common to suffer:

• Digit or limb amputation
• Degloving
• Bone fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Repetitive motion injuries

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim After a Heavy Machinery Accident

If you are injured at work in a heavy equipment or machinery accident, your first step after receiving the medical attention you need is to check on whether you are covered by the Texas workers’ compensation insurance system. While private employers are not required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, many do.

If you are covered, your next step is to notify your employer of the accident and your injuries, if it is not already aware, and to file a formal claim with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation. For your claim to be approved, you will have to cooperate with the insurer by providing medical records of your injuries.

Filing a workers’ compensation claim can seem simple at the start. However, these helpful systems have a number of nuances that can make it difficult for you to obtain compensation and have your medical expenses covered. When you have suffered serious injuries, it is best to work with an experienced Houston workplace accident attorney who can guide you through the workers’ compensation claim process and help you obtain the benefits you deserve through your years of hard work.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits After a Heavy machinery Accident

If you are injured while performing your work duties, then you may be entitled to certain workers’ compensation benefits, including:

• Medical benefits, which cover the cost for all medical care necessary to treat your work-related condition or injury
• Income benefits, which include temporary income, impairment income, supplemental income, and lifetime income.

Worker-Related Fatalities Covered by Workers’ Compensation

If you are the spouse, parent, or child of a worker killed in a heavy equipment or machinery accident, then you may be entitled to benefits through the Texas workers’ compensation insurance system. Whether or not this is possible depends on whether your loved one was covered by this insurance and whether the accident was work-related. An experienced workplace accident lawyer can help you file a workers’ compensation claim after your loss.

If your claim is approved, you may have a right to:

• Medical benefits to cover the cost of your loved one’s medical expenses
• Death benefits to supplement your income after your loss
• Burial benefits to cover the cost of your loved one’s funeral

Is a Third Party Liable for Your Injuries?

Work accidents are not always caused by a fellow employee. There are times when another individual or a worker from another company was careless, reckless, or intentional harmful and caused your injury. If a third party was involved in your accident, contact a Houston workplace accident attorney today. We can investigate the incident and determine if you have a valid personal injury claim against that person or business. While you do not have the right to sue your employer when you have workers’ compensation insurance, you can file suit against negligent third parties. This can help you obtain compensation for your:

• Medical costs
• Physical pain
• Mental anguish
• Physical limitations
• Disfigurement
• Loss of earning capacity

Contact Our Experienced Equipment and Machinery Accident Lawyers Today

If you were injured in a heavy equipment or machinery accident, do not hesitate to learn more about your rights and legal options. At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., we have experience helping individuals injured in accidents throughout many industries, including:

• Construction
• Maritime
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Trucking
• Train and rail
• Petrochemical
• Mining

We have the knowledge and tools you need to obtain workers’ compensation benefits or move forward with a personal injury lawsuit. With our proven track record of success, we are confident that we can help. Our priority will always be to obtain you the most compensation possible for your injuries to help you heal and move forward with life.

Call us today at 281-283-8500 to schedule a free consultation.