San Antonio Construction Crane Accident Attorneys

Sunday, June 12, 2022
Crane collapses and other construction accidents involving cranes can be devastating for workers on a construction project as well as for pedestrians and bystanders. When crane accidents occur due to negligence, board certified personal injury attorney Aaron A. Herbert and the team of experienced San Antonio construction crane accident attorneys at our firm will step in to hold negligent workers, contractors and property owners responsible and obtain compensation for injured workers and their families.

Improper Construction Crane Use Causes Serious Accidents On San Antonio Construction Site

Nearly twenty-five percent of construction fatalities are attributable to crane accidents. Advances in technology in the last twenty years has made construction cranes capable of moving faster, extending farther and carrying greater loads, so concerns regarding construction crane safety are more serious than ever before. All workers at a construction site and others in the vicinity are at risk of serious injury or death while a crane is in operation, particularly if a load becomes unbalanced while it is being lifted, or in the event of a crane collapse.

Causes Of Construction Crane Accidents

Construction Accident Lawyer Crane accidents occur when careful attention is not paid by the crane operator, other workers on the site, or those in charge of planning and executing the operation in question. Crane accidents are often attributed to the following circumstances:
  • Crane is not set up properly
  • Planning and coordination of the construction operation is inadequate for safety
  • The crane is operated outside the safety parameters set out by the manufacturer
  • Improper maintenance, modification or negligent repair Improper maintenance, modification or negligent repair
  • The area surrounding the crane operation is congested
  • Clearances are insufficient to complete the lift
  • Pinch points are left unguarded
  • Outriggers are improperly extended
  • The crane selected for the job is inadequate considering conditions at the jobsite
  • The crane selected is inadequate for the load requirements of the jobsite
  • Power lines, fixed objects and other overhead hazards are not properly considered
  • Crane operator, site supervisor or superintendent is inexperienced or unknowledgeable about safe crane operation

Common Construction Crane Accident Injuries

There are both physical and psychological scars after a construction crane accident. Some of the most common injuries associated with construction crane accident injuries are as follows:
      • Facial Scarring and disfigurement
      • Nerve damage – paralysis and in severe cases spinal cord injury and paraplegia
      • Amputation
      • Brain injury due to trauma sustained to the head
      • Broken bones and knee ligament injuries
      • Emotional trauma – post traumatic stress (PTSD), depression, and anxiety

San Antonio Construction Attorney Board Certified In Personal Injury Trial Law

Texas board certified personal injury attorney Aaron A. Herbert and our team of highly accomplished and experienced San Antonio Construction Crane Accident Attorneys have extensive experience and a proven record of results in cases involving life-changing personal injury. We can sit down with you and discuss your options for seeking maximum compensation for the harm you or your loved one has suffered due to an the negligent operation of a construction crane or other construction accidents. Call us now for a no-cost consultation. We will fight to protect your rights, and we give you the personal attention your construction accident case deserves. Time to file is limited, so contact us now.
Posted by Aaron Herbert at 11:15 am

What Are Some Tips to Prevent Workplace Slips & Falls?

Friday, January 14, 2022
Workplace accidents are one of the most common causes of injury. This type of incident causes 15% of all accidental deaths—second only to motor vehicle accidents. The greatest number of fatal falls occurs in the construction industry, but virtually every industry has this risk. The health services and retail industries have the highest number of nonfatal slip and fall accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has rules employers must follow to prevent slips and falls, and the best way to protect yourself is to be proactive.

Pay Attention While You Walk

A second of inattention can lead to a catastrophic slip and fall accident, especially if you work from great heights or with dangerous equipment. Texting and walking, for example, can result in falling down a flight of stairs, slipping on an obvious spill, or tripping over an obstacle. Your employer has a duty to take measures to ensure employee safety and reasonably prevent hazardous situations in the workplace. However, you also have a duty to pay attention to where you are going. In Texas, the jurisdiction of modified comparative negligence means if the court finds you more than 50% at fault for a slip and fall accident, you will not receive any compensation. If you’ve been injured after falling on unsafe conditions contact a slip and fall attorney in San Antonio

Wear the Proper Equipment

Ignoring your employer’s dress code or workplace regulations will only result in your own personal injury. Rules are in place to protect you from accidents such as slips and falls. Often, a slip and fall accident results from loss of traction between the shoe and the walking surface. Wear appropriate shoes for your job, with non-slip bottoms and the right type of heel to prevent this kind of accident. If you work in the construction industry, wear the proper harness or other equipment to protect yourself in the event of a fall. The right equipment can mean the difference between life and death in a dangerous industry.

Keep Your Facility Clean

It is up to an employer to create and enforce good housekeeping practices, but as an employee, you must always strive to keep your workplace facility clean and clear of hazardous obstacles. A cluttered workplace is a trip and fall risk, where an immobile or moveable object on the ground comes in contact with a person’s foot, ankle, or shin. Keep the workplace clear of dangerous obstacles, and follow protocol when there is a spill. Mark the area clearly with a warning sign until you can clean the spill. A sloppy workplace is a recipe for disaster, especially in high-risk industries.

