Industrial Accident Attorneys in Dallas: Holding Employers Accountable Nationwide
If a workplace accident or occupational disease has turned your life upside down, it may not be easy to secure fair benefits and the medical care you need. Employers and insurance companies will actively try to avoid paying maximum benefits. They may delay payment, deny valid claims, or say you're okay to go back to work when you know you can't go on like you used to. We are here to help you. This is a tough situation, and you may feel loyal to your employer, particularly if you've been there for a while. You need to ask yourself if you're being treated fairly. If the answer is no, you need an attorney. A Dallas work injury lawyer can help you get financial support for your current and future needs.
Call Arnold & Itkin at (888) 493-1629to see how our work injury attorneys in Dallas can help. Your consultation is 100% free! Serving Dallas, Fort Worth, and the entire U.S.
Few attorneys or firms achieve what Arnold & Itkin has managed to accomplish in a relatively short time. Our firm has won more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements—much of that for workers who were injured on the job.
Our life-changing outcomes for work accident cases include:
$357 million for workers in what remains the largest work injury settlement in Texas.
$222 million for the widow of a worker killed in a plant accident.
$209 million for the family of an oilfield worker who died from employer negligence.
$193 million for two pipeline explosion victims who were working offshore.
$177.5 million for workers who suffered burn injuries in an industrial accident.
Our Dallas work accident attorneys have been on the front line of every major job site accident or industrial disaster of the last two decades. We represented three of the women widowed by the El Faro disaster, roughly a third of the Deepwater Horizon crew, and many others in catastrophes that made national news. We helped each of them shoulder the pressure they were under, getting them record-setting results to rebuild their lives.
Our unparalleled success in securing substantial settlements demonstrates our deep commitment to workplace safety and justice for injured workers in Dallas and nationwide. Each case we undertake is backed by comprehensive research and a strategic approach, helping our clients seek the maximum compensation due to them. Through meticulous preparation and tireless advocacy, we consistently hold negligent parties accountable. Our passion for justice is reflected in every outcome, offering our clients not just financial relief but hope and the ability to rebuild.
Recent Work Accident Cases We’ve Filed in Dallas & Beyond
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 178,000 reported occupational injuries in Texas in 2022 alone. 578 workers lost their lives. While many of these catastrophic injuries and deaths occurred in high-risk industries such as construction, transportation, and manufacturing, workers in virtually all fields experienced some harm. The sheer scale of how many workers suffer on the job is why we’re always investigating new incidents or examples of wrongdoing.
Here are recent cases our firm has filed for injured workers:
"The company, they weren't really trying to help me. They weren't really trying to reach out to me at all or anything, so the best thing to do was to get a hold of somebody that could help me, which was Arnold & Itkin."
As Dallas industrial accident attorneys, we realize there is a difference between inherent risks at the workplace and outright negligence or wrongdoing. Workers may be at risk of specific types of accidents due to the nature of their job duties and the environments where they perform these. When work accidents injure workers or claim lives, we utilize our resources to investigate and get to the bottom of what caused the incidents in the first place.
By conducting thorough investigations, we are able to uncover overlooked hazards and systematic safety failures that contribute to workplace accidents. Our team works diligently to compile evidence, which may involve working closely with accident reconstructionists, safety engineers, and medical experts to build a robust case. Understanding the specifics of an accident allows us to tailor our approach to each client’s unique situation, ensuring that all responsible parties are held accountable for their actions or negligence.
These are several of the most common on-the-job accidents:
We have the resources to investigate your accident and reveal its cause. If your employer was negligent, purposefully cut corners, or did anything that jeopardized your safety, we'll find out. If a third party, like the manufacturer of a defective piece of equipment, caused you harm, we'll uncover it. We seek the answers and compensation our clients deserve.
Types of Dallas Work Injuries
Work accidents are serious because they cause injuries that can be devastating. For some workers, an injury means the inability to work until they recover—which is impossible financially for most Americans. For other workers, accidents can cause injuries that change the rest of their lives. These injuries are often catastrophic because those with them often face a lifetime of medical care, reduced mobility, and other difficulties.
