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Houston Industrial Plant Accident Attorney

industrial plant accidents
Tommy Fibich - attorney

There are many dangers at factories, warehouses, oil refineries, and other industrial plants in Houston. From slippery floors and heavy machinery to large vehicles and explosive chemicals, these hazards and others frequently cause devastating accidents, leaving workers with severe injuries and financial stress. Furthermore, those responsible for these workplace injuries (employers, equipment manufacturers, etc.) rarely accept responsibility for their mistakes and often block injured industrial workers’ efforts to recover fair compensation.

Tommy Fibich - attorney

There are many dangers at factories, warehouses, oil refineries, and other industrial plants in Houston. From slippery floors and heavy machinery to large vehicles and explosive chemicals, these hazards and others frequently cause devastating accidents, leaving workers with severe injuries and financial stress. Furthermore, those responsible for these workplace injuries (employers, equipment manufacturers, etc.) rarely accept responsibility for their mistakes and often block injured industrial workers’ efforts to recover fair compensation.

At Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, our lawyers have decades of experience fighting for Houston’s injured workers, with a track record that includes multimillion-dollar verdicts for accident victims. Our Houston industrial plant accident attorneys can help you during this difficult moment by identifying who caused the incident, documenting your injuries, and handling your personal injury or workers’ comp claim. We have two board-certified personal injury specialists on our team, giving us in-depth insights into these complicated cases. Additionally, you won’t owe us any upfront, out-of-pocket fees if we take on your case, and you’ll pay nothing unless we successfully resolve it.

Call us now or complete our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Houston work injury attorney.

What Are the Most Common Industrial Accidents in Houston?

Some common examples of industrial plant accidents in Houston include:

  • Explosions and Fires – Chemical leaks, equipment failures, or poor safety procedures can lead to devastating blasts.
  • Falls from Heights – Employees working on scaffolding, ladders, or elevated platforms can suffer serious injuries if safety measures fail and they fall.
  • Crushing or Pinching Injuries – Heavy machinery and moving parts can trap or crush workers’ limbs if the equipment isn’t maintained properly or safety guards fail.
  • Electrical Accidents – Contact with live wires, faulty equipment, or arc flashes can cause severe burns or other shock injuries, including nerve damage in some cases.
  • Equipment Malfunctions – Defective or poorly maintained machines can suddenly break down and injure nearby workers.
  • Falling Objects – Tools, materials, or debris dropped from above can strike and severely injure workers below.
  • Slip-and-Fall Accidents – Spills, slick surfaces, or cluttered walkways can lead to painful falls.
  • Vehicle Accidents – Forklifts, construction equipment, and other vehicles at industrial sites can cause severe injuries if operators aren’t careful and vehicles collide with workers.

Where Do Industrial Accidents Happen in Houston?

Houston is a major industrial center, which means the city and its outlying areas contain numerous potential work accident sites. Common locations for industrial accidents include the following:

Construction Sites: Construction zones are high-risk areas where workers face many hazards, from heavy machinery and unstable scaffolding to falling objects and exposed wiring. Accidents can happen if employers and workers don’t follow proper safety protocols.

Factories and Manufacturing Plants: Assembly lines and processing equipment can malfunction or catch workers’ clothing, fingers, toes, or limbs, leading to crushing injuries, burns, or amputations. Poor training or lack of maintenance often plays a role in these incidents.

Warehouses: Heavy vehicles, stacked materials, and fast-paced environments can make warehouses extremely dangerous for employees. For example, forklifts and other equipment can strike and injure workers, while falling objects can crush them or cause head injuries.

Oil Refineries: Houston’s energy industry includes many refineries. Flammable materials, pressurized systems, and complex machinery create constant risks of fires, explosions, and chemical burns at these facilities.

Chemical Plants: Workers often handle corrosive or reactive substances at Houston’s chemical plants, increasing the chance of spills, inhalation injuries, and illnesses related to toxic exposure.

Shipping Terminals and Ports: With large vehicles, cranes, and heavy cargo moving at all times, Houston’s industrial ports on the Gulf Coast are hotspots for severe accidents, particularly when employers or workers don’t take safety seriously.

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What Causes Industrial Accidents?

Even minor oversights, such as skipping routine inspections, can cause accidents at factories, construction sites, or refineries. In some cases, workers fail to maintain equipment properly, or the equipment may be outdated or defective. These factors increase the chances of malfunctions or breakdowns.

Human error is another common factor in industrial accidents, as fatigued or inadequately trained workers may make mistakes that endanger themselves and others. Environmental hazards such as poor lighting or slick floors often contribute to accidents as well.