Report Hazardous Circumstances

If you notice anything in your workplace that stands out to you as a slip and fall hazard, report it to your employer immediately. It is your employer’s duty to remedy dangerous environmental circumstances, such as an uneven sidewalk or an icy parking lot. [RELATED: Can You Sue for Falling in a Parking Lot?] If your employer knew of the dangerous situation and did nothing to prevent a slip and fall accident, the courts would find him or her at fault. If your employer reasonably could not have known about the hazard, the case will settle differently. Notify your employer about a dangerous spill, poor lighting, obstacles in aisles or walkways, or other hazardous situations so he or she can take the proper steps to remedy the problem.

Stay Vigilant

Many slip and fall accidents are entirely preventable with the proper foresight and attention to the job activity. Do not assume your workplace is safe. Instead, be proactive about your safety and take steps to ensure you will not be the next victim of a serious slip and fall accident. If you do suffer a slip and fall injury, get in touch with a personal injury attorney right away to discuss your case and investigate your workplace.
Posted by Aaron Herbert at 12:10 pm

What Is Third-Party Liability?

Monday, February 12, 2018
Receiving compensation for your injuries after an injury on the job may simply require reporting the accident to your employer and immediately seeking medical treatment. This procedure doesn’t always award you with adequate financial support or address issues of third-party liability in your accident. In San Antonio, the attorneys of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C., have the experience to evaluate when your claim may involve third-party liability and the expertise to pursue a claim so you can receive your due compensation.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

The most typical third-party liability claims result from complex workers’ compensation cases. In a typical workers’ compensation claim, there is no need to determine or establish who was at fault in the accident. Even if you were primarily responsible for the accident that resulted in your injury, worker’s compensation will provide for medical expenses and missed wages due to lost time at work. Insurers call these no-fault claims because they pay the claim regardless of fault in the accident. The advantage to the worker is that he or she receives money from their claims faster. An insurer won’t deny a claim simply because the worker may have been responsible for contributing to his or her own injury. There are drawbacks, though. There are limits to the amount of compensation most workers’ compensation policies pay. In many cases, your injury-related expenses may exceed what you are able to receive from workers’ compensation, or you may have been able to receive more if you were to pursue compensation through more traditional personal injury cases. Employers in Texas may opt to forego purchasing workers’ compensation insurance. In these cases, the damages you can claim are greater, but you must prove fault in a claim in order to collect compensation. Even in such cases, you may not be able to collect the total amount of damages a labile party owes you if the business is small or does not have the resources to pay for an expensive claim.

What Is a Third-Party Liability Claim?

There two parties in an ordinary workers’ compensation claim: the employee and the employer. The workers’ compensation insurance steps in to cover the expenses for the employer. However, in some cases, there may be someone else responsible for the accident unrelated to the employer or employee. This is when a third-party claim may arise. In a third-party liability claim, the injured employee may pursue compensation from the third party that was responsible for the accident and injury. For example, if you are driving for your job and suffer an injury in a car accident that a driver caused when he or she ran a red light, you qualify for workers’ compensation. You also may be able to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. Other examples include injuries someone suffers as a result of defective equipment, in which the manufacturer might be the third party, or an injury suffered on the premises of another business you were visiting for work.

Why Pursue a Third-Party Liability Claim?

Worker’s compensation insurance typically pays only economic damages. That is, the policy covers medical expenses, lost wages, and costs for rehabilitation to return to work, but no other compensation. If a third party was responsible for your injury, you may pursue compensation for pain and suffering, and even mental and emotional distress suffered as a result of the injury. You may pursue damages owing to disfigurement if you have sustained substantial scarring or other unsightly reminders of your injury. Third-party liability claims require proof the third party was at fault in causing your injury. Even if you were partially responsible for causing the accident, you still may be able to claim compensation for your injuries.
Posted by at 10:45 pm

What Are Some of the Most Common Injuries for Oil and Gas Employees?

Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Employees get injured on the job every day. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 3 million workplace-related illnesses and injuries reported in 2015, or a rate of 3 cases per 100,000 employees. Some jobs are naturally more hazardous than others, and the oil and gas industry is one of the nation’s most dangerous. The same report found that the rate of injury and illness among oil and gas workers was five times that of the general worker population, or 15 reported cases per 100,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 142 deaths in the oil industry in 2015, a 27% increase from the previous year.

What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries?

