Construction Accident Death Attorneys | Fatal Houston Worksite Accidents
- Attorney Niles J. Sneed
- 6 days ago
- 11 min read
Nothing more devastating than losing someone you love in while they were hard at work for their employer, especially when its caused by another party's reckless or negligent actions. At Sneed & Mitchell LLP, we handle the more notable, challenging, and emotional wrongful death cases in Harris County. Spouses who lost their life partners. People who have lost family members. Each time we take on a case like we know our clients needs our power, resources, and experience to force accountability for the loss. The emotion is high, the stakes are higher, and we're ready to champion for our clients.
When you look at our record of success, you'll see that no other law firm in Houston, Texas has accomplished what we have. That's because we're committed our each client and take on less cases to focus on yours.
The best advice we can give you if your loved one died in a refinery, warehouse, or construction area is to call Sneed & Mitchell. Our Houston Construction Death Attorneys have decades of experience and will regularly help families and loves ones by filing wrongful death claims and survivorship actions. We understand what you are going through. When negligent companies are responsible for the loss of life and refuse to accept responsibility, we are more than prepared to advocate on your behalf in a court of law where our attorneys are undefeated.
Protecting Your Family’s Future After a Fatal Construction Accident
Construction site fatalities are unique and devastating in their own way. The daunting reality for a surviving spouse, child, or parent on livelihood has been taken from them by a company that cut corners on safety or ignored known safety risks and the weight of the loss representing the safety company actively avoided with its fatal actions.
At Sneed & Mitchell LLP, we’re known throughout Texas as leaders in help families seek justice in complicated fatal accident cases. What We Have Accomplished:
More than $100,000,000 recovered on behalf of clients
Multiple Top Verdict Awards in Texas
8-figure recoveries in wrongful death cases
Great success against Fortune 100 and Fortune 200 construction and energy companies
Nationally recognized by Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, and many more
Our undefeated trial team led by award-winning attorneys Niles Sneed and Brittany Mitchell. If your loved one died as a result of a construction site accident, please give us a call at (713) 800-6676 to speak with an attorney skilled in handling fatalities that occur on construction site. We will fight to make sure you and your family will be taken care of today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Recent Wrongful Death Claims We've Handled
When you lose someone you love, Sneed & Mitchell is the wrongful death law firm to call. Our team is comprised of some of the most skilled and talented trial lawyers in Harris County and handles cases from coast to coast, and are known for our results in wrongful death lawsuits.
Some of our recent wrongful death cases include the following:
Case filed for Family of an Offshore Worker Killed in a Ship Crash
Representing the Family of an Man That Died In An Unventilated Warehouse
Case Filed for the Widow of a Man Killed While Working At a Local Venue
Representing the Family of a Child Killed in a Trucking Accident
Representing a Family of a Man and Women Killed in a Construction Zone
We handle the newsworthy cases and fight aggressively to unsure your family is given the best chance at an award-winning recovery. Let our experience be your greatest asset against the company responsible for your loss.
Reach a wrongful death attorneys in Texas at 713-800-6676 or by sending us a message online.
Do You Need To Hire A Wrongful Death Lawyer?
Houston’s steadily growing population, industrial focus, and energy sector make our city a hotbed of catastrophic injuries and fatal accidents. Chemical plants are common, loading docks line the Ship Channel; and I‑45 and I‑10 are ranked among the most dangerous highway in America and have often have 20,000‑pound 19 wheeler and tankers involved in serious accidents.
Each sector brings its own set of fatal hazards:
Manufacturing: Houston is a significant manufacturing sector that includes advanced energy and petrochemical industries. Workers in this sector often operate high-powered machinery, handle volatile chemicals, and work in environments carrying out inherently dangerous activities.
Plant Explosions: Area such as Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, and Channelview host many industrial operations and process or store flammable chemicals, such as ethylene, benzene, hydrogen, and ammonia. A small equipment failure or overheating pump can cause an entire complex to go up in flames and cause numerous fatalities
Heavy Truck Crashes: The city's overcrowded highways and constant commercial traffic make Houston a hub for devastating underride and override accidents. These crashes are often caused by exhausted drivers, poor training, or companies cutting corners on safety.
Maritime & Offshore Incidents: Houston’s busy ship channel and intercoastal waterway see constant movement from container ships, tugs, dredges, and crew boats transporting seaman to offshore rigs. In these high-risk conditions, a single act of negligence or unseaworthiness can quickly escalate a standard operation into a deadly accident.
