Trench Collapse Injury Lawyers: Personal Injury Lawyers

Have you or a loved one been injured in a trench collapse in Texas? Our Law Office is here to help.

Every year, thousands of miles of trenches are dug in the United States. Trenches are used to install utilities, bury cables, and pour foundations. When done improperly, excavation and trenching expose employees to an extreme degree of unnecessary risk, including serious traumatic injury and wrongful death.

The greatest risk posed to employees while performing an excavation is the collapse of a trench or a cave-in. A trench collapse often results in catastrophic injuries including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, asphyxiation, crush injuries, drowning, and death. OSHA recommended trench protective systems and regulations personal injury attorneys

OSHA recommends the use of three separate types of protective systems for trenches, including sloping, shoring, and shielding. Sloping refers to how the trench wall is cut. Cutting the trench wall at an inclined angle away from the excavation will offer a degree of safety to workers inside the trench. Shoring refers to installing hydraulic or aluminum supports in the trench to prevent the movement of soil on the sides of the trench. Shielding refers to the use of a trench box or similar device to prevent soil from caving in.

As a result of the danger associated with trench collapses, OSHA has promulgated a number of regulations concerning the construction and protection required for trenches. OSHA regulations require that trenches five feet deep or greater have a protective system in place. Trenches that are deeper than twenty-five feet deep require that the protective system be designed by an engineer. OSHA Standards require that a competent person inspect a trench on a daily basis prior to use by workers. OSHA also recommends keeping heavy equipment at least two feet away from the edge of a trench and to provide ladders or stairs for access to all trenched greater than four feet deep.

Your employer owes their employees a duty to keep the workplace reasonably safe. This includes ensuring that all applicable OSHA rules and regulations are being followed, and ensuring that you are properly trained and equipped to perform your job duties. If you or a loved one has been involved in a trench or excavation accident, contact our Law Office for a free consultation. A wrongful death suit attorney at our Law Office will explain the law, your rights, and the legal process.

Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Trucking Accidents. On the Job Injuries. Wrongful Death. Construction Accidents, Boating Accidents, Premises Liability. Contact Us

Where do I start? Immediately following the accident:

Seek medical attention. Contact your family doctor or, if you don’t have one, go to a walk-in clinic or hospital to have your injuries assessed. Follow their treatment recommendations, including any necessary medications, follow-up visits, or treatment by specialists or physiotherapists.
Take pictures of your injuries as soon as possible and document their progression and/or effects. You should also take pictures of the scene of the accident including, for example, the area where you slipped, the cars involved in a collision, the faulty equipment that caused the injury, and so on.

Promptly notify your work and their disability insurance company if you are unable to return to work.
Keep any relevant items from the accident, including faulty equipment or products or the shoes you were wearing during a slip. Take pictures of these items (such as the tread on the shoes or boots) and do not use them anymore.
Make a list of the names and contact information of any witnesses or other relevant parties, employees that were present, people that assisted you or anyone else who may have information about the events.
Otherwise, please contact us immediately to have your claim reviewed by a personal injury lawyer to assess your case and ensure that no important steps or information have been missed.

Are there time limitations?
In general, a claimant has 2 years from the date of the accident to bring a claim against the responsible party or parties. It is best to act quickly following an accident, especially while details are still fresh and can be documented more easily.

Speak with your injury attorney promptly to have your case assessed. Even if it has been more than two years, you may still be able to sue for pain and suffering but this should be discussed with your lawyer immediately.

What can I sue for?
Here are some of the various damages you can sue for in a personal injury claim:

You should also note that you may have a claim against the responsible party for medical expenses provided to you as a result of your injury.

How much is my claim worth?
There are several factors that can influence the value of a claim, so it is difficult to provide an amount without reviewing it first. Factors such as the cause of the injury, the extent and nature of your injury, as well as the impact it has on your daily life, and your ability to work must all be considered.

Once all the relevant information and medical files have been reviewed, a personal injury lawyer will be better able to assess the value of your claim. This is done by reviewing similar cases, and the settlements reached or decisions made by courts, as well as the extensive case law available.

How long will it take to get a settlement and will there be a trial?
Although a claim can settle at any point, there are a number of considerations before a settlement is likely to be reached. Properly assessing the extent of your injuries and the impact they have on your current and future life and your ability to work can take time. This is to ensure the full impact of the injury can be documented in order to maximize the settlement value.

This process will often take between 12 and 18 months and will allow your personal injury attorney to properly assess your situation and your claim. Your lawyer will work with you to establish settlement instructions and will consult with you before any settlement offers are made or accepted.

Although it can take up to 4 years for a personal injury case to proceed to court and receive a verdict, as much as 98% of cases reach a settlement before ever going to trial. In most cases, the matter is settled via direct negotiations with the defendant’s lawyer or through private mediation. This is when a lawyer and a representative of the insurance company attempt to reach a settlement with the claimant’s lawyer with the assistance of a private mediator.

Although every personal injury case is different, the full effect and extent of your injuries must be known in order to reach a fair settlement, so it can take between 2 or 3 years on average to reach a settlement. After reviewing your file, your lawyer should be able to provide you with a clearer estimate on the expected progression of your case.

What are a personal injury lawyer’s fees?
You will never have to pay any fees until a settlement is reached. These fees are calculated based on a contingency arrangement, meaning you would pay a percentage of the settlement you receive.

At your first meeting with your injury lawyer, you will be provided with a full overview of the fee arrangement as well as a written fee agreement so you will know exactly what you would be paying if and when a settlement is reached.

Disclaimer: This blog is strictly informational. No intent to render a legal opinion or giving legal advice is intended.

Are you looking for a Car Accident Lawyer?

Many people feel that they should not fight after having an accident, and only take care of things through their insurance coverage. In many cases, however, a car accident lawyer becomes necessary to help you achieve what you deserve. First of all, your requirement for an accident lawyer depends on the severity of the accident and any consequential injuries. If you have been injured in a car accident, then the best Car Accident Lawyer can help you get the agreement for which you are eligible.

You should never accept a settlement proposal without consultation with the lawyer. You need a professional car accident lawyer to help you get compensation. Many of these lawyers do not require payment until you successfully negotiate a settlement. Many victims of negligent drivers, avoid going after what they deserve because they do not want to get caught in the long process, but an accident lawyer can easily do everything.

When a victim is questioned on an accident, car accident lawyers are often involved. While many accidents are in clear cases, in some, it is difficult to determine who is guilty. Whether the accident is major or minor, the insurers will investigate before paying for damages or injuries. The types of car accidents vary widely, which can often be difficult to determine what is actual. If the accident is still being investigated by the police or insurance agents, contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you are in a car accident due to someone else, a skilled accident lawyer can help guide you through this process and get favorable results. More on this webpage

If your insurance company has refused your claim for coverage, but you know that you deserve some compensation for the accident, then you need a lawyer for that. Your lawyer can fight for your case and work with you. Your lawyer helps you to get just compensation. Your lawyer tries to prove that is not your fault and argues on that. The best Car Accident Lawyers are skilled at dealing with insurance companies so that they can make a proper settlement.

At some point in your life, you will probably be involved in some type of car accident. It can be very scary, especially if this is your first time. After the accident, you can feel frightened by repairing your car and recovering from your injuries. If ever you have to face such a terrible situation, then you should know what to do. Contact our office for a free initial consultation.