Sherman Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction sites in Sherman, Texas are among the most hazardous workplaces in the state. Whether the injury happens near the US-75 corridor, on a commercial build along FM 1417, or at a residential development off Highway 82, the physical and financial toll can be devastating. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury on a construction site in Sherman, you have legal rights, and the team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is ready to help you pursue every dollar you deserve. Our firm serves clients throughout the Sherman and Denton County area, and we handle construction accident claims with the same focus and dedication we bring to every personal injury case.

Table of Contents

• Why Construction Sites in Sherman, Texas Are So Dangerous
• Who Can Be Held Liable for a Sherman Construction Site Injury
• Texas Workers’ Compensation and Non-Subscriber Rules for Construction Workers
• The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Construction Accident Claim in Texas
• What Damages Can You Recover After a Sherman Construction Accident
• FAQs About Sherman Construction Accident Lawyers

Why Construction Sites in Sherman, Texas Are So Dangerous

Construction is one of the deadliest industries in the United States. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 389 of the 1,034 construction fatalities recorded in 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That number does not include the thousands of workers who survive their falls but suffer permanent injuries.

OSHA refers to four hazard categories as the “Fatal Four,” and they account for the majority of construction deaths every year. These are falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in or between accidents, and electrocutions. Each one is common on active job sites in Sherman and throughout Grayson County, especially as development along the US-75 corridor continues to expand.

Sherman has seen significant commercial and residential growth in recent years. More construction activity means more workers on active sites, more heavy equipment in use, and more opportunities for a preventable accident to cause a life-altering injury. Scaffolding collapses, trench cave-ins, falling objects, and machinery accidents are all real risks that workers face every single day.

OSHA sets and enforces safety standards for construction sites under 29 CFR Part 1926, which covers everything from fall protection requirements to scaffold safety to excavation rules. When a contractor ignores those standards, workers pay the price. The most frequently cited federal OSHA standard in fiscal year 2024 was fall protection under 29 CFR 1926.501, followed by ladder safety under 29 CFR 1926.1053 and scaffolding under 29 CFR 1926.451. These violations are not technical paperwork issues. They are warning signs of real danger, and when they cause injuries, they create legal liability.

If you were hurt on a construction site in Sherman, the circumstances of your accident matter. An experienced construction accident attorney can review the site conditions, OSHA records, and contractor relationships to identify who is responsible and what your claim is worth.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Sherman Construction Site Injury

Liability in a construction accident is rarely limited to one party. Multiple contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and site managers may share responsibility for a single injury. Identifying all liable parties is one of the most important steps in building a strong claim.

The general contractor on a job site has a broad duty to maintain safe conditions for all workers, including subcontractors. If a general contractor failed to enforce safety protocols, ignored known hazards, or allowed dangerous conditions to persist near sites like the Grayson County Courthouse area or along Sherman’s growing industrial corridors, that contractor can be held liable.

Property owners also carry responsibility under Texas premises liability law. If a landowner knew about a dangerous condition on the site and failed to correct it or warn workers, they can face a separate claim. This type of liability is closely related to premises liability principles that apply in slip and fall and negligent security cases.

Equipment manufacturers can be held liable when a defective tool, machine, or safety device causes an injury. A defective harness, a crane with a faulty cable, or a scaffolding component that fails under normal use can all support a product liability claim independent of any negligence by the contractor.

Third-party defendants are especially important when your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance. Even if workers’ comp covers some of your losses, a separate lawsuit against a negligent third party, such as another subcontractor or an equipment supplier, can recover damages that workers’ comp does not pay, including pain and suffering and full lost wages.

The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys investigate every angle of a construction accident claim. We look at contracts, site logs, OSHA inspection records, and witness statements to build the strongest possible case for our clients.

Texas Workers’ Compensation and Non-Subscriber Rules for Construction Workers

In 2026, Texas remains the only state where private employers are not legally required to provide workers’ compensation insurance. This fact has major consequences for injured construction workers in Sherman. Whether your employer carries workers’ comp or not determines what legal options you have after an accident.

When an employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, an injured worker can file a claim through the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC). That claim covers medical benefits and a portion of lost wages. However, it also generally limits your ability to sue your employer directly for negligence. The trade-off is that benefits are available regardless of fault.

The situation changes completely when an employer opts out. Under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, employers who elect not to carry workers’ compensation insurance are labeled “nonsubscribers” or “bare employers,” and they forfeit several common-law defenses, including contributory negligence, assumption of the risk, and the negligence of fellow employees. This means you can sue a non-subscriber employer directly, and they cannot use your own partial fault against you in most circumstances.

Texas Labor Code Section 406.033 specifically governs these non-subscriber lawsuits. Under that statute, an injured worker can pursue full damages, including medical expenses, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. These categories of recovery go well beyond what workers’ comp pays.