Addressing the complexities of these injuries requires both legal skill and empathy, as many affected individuals face extended recovery periods and long-term alterations to their daily lives. This can include navigating psychological trauma that impacts mental health and wellbeing. Our approach is comprehensive, considering future medical needs, rehabilitation, and ongoing care to ensure our clients can regain quality of life and a sense of normalcy. We explore every avenue to assist in covering expenses that extend beyond immediate medical costs, contributing to a holistic recovery.
When a person is hurt because their employer was negligent, they deserve compensation to recover, adjust, and move forward. Our Dallas work injury law firm fights to help workers secure this compensation. While we can't change what happened, we can demand answers from those who could've prevented it in the first place.
What Causes Industrial Injuries? Our Dallas Work Accident Attorneys Explain.
Work accidents don't “just happen.” They are caused by specific acts of negligence, carelessness, and even intentional wrongdoing. Most can be traced to employers who fail to prioritize safety, making work riskier than it should be. In industrial settings, where work is inherently more complex and the stakes are higher, this has disastrous effects.
Regular safety audits and adherence to stringent safety protocols can drastically reduce the incidence of these injuries. Unfortunately, many companies overlook these critical practices in the quest for higher profits. We collaborate with safety experts and industry specialists to dissect each accident, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of underlying factors. Our findings frequently reveal avoidable lapses in equipment maintenance, training, and procedural follow-through.
The following are potential causes of industrial injuries in Dallas:
Defective tools, equipment, or machinery
Improper personal protection equipment
Poorly designed machinery or equipment
Lack of/improper maintenance
Inadequate fall protection
Lack of adequate training and supervision
Unsafe storage methods
Improper lighting
Lack of respiratory protection
Dangerous use of ladders and scaffolding
Lack of proper ventilation
Overwork and fatigue
It only takes an instant for an oversight or safety lapse to injure a worker or claim their life. That's what happened to a worker who lost his life after falling 30 feet as he attempted to unjam a machine inside a silo at a worksite in Rockwall, Texas. OSHA's Dallas Area Office investigated the matter and issued two serious citations against the employer for failing to ensure workers were wearing protective helmets and for failing to implement proper lockout/tagout procedures.
When employers do not put safety first, injured workers should turn to a trusted industrial accident attorney in Dallas for insight into their rights and options. Many employees mistakenly believe that they are limited to workers' comp benefits, but there may be other routes and sources of compensation, depending on the circumstances at hand.
Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Dallas Job-Related Injury
Insurers are infamously difficult to deal with after an accident, but that is especially true when the insurer represents an employer or is dealing with a large-scale catastrophic event. It’s not uncommon for insurers to act like they’re representing your interests when they’re really acting on behalf of the company.
When someone calls our Dallas work injury attorneys, one of our first tasks is making sure insurance companies know they need to deal with us, not them. We do that for two reasons: one, it takes a huge stressor off a client’s plate. Our firm prepares all the paperwork, deals with their adjusters, and so on. Two, it shows the insurer that you’ve got real resources behind you—and it won’t be so easy for insurers to give us the run-around.
Our no-nonsense approach to dealing with insurance companies is how we’ve managed to secure so many life-changing results. When the insurance company sees our track record, they’re less likely to low-ball plaintiffs.
When a Workers’ Compensation Claim Isn't Enough
Most people file a workers’ compensation claim when they’ve gotten injured at work, and it’s often the right move if they’re looking at minor or temporary injuries. But for a significant number of workers every year, workers’ compensation offers far, far less than what they need to recover.
For instance, workers’ compensation doesn’t address the long-term pain and suffering injured workers experience. Workers who’ve survived a fire, an explosion, or fall often deal with chronic pain, serious physical and mental impairment, and other issues that lower quality of life. Workers who have experienced severe injuries might require adaptations to daily life that are beyond the one-time financial compensation typical of workers' comp packages. Our team is well-versed in exploring alternative avenues of recourse that better address the real, ongoing needs of our clients, underscoring the necessity for personalized legal strategies.
