Texas Work Injury Lawyer
It starts the same way every time: a worker clocks in and heads out into the heat, the dust, or the dark of early morning. They’re doing what millions of Texans do every day—keeping the state’s economy moving. But for far too many of them last year, that workday was their last.
In 2024, Texas workplace accidents claimed the lives of 58 people, more than in any other state in the country, according to a recent report from insurance company Everly Life. California followed with 54 workplace deaths. Florida came next with 40. But Texas, once again, topped the list.
Boom State, Deadly State
It’s not an anomaly. It’s a pattern.
“When you have oil rigs, major construction projects and small contractors all trying to keep up with demand, safety can get pushed aside,” said Every’s Mariah Bliss, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Texas has long been powered by dangerous industries—oil, gas, and construction—and in recent years, its rapid growth has only made the work more relentless and riskier. The state’s economy thrives on speed, expansion, and physical labor. But workers are paying the price.
Even as the national numbers declined last year—from 928 workplace deaths in 2023 to 826 in 2024—Texas moved in the opposite direction.
Texas Heat Can Be a Killer
One of the biggest and least visible dangers? The heat.
According to the Gatehouse Texas, the Lone Star State led the U.S. in workplace deaths linked to heat between 1992 and 2017, with 113 confirmed fatalities. Yet there’s no state law requiring employers to allow rest breaks or provide water for outdoor workers. And last year, the Texas Legislature actually blocked local governments from passing ordinances that would have required them to do so.
During the Biden administration, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed a national rule that would mandate protections such as breaks, hydration, and shaded rest areas when the heat index reaches 80°F. If finalized, the rule would protect more than 36 million workers, especially in states like Texas, where triple-digit temperatures are routine. However, it remains to be seen whether the current administration will adopt the rule, significantly weaken it, or scrap it entirely.
Texas Workplace Fatalities: High-Risk Jobs Meet Rapid Growth
According to Everly’s Bliss, the conditions that led to 58 workplace deaths in Texas last year resulted from a dangerous combination: “high-risk tasks” colliding with “rapid economic expansion.” It’s not just the heat, or the industries, or the pace—it’s all of it at once. And it’s being compounded by weak enforcement.
Texas workers have fewer protections than their counterparts elsewhere. The state lacks its own occupational safety agency, relying entirely on the federal OSHA office, which is chronically underfunded and understaffed. Even when violations are reported, investigations can be slow, and penalties often amount to little more than a token fine.
The result is a system where preventable deaths keep happening, and accountability is rare.
What to Do After a Workplace Accident in Texas
A serious injury at work can flip your life upside down in seconds. Whether it happens on a construction site, on an oilfield, or at a plant or refinery, the aftermath is often chaotic. Medical bills begin to pile up. You’re too hurt to work, but the rent and utilities won’t wait. And the company you thought would have your back is already laying the groundwork to protect itself—not you or your family’s future.
If you’ve been seriously hurt on the job in Texas, you must act just as quickly. The steps you take in the hours and days that follow could determine whether you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to or walk away with far less than you need to recover.
Report the Incident Immediately—In Writing if Possible
Even if your injuries seem minor at first, notify your employer as soon as possible. In Texas, failing to report a work injury promptly could jeopardize your right to benefits and potentially allow your employer to dispute that the injury even happened on the job.
Get Medical Attention—From a Doctor You Trust
Don’t wait to see if you “feel better tomorrow.” Go to the emergency room, an urgent care facility, or your primary care physician immediately. While your employer may suggest a preferred provider, you’re not required to see their doctor unless you’re already under a specific workers’ comp plan with a designated network. Delaying care only gives the insurance company more room to argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as they are.
Document Everything While It’s Still Fresh
As soon as you’re physically able, write down exactly what happened. Small details may prove critical later. Save any clothing or equipment involved in the incident and take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and anything else relevant—before things change or disappear.
Understand the Limits of Texas Workers’ Comp
Many workers assume that workers’ comp will cover everything. After a Texas workplace accident, that’s often untrue, as private employers aren’t required to carry workers’ compensation insurance at all. Even if your company does have coverage, it won’t fully replace your wages or cover long-term medical costs, and it won’t include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or other non-economic damages you could recover through a personal injury lawsuit.
Know Your Employer and Their Insurer Are Not on Your Side
Even if your employer seems sympathetic, remember: their priority is protecting their bottom line. That means minimizing your claim, blaming you, or pushing for a quick settlement before you understand the full impact of your injuries. Don’t fall for reassurances that they’ll “take care of everything.”
Avoid Giving Statements or Signing Anything Without Legal Advice
Insurance adjusters often move quickly to obtain a recorded statement or encourage you to sign a release or settlement agreement. Don’t do it. Anything you say can be used against you later. And once you sign something, you could be waiving your right to file a lawsuit—even if your injuries prove to be worse than first thought.
Stay Off Social Media and Be Mindful of What You Say
It’s natural to want to update family and friends, but until your case is resolved, keep all details private, offline, and out of casual conversations. Insurance investigators regularly comb through posts and photos to look for evidence that can be twisted to undermine your claim.
Follow Medical Instructions to the Letter
Make every appointment, follow your treatment plan, and keep records of everything. If you skip appointments or ignore your doctor’s recommendations, the insurance company will argue that you’re not as hurt as you say you are—or that you’re making your condition worse.
Undefeated Texas Work Injury Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 For a Free Consult
Our Houston Work Injury Lawyers have won Billions – including the largest verdicts and settlements in history –for thousands of workers and families in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and across the United States.
If you were seriously injured or tragically lost a loved one to a Texas workplace accident, call 1-888-603-3636, use the “chat” button on our homepage, or click here to send us a confidential email through our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free, and you won’t owe us a dime unless we win your case.