There is one important note for workers on state construction projects. Any company involved in state construction projects or any governmental entity must participate in workers’ compensation. So the rules differ depending on whether your job site is a private commercial build or a government-funded project.

Not sure whether your employer is a subscriber or non-subscriber? You can check through the Texas Department of Insurance. Employers that do not provide Texas workers’ compensation coverage must notify their workers by posting a notice of no coverage in the workplace in English, Spanish, and any other language as needed. If you never saw that notice, your employer may not be in compliance, which is another issue worth discussing with an attorney.

The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Construction Accident Claim in Texas

Time limits are real, and missing them can permanently bar your claim. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, most personal injury claims in Texas must be filed within two years of the date the injury occurred. Construction accident claims follow this same general rule.

Two years sounds like a long time, but construction accident cases require significant investigation. Gathering site records, preserving physical evidence, identifying all responsible parties, and retaining expert witnesses all take time. Waiting too long can mean critical evidence disappears, witnesses become unavailable, and your legal options narrow.

Wrongful death claims follow the same two-year deadline under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71. Under Section 71.002, a person is liable for damages arising from an injury that causes an individual’s death if that injury was caused by the person’s wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, or unskillfulness. If you lost a family member in a Sherman construction accident, this statute gives surviving family members the right to pursue compensation for their loss.

There are limited circumstances where the deadline can be extended. For example, if the injury was not immediately discoverable, or if the responsible party engaged in fraudulent concealment, the clock may not start running on the date of the accident. However, these exceptions are narrow and fact-specific. Do not rely on them as a reason to delay.

If your accident happened near a landmark like the Grayson County Courthouse on South Crockett Street or anywhere else in the Sherman area, the Denton County District Court and surrounding North Texas federal courts are where your case may ultimately be filed. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles cases in Sherman and throughout the region. Call us at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible after your injury so we can protect your right to file.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Sherman Construction Accident

A serious construction accident can change every part of your life. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, and amputations are all injuries that our firm has seen construction workers suffer. The financial impact of these injuries is enormous, and Texas law allows injured workers to pursue full compensation when negligence is involved.

Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses caused by your injury. These include all past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages from time missed at work, and reduced earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to the same type of work. Construction workers often earn strong wages, and a permanent disability can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income over a career.

Non-economic damages cover the human cost of your injury. Pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement are all recoverable under Texas law when a third party or non-subscriber employer is responsible. These damages are not capped in most construction accident cases, which means the full extent of your suffering can be presented to a jury.

In cases involving catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or severe burn injuries, the long-term care costs alone can reach into the millions. Expert witnesses, including medical professionals and economic analysts, play a critical role in documenting these losses. Under the standard established in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993), expert testimony in federal cases must be based on sufficient facts and reliable methodology. Texas courts apply a similar standard, and having qualified experts on your side matters.

If a construction accident resulted in a fatality, surviving family members may also pursue a wrongful death claim. In cases where the employer’s conduct rises to the level of gross negligence, exemplary damages may be available as well. The attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys will assess every category of damages that applies to your situation. Call (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation, and let us help you understand what your case is worth.

FAQs About Sherman Construction Accident Lawyers

Can I sue my employer after a construction accident in Sherman, Texas?

It depends on whether your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance. If your employer is a non-subscriber under Texas Labor Code Chapter 406, you can file a direct negligence lawsuit against them and recover full damages, including pain and suffering. If your employer carries workers’ comp, your claim goes through the TDI-DWC system, but you may still have a separate lawsuit against a negligent third party such as another contractor or an equipment manufacturer.

What is the deadline 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. Wrongful death claims also carry a two-year deadline under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to recover compensation, so contacting an attorney promptly after your accident is critical.

What if multiple contractors were responsible for my injury on a Sherman job site?

Texas law allows you to pursue claims against multiple responsible parties at the same time. Liability can extend to general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and site managers. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33 governs proportionate responsibility, meaning each party can be assigned a percentage of fault. Your attorney will investigate all contractor relationships and site conditions to identify every party who shares responsibility for your injury.

What types of injuries are most common in Texas construction accidents?

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and elevated platforms are the leading cause of construction fatalities and serious injuries. Other common injuries include being struck by falling objects or moving equipment, getting caught in or between machinery, electrocution, and trench collapses. These accidents frequently result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, severe burns, and amputations, all of which can require long-term medical care and significantly impact a worker’s ability to earn a living.

How does Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handle construction accident cases in Sherman?

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles construction accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our team investigates the accident scene, reviews OSHA records and site contracts, identifies all liable parties, and works with medical and economic experts to document the full value of your losses. We serve clients in Sherman, Denton, and throughout North Texas. Call us at (940) 800-2500 to schedule a free consultation. Past results in other cases do not guarantee the same outcome in your case, as each claim turns on its own facts and applicable law.