Non-Subscriber Employer Work Injury Cases in Dallas, TX
In Dallas and across Texas, many employers opt out of the state’s workers’ compensation system. These employers, known as non-subscribers, do not carry traditional workers' compensation insurance, which significantly affects how workplace injury cases are handled. This status allows these companies to create their own insurance plans, which may provide medical and wage loss benefits but can also limit the rights and compensation available to injured workers.
The following are examples of non-subscriber employers in the Dallas area:
Walmart
Amazon
Target
H-E-B
Ampex Brands
Facet Corp
Concentra Health Services
Kingfisher Health Dallas
Omni Hotels Management
Dallas Medical Center
Nordstrom Rack
Jpl Group Inc
Kohls
Costco
Sonic
McDonald's
Dollar Tree
Highland Springs Home Care
Applebees
Quiktrip Distribution
Wells Fargo
Methodist Hospitals
Ryder
Service King
All My Sons Moving
Yellowcab
Alliance Upstream
Baylor University Medical Center
According to Texas Department of Insurance data, there were 4,872 non-subscriber employers in Dallas as of July 1, 2024. The above list is a mere sampling; the report includes all types and sizes of companies.
For employees injured while working for non-subscriber employers, it is crucial to seek legal counsel from a firm experienced in handling these unique cases. Unlike traditional workers’ compensation claims, non-subscriber claims can involve filing a lawsuit against the employer if their negligence led to the injury. This includes situations involving inadequate training, unsafe working conditions, or faulty equipment.
Navigating non-subscriber cases requires an attorney who has a nuanced understanding of Texas law and the unpredictable nature of employer-drafted plans. By engaging our services, you gain access to strategic insights and a network of professionals familiar with the intricacies of workplace policies and compensation frameworks. Our approach is holistic, focusing on thorough assessment of accident circumstances, employer practices, and alignment with Texas workers' rights, ensuring you’re comprehensively represented in pursuit of rightful compensation.
If you've been injured working for a non-subscriber employer, our work injury attorneys in Dallas are ready to help. We have the experience to protect your rights and interests.
Where Dallas Work & Industrial Accidents Happen
As one of the economic hubs of the nation, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is no stranger to industrial accidents. Virtually any type of employee, contractor, or subcontractor may be at risk of harm in an industrial accident. Workers face dangers in the area's factories, refineries, and oilfields that surround the area.
Dallas industrial accidents may happen in areas such as:
In each of these settings, it's the responsibility of companies, supervisors, and other employees to make sure they're being safe. Companies must make workers have safety equipment, training, and that their facilities are properly maintained for a safe environment. Likewise, supervisors and workers must ensure they're following their training and respecting the safety of their coworkers. When companies fail in their duty to provide reasonably safe work environments, our Dallas industrial accident law firm is there to set things right.
Fatal Workplace Accidents in Dallas
Texas led the nation with the highest number of workplace fatalities in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For workers in Dallas, the risk of harm in a workplace accident is just too high. Families of workers who have been lost in fires, explosions, falls, and other industrial accidents deserve answers. They deserve the chance to rebuild. That is what our Dallas workplace death lawyers accomplish, taking large corporations and their insurance companies to court, where we expose wrongdoing and help families recover the compensation they need to build more stable futures.
Who Is Responsible for Industrial Accidents in Dallas?
Often, it's companies that are responsible for accidents at industrial sites. While they often try to blame workers and supervisors, it's ultimately the responsibility of companies to train workers, provide safety equipment, and make sure facilities are maintained and safe. Too often, companies take the risk of cutting corners with safety to save money.
When this causes an accident, they should be held accountable. That's what our Dallas industrial accident attorneys work to accomplish every day.
Legal Responsibilities of Dallas-Area Employers
OSHA was founded in 1970 to help protect American workers. Over the decades, the agency has played an instrumental role in decreasing work-related deaths and injuries. However, they can't prevent all of them. It's the legal obligation of companies to follow OSHA's rules for a safe work environment.
OSHA requires that Dallas employers:
Provide safe work areas.
Post warnings for any hazards present at a worksite in relevant languages.
