Bridgeport Construction Accident Lawyer

Get a Free Case Review

SERIOUS ATTORNEYS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES

Practice Areas

FREE CONSULTATION
five-stars-BBGgold

Chandler Ross is the best hands down! You can not go wrong with these attorneys!

— Tracy P.

Construction sites in and around Bridgeport, Texas are busy places. From residential builds near Lake Bridgeport to commercial projects along U.S. Highway 380, workers face serious hazards every single day. When a construction accident happens, the physical, financial, and emotional toll can be overwhelming. If you or a loved one was hurt on a Bridgeport construction site, you need to understand your legal rights, and you need to act quickly. The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys in Denton, Texas are here to help injured workers and their families pursue the full compensation they deserve.

Table of Contents

Why Bridgeport Construction Sites Carry Some of the Highest Injury Risks in Texas

Construction is the deadliest industry in the United States. The construction industry reported 65,000 injuries in 2024, but far more concerning is its staggering 1,075 fatalities, the highest of any industry sector. That number is not just a statistic. Each one represents a real worker who left home that morning expecting to come back.

Texas makes the problem even more serious. Texas leads the nation with over 1,100 construction fatalities since 2011, followed by California, Florida, and New York. That ranking reflects just how active and dangerous the Texas construction market is, and Wise County is no exception.

OSHA identifies what it calls the “Fatal Four” hazards that account for the majority of construction deaths. The “Focus Four” hazards, which are falls, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in/between accidents, are responsible for 65% of construction fatalities. On a Bridgeport job site, any one of these hazards can be present at the same time. Workers might be exposed to scaffolding collapses near a downtown Bridgeport build, electrical hazards on a commercial project off FM 2952, or trench cave-ins near a pipeline installation in the surrounding Wise County area.

OSHA sets federal safety standards for construction sites under 29 CFR Part 1926. These rules require employers to provide fall protection, guard against electrical hazards, and maintain safe scaffolding. When employers ignore those standards, workers pay the price with their bodies and sometimes their lives. If a safety violation caused your injury, that fact matters enormously to your legal claim.

The sheer number of people working on a single Bridgeport construction project, general contractors, subcontractors, equipment operators, and material suppliers, creates a web of potential liability. Understanding who is responsible for your injury is the first step toward getting compensated.

Texas Workers’ Compensation and the Non-Subscriber Rule in Construction Accidents

Texas handles workers’ compensation differently from every other state in the country. Texas is the only state in the United States that does not mandate employers provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. This single fact changes everything about how injured construction workers in Bridgeport pursue their claims.

When your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, the system works as a no-fault benefit. You can receive coverage for medical bills and a portion of lost wages without proving your employer did anything wrong. However, that coverage comes with a significant trade-off. If your employer is a workers’ comp subscriber, you generally cannot sue them directly for your injuries.

If your employer opted out of the workers’ compensation system, they are called a “non-subscriber.” Texas law strips non-subscriber employers of certain defenses. They cannot argue that you were partly at fault (contributory negligence) or that you “assumed the risk” by doing your job. This makes it significantly easier to hold a non-subscriber employer accountable in court.

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 16, specifically Section 16.003, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date the injury occurred. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to recover anything. If you were hurt on a Bridgeport construction site, the clock is already running.

Not sure whether your employer is a subscriber or non-subscriber? That is exactly the kind of question the team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can answer for you. Call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation, and we will help you understand which path forward makes the most sense for your situation.

Third-Party Claims Give Bridgeport Construction Workers a Stronger Path to Full Compensation

Workers’ compensation benefits are limited by design. They do not cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, or the full value of your lost earning capacity. But a third-party personal injury claim can cover all of those losses, and it can be filed alongside a workers’ comp claim.

A third-party claim is a lawsuit against someone other than your direct employer whose negligence caused or contributed to your injury. Construction sites in Bridgeport often involve multiple companies working at the same time. At any point in time there can be numerous trades on a construction site. One trade or even the general contractor may accidentally cause another worker from a different trade to be seriously injured. This is called a third-party claim.

The list of potential third parties on a Bridgeport job site is long. It can include a general contractor who failed to maintain a safe work environment, a subcontractor whose crew created a dangerous condition, a property owner who allowed hazards to exist on their land, or an equipment manufacturer who sold a defective tool or machine. If a machine, tool, or safety device failed and injured you, the manufacturer may be liable, and you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit.

There is an important financial consideration to keep in mind. If your employer carries Texas workers’ compensation insurance, you can still collect your workers’ comp benefits even if your work injury was caused by a third party. However, you will most likely be required to reimburse the insurance company that paid your workers’ comp benefits in the event that you win your third-party work injury lawsuit. In Texas insurance law, this is called “subrogation.” A knowledgeable attorney can help you manage this process so that you keep as much of your recovery as possible.

Filing a third-party claim requires proving negligence. You must show that the responsible party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused your injuries and damages. Gathering evidence quickly, including photos, witness statements, OSHA inspection records, and equipment maintenance logs, is critical to building a strong case.

