Legally Reviewed by Kevin Henrichson on August 24, 2026
A construction site that should have been secure can become a life-altering scene in an instant. Falls from scaffolding, electrocutions, equipment failures, and collapsing structures all happen on Texas job sites — and when they do, the consequences are often catastrophic.
At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, our attorneys have handled some of the most serious construction accident cases in Austin and across central Texas. As the oldest personal injury law firm in Austin, we have built our reputation representing people who have been seriously hurt and the families of those who did not make it home. If you or a family member was injured at a construction site, our catastrophic injury attorneys are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Why Construction Sites Are So Dangerous in Texas
Texas is one of the most active construction markets in the country, and Austin is no exception. With development projects expanding across the city and surrounding areas, the risk of serious injury on a job site remains high.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas construction workers recorded 125 fatal occupational injuries in 2024. Falls, equipment strikes, and electrical incidents account for the majority of those deaths — and countless non-fatal injuries occur each year. Behind each of those numbers is a worker who trusted that their job site was properly managed and maintained.
Common Causes of Construction Accidents
Construction accidents rarely happen by chance. In most cases, there is an identifiable failure — a missing guardrail, a malfunctioning machine, an unmarked hazard, or inadequate safety training. Common causes in Texas construction injury cases include:
- Falls from heights: scaffolding collapses, unsecured ladders, and unguarded floor openings are among the most frequent causes of serious injury and death on construction sites.
- Struck-by incidents: workers are hit by falling tools, materials, or heavy machinery operating nearby.
- Electrocution: contact with exposed wiring, unguarded electrical components, or underground utilities causes life-threatening injuries.
- Caught-in/between hazards: workers become trapped in or between equipment, vehicles, or structural components.
- Toxic exposure: silica dust, asbestos, and chemical fumes on older or demolition sites cause long-term health damage.
The circumstances of your accident matter. Our attorneys analyze site conditions, OSHA records, equipment maintenance logs, and contractor relationships to identify every responsible party.
Who May Be Responsible for a Construction Site Injury
One of the most important aspects of a construction accident case is that the responsible party may not be your direct employer. Multiple parties often share responsibility for conditions on a job site.
General Contractors and Site Supervisors
General contractors bear significant responsibility for maintaining a safe work environment across the entire project. When they fail to enforce safety standards, hire unqualified subcontractors, or ignore hazards they were aware of, they may be held liable for injuries that result.
Subcontractors and Third Parties
Even if another company’s crew created the condition that hurt you, that does not mean your options are limited to a workers’ compensation claim. Third-party liability claims can pursue full compensation from subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners whose negligence contributed to your injury — including damages not covered by workers’ comp. Our attorneys investigate the full chain of liability to ensure no responsible party is overlooked.
What a Construction Accident Claim Can Recover
Workers who are hurt on the job in Texas have more than one potential path to compensation. Depending on how the accident happened and who is responsible, a construction accident claim may recover damages beyond what workers’ compensation provides.
Those damages may include medical expenses — both current and future — lost wages, diminished earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In cases involving severe and permanent injuries such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, or serious burns, the long-term costs can be substantial. When a construction accident results in a death, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim as well.
The Deadline to File a Construction Accident Lawsuit in Texas
Texas law sets a firm deadline on when you may file a personal injury lawsuit. Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, most construction accident injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the two-year deadline runs from the date of the victim’s death — which may differ from the accident date if the worker survived for any period of time afterward.
Missing this deadline is irreversible. Once it passes, courts will generally refuse to hear the case regardless of how strong the evidence may be. If you are unsure how much time you have remaining, do not hesitate to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
What Our Firm Has Handled
Our firm has decades of experience with serious construction accident cases in Austin and throughout Texas. In one case, we represented the family of a plumber who fell to his death after a safety guard railing on a multistory construction project was not properly installed or secured. Cases such as this require thorough investigation of site conditions, contractor responsibilities, and safety compliance records — exactly what our litigation team is built for.
We also handle serious work-related injuries that fall outside standard workers’ compensation, including premises liability claims against property owners whose conditions contributed to a worker’s injury.
Contact Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP for Help with Your Construction Accident Case
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has been handling serious personal injury cases in Austin since 1959 — longer than any other plaintiffs’ firm in the city. Our attorneys have recovered over $100 million for injured Texans, and we take cases on a contingency basis, meaning there are no fees unless we win. Robert Alden is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and Kevin Henrichson is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. These credentials reflect a level of courtroom preparation that many firms simply cannot match.
If you have been hurt at a construction site in Austin or anywhere in Texas, you may have a stronger case than you think — and less time than you realize. Contact our office today to discuss your situation with an attorney at no cost.