Make sure worksites meet OSHA standards.
Ensure workers have access to the right tools and properly maintained equipment.
Provide safety training in a language that workers understand.
Employers must report severe work injuries and fatalities to OSHA as quickly as possible so the agency can investigate. Fatalities must be reported within 8 hours; serious injuries requiring in-patient hospitalization must be reported within 24 hours. When OSHA investigates a work injury or fatality and discovers violations, the agency may issue citations against the employer. Even when these penalties are thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, it is not enough.
OSHA citations are serious, but they do little to help a worker who has already been injured. A Dallas work accident attorney can help you hold your employer or other party accountable.
Working in Dallas: About the City, Its Workforce & More
Dallas is industrially, economically, and culturally diverse. As a part of the nation’s fourth-largest metropolitan area, the City of Dallas enjoys local economic growth that has not been significantly affected by the downturn of any one industry. Since 2008, the unemployment rate in Dallas has remained lower than the national average.
In the city’s early years, Dallas relied primarily on farming and its location along Native American trade routes. It was the construction of multiple rail lines through Dallas that brought the area much of its initial growth. By 1900, Dallas was a leader in the cotton market. In the 1930s, the discovery of oil near Kilgore, which is located just east of Dallas, brought the petroleum market to the area. The oil boom continued with discoveries in the Permian Basin, Texas Panhandle, and Gulf Coast, and Dallas established a solid foothold as a hub of the oil and gas market.
The economy in Dallas is driven by telecommunications, manufacturing, and engineering, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies. AT&T, Energy Transfer Equity, CBRE, Southwest Airlines, Texas Instruments, HollyFrontier, Dean Foods, and Jacobs Engineering are some of the biggest corporations headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Texas Instruments alone employs 10,000+ people at its Dallas plants and headquarters.
Leading Occupations in Dallas
According to employment information for Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the civilian workforce is comprised of about 4.22 million people. 4.08 million were employed as of March 2022.
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington workers are employed in the following industries:
Trade, transportation, and utilities (876,600 workers)
Professional and business services (722,100 workers)
Education and health services (483,500 workers)
Government (453,200 workers)
Leisure and hospitality (392,400 workers)
Financial activities (360,700 workers)
Manufacturing (293,200 workers)
Mining, logging, and construction (225,700 workers)
Other services (126,800 workers)
Information (85,600 workers)
If you live and work in the Dallas area and were injured, Arnold & Itkin is here to help. A Dallas workplace accident attorney at our firm can talk to you about the incident itself, the impact your injury is having on your life, and what options you have in bringing forth a lawsuit. You might be surprised to find that you have more rights than you think.
What a Dallas Work Injury Lawyer Can Help You Recover
After a work injury, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Injuries are expensive, and they place significant stress on workers. A local work injury law firm in Dallas can help alleviate this stress by working to secure the compensation you need to move forward. This way, you can focus on your recovery rather than how you're going to pay the bills.
Our Dallas work injury lawyers often recover losses associated with:
Lost wages
Medical bills
Costs of future care
Funeral expenses
Pain
Suffering
Loss of the ability to work
Loss of consortium
Our Dallas industrial injury lawyers can help you seek the compensation you need rather than the compensation you're offered. Often, companies offer settlements after serious accidents. While it may seem like they're doing the right thing, they're often trying to escape full accountability. Once a settlement is accepted by a worker or their family, further legal action becomes impossible. An industrial accident lawyer can examine your settlement offer and investigate the details of your case to make sure you're getting the help you need. When you work with Arnold & Itkin, we'll fight for fair compensation for your medical bills, cost of future care, lost wages, and any other types of losses caused by the accident.
Act Fast! Call a Workplace Accident Attorney in Dallas Now: (888) 493-1629
You need to act fast if you've been injured at work—call our offices and find out what we can do to help. Even while you're in the hospital, your employer might be working to find a way to prove that the accident was your fault or that your injuries are the result of a pre-existing condition. It's unfortunate but true; many companies care more about profits than people. Our Dallas workplace injury law firm doesn't stand for that. We want to help you get the full support you deserve.