Common Construction Accident Injuries and the Damages You Can Recover in Texas

Construction accidents rarely cause minor injuries. The nature of the work, heavy machinery, elevated surfaces, high-voltage electrical systems, and deep excavations, means that when something goes wrong, the consequences are often severe and permanent.

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and elevated platforms are the leading cause of construction deaths and serious injuries in Texas. Falls, slips, and trips are the leading cause of construction deaths, accounting for 38.4% of fatalities in 2022. A fall from even a moderate height can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and internal organ injuries. Workers who suffer these kinds of injuries near Bridgeport landmarks like the Wise County courthouse area or along the active commercial corridors off Business 380 often face months or years of recovery, and some never fully return to work.

Other common construction injuries include crush injuries from heavy equipment, electrical burns, chemical exposure injuries, and injuries from falling objects. These accidents can result in amputations, permanent nerve damage, disfigurement, and catastrophic injuries that alter every aspect of a person’s life.

In a Texas personal injury or third-party claim, the damages you can pursue include both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages cover your past and future medical bills, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover your physical pain, emotional suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact your injuries have had on your family relationships. In cases involving gross negligence, Texas law also allows for exemplary (punitive) damages under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.003.

Workers’ compensation alone will never fully replace what you have lost. A successful third-party personal injury claim is often the only way to recover true compensation for the full scope of your injuries. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys fights for injured construction workers throughout Wise County and the greater Denton area. Call (940) 800-2500 today to discuss your case at no cost to you.

How Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Builds and Pursues Your Bridgeport Construction Accident Claim

Winning a construction accident case requires more than filing paperwork. It requires a thorough investigation, a clear understanding of Texas negligence law, and the ability to take on well-funded insurance companies and corporate defendants.

At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we begin every construction accident case with a detailed review of the facts. We identify every party that may share responsibility for your injuries, from the general contractor to equipment manufacturers to property owners. We gather and preserve evidence before it disappears, including job site photographs, OSHA inspection reports, safety violation records, and witness accounts from coworkers who saw what happened.

We understand that construction accidents in the Bridgeport area often involve workers dealing with serious injuries while also worrying about lost income and mounting medical bills. That is why we handle every case on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees.

Texas follows proportionate responsibility rules under Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Under this framework, your compensation is reduced by your own percentage of fault, and you are barred from recovery if you are found more than 50% responsible. Insurance adjusters will often try to shift blame onto injured workers to reduce or eliminate payouts. Our attorneys know these tactics, and we work aggressively to protect your right to full compensation.

Whether your case involves a catastrophic workplace injury, a wrongful death claim after losing a family member on a Bridgeport job site, or a third-party claim against a negligent subcontractor, we are ready to stand in your corner. The Denton County courthouse is just down the road, and we are prepared to take your case as far as it needs to go. Reach out to Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 or visit our office serving the Denton, Texas area to get started.

FAQs About Bridgeport Construction Accident Lawyers

How long do I have to file a construction accident lawsuit in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait too long, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case regardless of how strong the evidence is. Some situations, such as claims involving government entities or specific construction defect scenarios, can have different deadlines. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible after your accident to make sure your rights are protected.

Can I file a lawsuit if I already received workers’ compensation benefits?

Yes, in most cases you can. Workers’ compensation and a third-party personal injury lawsuit are two separate legal claims. If someone other than your direct employer contributed to your injury, such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner, you can pursue a third-party claim even while receiving workers’ comp benefits. Be aware that Texas law may require you to reimburse the workers’ comp carrier from any third-party settlement or verdict you receive. An attorney can help you understand how subrogation works and how to maximize what you keep.

What if my employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance?

If your employer is a non-subscriber, meaning they opted out of the Texas workers’ compensation system, you have the right to sue them directly for negligence. Texas law removes several defenses that subscriber employers can use, including contributory negligence and assumption of risk. This can make it significantly easier to win your case. You can also pursue claims against any other negligent parties involved in your accident. The attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can evaluate your employer’s coverage status and advise you on the best legal strategy.

What types of compensation can I recover in a Bridgeport construction accident claim?

In a Texas personal injury or third-party construction accident claim, you can recover economic damages, which include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. You can also recover non-economic damages for physical pain, emotional suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving gross negligence under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.003, you may also be eligible for exemplary damages. Workers’ compensation alone does not cover pain and suffering or the full value of your lost wages, which is why pursuing a third-party claim is so important.

What should I do immediately after a construction accident in Bridgeport?

First, seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries do not feel severe at the moment. Some serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal damage, do not show full symptoms immediately. Report the accident to your employer and get a copy of the incident report. Document the scene with photographs if you are physically able to do so. Collect contact information from any witnesses. Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Then call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. The steps you take in the hours and days after your accident can have a major impact on the outcome of your claim.

Content prepared by Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, principal office located in Denton, Texas. This page is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any other matter, as results depend on the unique facts and law applicable to each case.

More Resources for Bridgeport, TX