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Construction sites across Plano and the greater Collin County area are booming. Drive down the Dallas North Tollway or along US-75, and you will see cranes, scaffolding, and work crews at nearly every major intersection. That growth is good for the local economy, but it puts workers in serious danger every single day. If you or someone you love was hurt on a Plano construction site, you need a lawyer who understands Texas construction accident law, not just general personal injury rules. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, based at 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205, represents injured workers and their families throughout the North Texas area, including Plano. Call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
- Why Plano Construction Sites Are So Dangerous for Workers
- Texas Law and Your Rights After a Plano Construction Accident
- Common Construction Accident Injuries Seen in Plano Cases
- Who Can Be Held Liable for a Plano Construction Site Accident
- Steps to Take After a Construction Accident in Plano
- FAQs About Plano Construction Accident Lawyers
Why Plano Construction Sites Are So Dangerous for Workers
Construction is one of the most physically dangerous industries in the United States. Construction workers account for roughly one in five workplace deaths in the country. That is a staggering number, and Texas makes it even worse. Texas leads the nation in fatal crane injuries and has the highest workplace fatality rate in the United States. In Texas, a construction worker suffered fatal injuries on the job approximately every other workday in 2024.
Plano’s rapid commercial and residential development contributes directly to this risk. The city sits at the heart of one of the most active construction markets in the country. The Dallas-Fort Worth area led Texas with 5,313 high-value permits valued at $500,000 or more in 2024. More permits mean more active job sites, more subcontractors, and more opportunities for something to go wrong.
OSHA identifies what it calls the “Fatal Four” hazards on construction sites. These categories account for nearly 60 percent of all fatal work injuries on construction sites each year. Falls alone caused 370 construction worker fatalities in 2024, a 7.5 percent decrease from 2023, but still the single largest cause of deaths in construction. Struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in or caught-between accidents round out the rest.
Under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, OSHA requires fall protection for construction workers at heights of six feet or more. Fall protection under 29 CFR 1926.501 was the most frequently cited OSHA standard in fiscal year 2024, followed by ladder safety under 29 CFR 1926.1053 and scaffolding under 29 CFR 1926.451. These are not new violations. Fall protection has held the top position in OSHA citations for 14 consecutive years, with 6,307 citations in FY 2024. Employers know the rules. When they ignore them, workers pay the price.
If you were hurt in a fall, struck by equipment, or injured by a collapsing structure near a Plano job site, the legal team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys wants to hear your story. Call (940) 800-2500 today.
Texas Law and Your Rights After a Plano Construction Accident
Texas construction accident law is unlike the law in most other states, and understanding the difference can directly affect how much money you recover. The most important thing to know is that Texas is the only state where workers’ compensation insurance is completely voluntary for private employers. This single fact changes everything about how your claim works.
When your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, that system generally becomes your exclusive remedy against that employer. This is known as the exclusive remedy rule under Texas Labor Code Section 408.001(a). In plain terms, you typically cannot sue a subscribing employer directly for negligence. Your benefits are limited to what workers’ comp allows, which covers medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages.
But what if your employer does not carry workers’ comp? If an employer does not provide workers’ compensation coverage, they lose the legal protection against most lawsuits, meaning an injured employee can sue them over a workplace injury or illness. Even better for injured workers, if sued, a non-subscribing employer cannot argue in court that the employee’s negligence or another employee’s negligence caused the injury. That is a powerful legal advantage.
Construction sites also involve multiple parties beyond just your direct employer. General contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners all share the job site. A construction site can involve an owner, general contractor, several subcontractors, equipment suppliers, architects, and temporary labor providers. When a worker is hurt, the employer’s workers’ compensation status is often only the beginning of the analysis.
A third-party claim is a separate personal injury lawsuit filed against a party other than your direct employer. You may be able to pursue a third-party claim even if your employer does carry workers’ comp. Filing a third-party claim allows you to pursue the full range of damages available in a personal injury lawsuit while still collecting your workers’ compensation medical and wage benefits.
The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys know how to identify every liable party on a Plano construction site and build the strongest possible case for your recovery.
Common Construction Accident Injuries Seen in Plano Cases
Construction accidents rarely cause minor injuries. The physical demands of the job, the heavy equipment, and the heights involved mean that when something goes wrong, the consequences are severe. The injuries we see in Plano construction accident cases range from broken bones to permanent disability.
Falls from heights are the most common cause of serious injury. Under OSHA’s standards at 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, employers must provide fall protection systems including guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems for work performed at six feet or more above a lower level. When these systems are missing or defective, workers fall from scaffolding, rooftops, and open floor edges. The results are often traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and shattered limbs.
Struck-by accidents are the second most common fatal hazard. A swinging crane load near a Plano high-rise project, a reversing dump truck on a roadway construction zone along US-380, or falling tools from an upper floor can all cause fatal or catastrophic injuries in an instant. These incidents often involve traumatic brain injuries and internal organ damage that require long-term care.
Electrocutions kill construction workers when they contact live wires, overhead power lines, or energized equipment. Caught-in or caught-between accidents happen when workers are pinned by machinery, buried in trench collapses, or caught in unguarded equipment parts. Both types of injuries frequently result in amputations or death.
Back injuries represent the single most affected body part in construction accidents, with over 10,000 back-related injuries recorded in one recent year, primarily resulting from overexertion, lifting, and falls from heights. Repetitive strain, chemical exposure, and heat-related illness round out the range of injuries that Plano construction workers face.