Work injuries most often happen when companies fail to do things such as provide safety equipment, adequate training, or proper maintenance on machinery. Employers often neglect these things because they're gambling that the cost of not doing them will be cheaper than accidents. The well-being of workers is never something to gamble on, and companies should be held accountable when their gamble results in serious injuries.
What Should I Do After a Work Accident?
After getting hurt on the job, the first thing anyone should do is seek medical attention and notify their employer of their injury. While your company might send you to their doctor, remember that it's your right to get a second opinion from your preferred care provider. Second, don't sign any documents from your company or accept any settlement offers from them—you're not required to do so before speaking with an attorney.
Last, you should always contact an attorney after an industrial accident. At Arnold & Itkin, a consultation with our Dallas industrial injury law firm is free, confidential, and will help you decide what to do next. Importantly, you won't have to pay us anything unless we get results if we take your case. If your loved one was the victim of a deadly work accident, we're ready to help. Our Dallas wrongful death attorneys help families find answers for financial difficulties such as lost wages, medical bills, funeral expenses, and much more.
Do I Need a Dallas Work Injury Lawyer?
If you've been involved in a work accident, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. A Dallas work injury lawyer can help you recover losses associated with medical bills, future care needs, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more after an accident. While your company might offer a settlement, speaking with a lawyer will help you decide if it's fair. The best law firm for your needs is one that will look at the total costs of your case and demand the justice you deserve rather than the settlement you're initially offered.
What If My Employer Doesn't Have Workers' Compensation?
If you've been injured and your employer doesn't have workers' compensation, speaking with an attorney might be your best chance for recovery. Unlike other states, Texas doesn't require employers to carry workers' comp insurance. If an accident happens that a company could've prevented, they should be held accountable—whether or not they have workers' compensation. Even if your company does have workers' comp, you should still speak with an attorney. In some instances, insurance isn't enough to cover the costs of an injury. A Dallas work injury lawyer can help you decide if you should file a claim or pursue compensation through other means.
How Do Dallas Workplace Injury Laws Protect Me?
Dallas workplace injury laws are designed to protect workers and ensure they receive appropriate compensation following an injury. Texas workers' compensation laws provide benefits for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages due to work-related injuries. However, because Texas allows for non-subscriber employers, not all workers are covered by traditional workers' comp.
If you're injured while working for a non-subscriber employer, you may have to pursue a negligence lawsuit to recover damages. A Dallas work injury lawyer can help you navigate these complexities, assess your employer's coverage status, and seek the appropriate compensation under the applicable laws. These laws also aim to ensure that employers maintain a safe working environment, adhering to state and federal occupational safety guidelines, including those stipulated by OSHA. Understanding your rights and protections under these laws is essential, especially when negotiating with employers or their insurance providers.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive for My Work Injury in Dallas?
Compensation for work injuries in Dallas varies based on the nature and severity of the injury and the employment situation. Under traditional workers' compensation, you might receive benefits covering medical expenses, a percentage of lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation if you're unable to perform the same job duties. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you may be eligible to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, which could include recovery for full lost wages, medical costs, pain and suffering, and punitive damages if employer negligence is proven. Each compensation route has its own set of procedures and limitations, making it crucial to discuss options with a seasoned work injury attorney. Understanding your eligibility for various compensation types is vital to securing the most comprehensive financial recovery available to you.
Can I Sue My Employer for a Work Injury in Dallas?
The ability to sue an employer for a work injury in Dallas depends largely on your employer's workers' compensation status. In Texas, if your employer subscribes to the state's workers' compensation insurance program, you're typically precluded from suing them directly due to the coverage workers' compensation provides. However, if your employer is a non-subscriber, the law allows you to file a lawsuit provided you can demonstrate their negligence caused your injury. Navigating such lawsuits requires experience in personal injury law, making it imperative to have an attorney who can thoroughly investigate the incident and advise on the viability of a direct lawsuit. Suing an employer involves proving negligence and potentially bringing third-party claims if others, like equipment manufacturers, contributed to the injury.