Oil workers are prone to all manner of injury, due to the natural hazards of the job. But the most common types of injury are not what you might think. Here are the highlights:
  1. Driving Is the Most Dangerous Job in the Oil Industry
Most oil workers are not killed in the field or on the rig itself, but on the highway. Over 300 oil and gas workers have been killed on the road in the past decade. One of them was Timothy Roth, who boarded a truck after a 17 hour shift with three coworkers to begin the long 4 hour commute home to West Virginia. Just ten minutes into their journey, the driver fell asleep, crashing the vehicle and killing Mr. Roth. Stories like these are not uncommon, as workers are expected to pull long shifts hours away from their homes. Oil field employees are not subject to the regulations that keep truck drivers from working long shifts on the road, which pressures employees to make long commutes home after shifts that can be 20 hours or longer.
  1. Machine-Related Injuries
Oil companies use heavy machinery and hazardous equipment, which leads to workplace injury. Derricks, heavy lifts, hoists, drillers, and loading and unloading materials can all cause trauma or crush injuries. Additionally, machines used in drilling are loud and can cause hearing loss or even loss of balance when they disturb the inner ear. Operators must wear appropriate protective gear, such as earplugs and gloves while operating equipment. Unfortunately, combining the hazardous equipment with long shifts and worker fatigue can be a recipe for disaster. Workers can suffer crush injury, dismemberment, or even death from being caught in pumps and compressors. Oil companies have a duty to follow OSHA regulations to minimize the risk of these types of injuries by checking their equipment often and making sure employees have proper safety gear and breaks.
  1. Illness From Chemical Exposure
Chemical exposure is common in the oil fields. The processes involved in drilling can release noxious chemicals into the work area. Most notably, oil refineries can release hydrofluoric acid, which can scar lungs and cause death by asphyxiation. It’s so noxious that it can permeate the skin and react with calcium deep within our bones. Prolonged exposure to other chemicals in refineries and wells can lead to respiratory problems, brain injury, paralysis, leukemia, and other kinds of cancer. In the short term, workers who are exposed to oil industry chemicals report headache, nausea, fatigues, eye irritation, and chemical burns. It’s essential to wear proper protection and respiratory masks when working both on the rig and in the refinery. Oil workers can also be killed in fires and explosions, as oil is filled with highly combustible gasses. These accidents can happen with little warning, and are hard to prevent (though they are relatively rare). Employers must have a proper fire prevention plan in place, and take every precaution necessary to avoid a tragedy.
Posted by at 5:20 pm

College Campus Accident Claims: Are They Different?

Friday, January 15, 2016
Lawsuits for accidents that occur at colleges can be very different from those at other establishments, depending on the circumstances. There are many considerations that determine how a lawsuit stemming from a campus accident will proceed; however, you do still have legal options if and when you pursue a claim.

Holding Public Schools Liable

State run schools, including colleges, universities, and technical institutions, sometimes fall under the category of sovereign immunity as other government agencies do. In Texas, you can only sue a state school if the state decides you’re allowed to do so. This extends to all forms of lawsuits, including personal injury claims. Depending on the situation, you may win the legislature’s approval and proceed with a lawsuit against the school. The state has the right to disallow petty lawsuits but may grant them in serious personal injury cases.

Holding Private Schools Liable

Private schools may or may not be under the protection of the state when it comes to personal injury lawsuits. A private school that falls under the category of “charitable institution” may be protected under the same sovereign immunity rule as public schools. If the injury occurred during the normal course of work and in a reasonable manner, you may not be able to present a lawsuit against the private institution. Some for profit establishments, however, may not fall under this category and can be sued as any other business entity would be. In business injury cases, you may hold each organization responsible for unreasonable situations that lead to harm under the concept of premise liability attorney in San Antonio.

Other Parties You May Sue

Depending on the case, you can hold other individuals liable after an accident on campus. Going to a college or other post-graduate institution doesn’t protect other students or visitors from legal action. In addition to people not associated with the institution, you may have the opportunity to look into 3rd parties, such as contracted foodservice companies, vehicle manufacturers, and others that may not fall under the umbrella of sovereign immunity. You may also hold more than one party accountable in a lawsuit. For instance, if you were injured by a drunk driver on campus, you may be able to hold both the school and the driver responsible for resulting injuries. The facility has a responsibility to provide reasonable protection for individuals on it.

You Need an Experienced Attorney to Bring a Lawsuit Against a College in Texas

If you decide to take legal action against a college in Texas or any other state or private institution, you’ll need the assistance of an attorney who understands Texas sovereign immunity laws. These cases are often more difficult than general personal injury claims and require an added level of expertise to determine who you can file against and the best strategy to do so. Schools may tell individuals injured on campuses they have no liability over the injury. Depending on the case, this may or may not be true, and we can help you make that determination. Even if the school doesn’t have liability, you may still have the option to file a lawsuit against another party involved in the accident. The medical bills and pain and suffering caused by an on-campus accident can add up quickly, and it may affect your ability to continue studying. Those who don’t have medical insurance may find the situation particularly difficult to handle. However, you’ll always have a legal outlet. Our team can help you obtain fair compensation so you can move on after a campus accident.

Contact

For more information, contact The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. today.
Posted by at 11:57 pm