Accidents sometimes result from pressure to meet deadlines or cut costs, which can lead to shortcuts in safety practices. Whether it’s skipping safety drills, ignoring warning signs, or operating machinery without proper safeguards, these decisions can have devastating consequences for workers.

Determining Liability in Industrial Accident Cases

Liability for an industrial accident is usually based on negligence. In other words, whoever’s careless or reckless actions caused the accident is generally legally responsible for your injuries, medical bills, and lost income, among other damages.

Individual workers or third-party contractors often contribute to industrial accidents. For instance, a careless vehicle operator might hit someone at a warehouse or construction site. Depending on the circumstances, they could be liable for your injuries and accident-related losses.

Additionally, many industrial accidents happen because of defective equipment. These cases are not based on negligence but on the legal theory of strict liability. The company that manufactured or designed the faulty equipment is often liable in these situations, as companies have a legal duty to ensure their products are safe and effective.

There are also cases where multiple parties are liable for an industrial accident. An industrial accident lawyer from Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs can investigate the incident to identify everyone responsible for your injuries and hold them accountable.

Injuries Caused by Industrial and Warehouse Accidents

While industrial and warehouse accidents take many forms, one common element is the severe injuries they cause, such as the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries, including complete or partial paralysis
  • Severe burns
  • Crushed or severed limbs
  • Internal bleeding
  • Internal organ injuries
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • External injuries to the head and face
  • Soft-tissue injuries
  • Broken bones
  • PTSD and other mental health conditions

Legal Options After an Industrial or Warehouse Accident

You have two main options for recovering compensation after an industrial or warehouse accident. The first is a personal injury claim against the party responsible for causing the accident, such as an equipment manufacturer, contractor, or other liable party. You must prove that whoever caused the accident acted negligently and that their carelessness caused the incident to recover compensation from them.

Your other option is a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp is a no-fault insurance system that covers most work-related injuries. You can file a workers’ compensation claim if your employer provides this insurance, but many Texas employers don’t offer it. That’s because the state doesn’t require most private businesses to purchase workers’ comp insurance.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If your employer offers workers’ compensation benefits, they could include the following:

  • Full coverage of all medical expenses related to the accident
  • Partial wage-replacement benefits
  • Long-term disability benefits

A personal injury claim lets you seek compensation beyond what workers’ comp covers, including money for the following:

  • The full amount of your lost wages
  • Reduced future earnings
  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Damaged personal property repair or replacement

Why Hire a Houston Industrial Accident Lawyer?

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Getting fair compensation isn’t easy after an industrial accident. Employers and insurers may downplay your injuries or shift the blame. It can be challenging to document your injuries, identify who caused the accident, and understand the intricacies involved in workplace hazards and safety regulations. You might also have trouble filing your claim within the required deadlines. A Houston industrial accident lawyer can handle all the legal work for you, giving you more time and energy to focus on healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Accidents at industrial plants involve complex rules and procedures from multiple overlapping areas of the law that can be confusing. Here are the answers to some common questions we receive about these cases:

Can I sue my employer after an industrial accident in Texas?

Possibly. You usually can’t sue your employer if they provide workers’ compensation insurance. However, Texas does not require most private employers to purchase workers’ comp insurance. If your employer doesn’t offer workers’ comp, you may be able to sue them, though you can’t recover compensation unless you prove how they caused the accident.

What if my injury was caused by faulty equipment?

You can sue a manufacturer of faulty equipment that causes an industrial plant accident. To win your case, you must prove that the equipment was defective and that the defect caused the accident. An industrial accident attorney can investigate and find evidence showing how faulty equipment caused the accident and your resulting injuries.

Are warehouse injuries covered by workers’ compensation?

If your employer offers workers’ compensation, injuries from a warehouse accident likely qualify you for benefits. Your benefits could include coverage of your medical expenses, partial wage replacement benefits, long-term disability benefits, and more. Not all employers offer workers’ comp benefits, though, because state law doesn’t require them to. You can file a personal injury claim against your employer or another liable party to pursue compensation if your employer doesn’t offer workers’ comp.

Do I need a lawyer for a workplace injury claim?

Absolutely. Regardless of whether your employer provides workers’ comp insurance, these cases involve tight deadlines and complicated rules. You can also expect your employer or another liable party to aggressively dispute your personal injury or workers’ comp claim, which could keep you from recovering the money you need. A Texas industrial accident attorney can identify whose actions caused the incident, gather evidence, document your injuries, and handle all the legal procedures and deadlines for you.

Free Consultation with a Houston Industrial Injury Lawyer

There are strict deadlines to meet if you want to take legal action following a Houston industrial accident. With decades of experience taking on complex work accident cases, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs is fully prepared to defend your rights and help you recover fair compensation. Call us now or complete our contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.