Injuries this serious affect your entire life, not just your ability to work. They can result in catastrophic, permanent disability. If your injuries are life-altering, the legal analysis goes beyond a simple workers’ comp claim. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 to talk through what happened and what your options are.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Plano Construction Site Accident
Liability in a Plano construction accident case rarely falls on just one party. Construction projects involve layers of contracts, multiple employers, and equipment from various vendors, all operating on the same piece of ground. Identifying every responsible party is one of the most important things a lawyer does in these cases.
The general contractor holds broad responsibility for overall site safety. A general contractor may have broad coordination responsibilities but is not automatically liable for every subcontractor’s conduct. A stronger issue may arise when a contractor retained control over the manner of the work, gave detailed instructions, approved a dangerous method, or undertook safety responsibilities and performed them negligently.
Property owners also carry legal responsibility in many cases. Under Texas premises liability law, a property owner who controls a job site has a duty to keep the site reasonably safe for workers. If a dangerous condition on the property caused your injury, the owner may share liability regardless of which contractor was present that day.
Equipment manufacturers are a third source of liability. Construction sites rely on cranes, forklifts, scaffolding systems, power tools, and heavy machinery. When any of that equipment is defective, the manufacturer can be held responsible under Texas products liability law. This type of claim exists completely outside the workers’ compensation system and can be pursued even when your employer carries coverage.
Other subcontractors working on the same site may also be liable. If a plumbing subcontractor left an unguarded trench that caused your fall near a Legacy Drive development in Plano, that subcontractor is a potential defendant in a third-party claim. A third-party lawsuit is not based merely on the fact that another company was present at the site. The injured worker generally must connect that entity to a recognized duty, a breach of that duty, causation, and legally compensable harm.
Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys investigates every angle of your case to make sure no responsible party escapes accountability. Call (940) 800-2500 or visit our office at 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205.
Steps to Take After a Construction Accident in Plano
What you do in the hours and days after a construction accident directly affects your ability to recover compensation. The steps below protect your health and your legal rights at the same time.
Get medical care first. Even if your injuries seem manageable, go to a doctor the same day. Some serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding, do not produce obvious symptoms right away. A medical record created on the day of the accident establishes a direct link between the accident and your injuries. That connection is critical in any legal claim.
Report the accident to your employer in writing. The injury or illness must be reported to the employer within 30 days under Texas Labor Code Chapter 409.001. Missing this deadline can hurt your workers’ compensation claim. Put your report in writing and keep a copy.
Document the scene. Take photos of the area where the accident happened, the equipment involved, and any missing or broken safety equipment. If there were witnesses, get their names and contact information. OSHA’s own regulations require that all accidents resulting in injury be investigated and documented. That documentation can become evidence in your case.
Do not sign anything from an insurance company without legal advice. Insurance adjusters work for the insurer, not for you. A quick settlement offer may seem appealing after a serious injury, but it almost always covers far less than your actual damages. Once you sign a release, you typically cannot go back and ask for more.
Contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 sets a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. That clock starts running on the date of the accident. Missing the deadline means losing your right to sue, regardless of how serious your injuries are. The Denton County Courthouse and Collin County District Courts both handle construction injury cases, and having a lawyer familiar with North Texas courts gives you a real advantage.
Call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500. We offer free consultations, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
FAQs About Plano Construction Accident Lawyers
Can I sue my employer if I was hurt on a Plano construction site?
It depends on whether your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance. If your employer is a “subscribing” employer under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, the exclusive remedy rule under Texas Labor Code Section 408.001(a) generally prevents you from suing them directly for negligence. Your remedy is limited to workers’ comp benefits. However, if your employer is a non-subscriber, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them, and they cannot use common defenses like contributory negligence. You may also be able to file a third-party claim against other parties on the job site, such as a general contractor, subcontractor, or equipment manufacturer, even if your direct employer carries workers’ comp coverage.
What is the deadline to file a construction accident lawsuit in Texas?
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives most personal injury plaintiffs two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. For workers’ compensation claims, you must report the injury to your employer within 30 days under Texas Labor Code Chapter 409.001, and you must file your claim with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation within one year of the injury. These are hard deadlines. Missing either one can permanently bar your claim. If you were hurt on a Plano construction site, contact a lawyer immediately to protect your right to compensation.
What damages can I recover in a Plano construction accident case?
In a personal injury or third-party claim, you may be able to recover economic damages, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. You may also recover non-economic damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. Workers’ compensation benefits, by contrast, are limited to medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages. They do not cover pain and suffering. This is one reason why identifying third-party claims is so important. The full range of damages available in a civil lawsuit is almost always greater than what workers’ comp provides.
Does OSHA play a role in my construction accident claim?
OSHA investigates serious construction accidents and can cite employers for safety violations. Under 29 CFR Part 1926, OSHA sets specific safety standards for construction sites, including fall protection requirements at six feet or more under Subpart M. An OSHA citation or investigation report can be valuable evidence in your personal injury case because it documents the safety violation that caused your injury. However, an OSHA finding does not automatically create civil liability, and you still need to prove the elements of your claim in court. A lawyer can help you use OSHA records strategically to support your case.
What if I was hurt on a Plano construction site as a bystander or passerby, not a worker?
You do not have to be a construction worker to have a valid claim after a construction site accident. If you were a pedestrian walking near a site on Preston Road or a driver passing a construction zone on the Dallas North Tollway and were injured by falling debris, a negligent driver operating construction equipment, or an unsecured hazard, you may have a premises liability or negligence claim against the property owner, general contractor, or other responsible party. The workers’ compensation system does not apply to bystanders. You would file a standard personal injury claim governed by Texas negligence law. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 to discuss your situation.
Chandler Ross, Injury Attorneys, 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205. Attorney responsible for this content: Chandler Ross. Principal office: Denton, Texas. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case. Each case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts and applicable law.