Construction Falls & Crane Collapses: With our downtown skyline and city landscape constantly expanding, construction sites operate at a relentless pace. When contractors overlook safety protocols or push deadlines too aggressively, it puts both workers and nearby pedestrians at serious risk of fatal falls, crane failures, and structural collapses.
Wrongful death law suits in the Greater Houston are generally filed in Harris County district courts, a place known for educated juries and complex trial dockets. Defendant act to quickly remove cases to federal court if diversity, interstate commerce, or admiralty law is present within the facts. Either venue requires rigorous preparation and attorneys with skills and unlimited resources. Every defendant related to a construction site death will retain a large law with and teams of lawyers, investigation units, engineers, and even medial specialists within hours of an incident.
Companies will fight hard to sway liability, blame the deceased, and spin stories all in an effort to protect their reputations and insurance policies. A seasoned Houston construction site death attorney counters that tactics with immediate evidence preservation requests, site investigations, expert witnesses, and a record of success that forces the defendant to second guess destroying key evidence.
How Construction Site Incidents Happen Here In Houston, Texas
The leading causes of the workplace deaths were falls from elevation, struck‑by vehicle incidents, and caught‑in or between heavy objects, echoing national CIOF “Focus Four” trends. The high rate of accidents highlights the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols, stricter enforcement by OSHA, and better training across Texas construction sites. The following information provides more insight on how victims lose their lives so often here in Houston.
Falls from Elevation
The leading cause of construction fatalities are falls from roofs, scaffolds, or ladders. Many falls from heights occur due to a lack of installation of safety rails or harnesses or a lack of fall protection systems implemented by the employer. Falls are some of the most preventable deaths on construction sites.
Electrocutions
Live wires, failure to ground tools, and failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures cause dozens of deaths each year. Fatal electrocutions often include subcontractors working for negligent general contractors without any experience or training, without any protective equipment.
Crush and Pinch Injuries
In addition to fall injuries, workers are often pinned between machines, crushed by falling walls, or suffocated in trench collapses because they failed to take proper shoring actions and because faulty heavy equipment operators are often distracted.
Struck-By Accidents
It is often fatal when workers are struck by falling materials or equipment and machinery are moving at work. All struck-by injuries are largely preventable with appropriate supervision, signage, safety protocols, and procedures, all of which are regularly ignored by negligent employers.
Fire and Explosions
Examples of some of the most egregious violations of safety standards, and responsible care, in construction can all be found under explosions and fire due to improper chemical storage, unsecured gas lines, and unsafe electrical maintenance that might lead to fires. Fire and explosions encompass some of the most terrible fatal accidents in the construction hazard category.
No matter how your loved one was harmed, share the story with a trial attorney now by calling 713-800-6676, or leave us a message online and we'll contact you immedaitly.
Construction Site Death Statistics Here in Texas
Among all industries, the construction industry is the most dangerous in America, and Texas has had more fatalities than any other state. In 2023, according to the U.S. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 142 workers lost their lives in construction accidents throughout Texas, the highest in the nation. Nearly a quarter of those fatalities were in Harris County, Houston's robust construction industry accounted for most of the deaths that happened.
Who Can File A Wrongful Death Case in Texas?
The following family members can file a wrongful death case and assert claims as the plaintiff:
Spouse (includes common-law spouse)
Children (biological or adoptive)
Parents (biological or adoptive)
These individuals can sue together or on their own. If you lost a long-term partner to who you were not married to, unfortunately Texas law does not allow you to file a claim. However, an unmarried parent can file wrongful death claims on behalf of any children of their parent, which is critical for providing for their economic future. For any questions regarding your specific options, call us today for a free and completely confidential case evaluation.
What is a Survival Action?
A survival action is a procedural count for a case by the estate of the deceased person to recover damages that the deceased would have otherwise been entitled to, if he or she had lived. Damages under survival actions include:
Medical bills accrued before death
Physical pain and suffering before passing
Mental anguish and distress
Lost income between injury and death
Funeral and burial expenses
If the family is to pursue a survival action, the family must first open an estate through the probate court. Our firm assists families through this process, from filing an application to be appointed administrator, to providing the estate with Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration that will allow the estate to bring a claim on behalf of the deceased.
Monetary Damages in Construction Wrongful Death Cases
Texas law allows families to recover both economic, and non-economic damages, including,
Economic Damages:
Lost Support and Loss of Income
Loss of Inheritance
Funeral and Burial Expenses
Value of Household Services
Non-Economic Damages
Emotional Trauma and Mental Anguish
Loss of Consortium
Loss of Parental Guidance
Loss of Intimacy and Support
In some sitautions exemplary Damages, or "punitive" damages can be awarded if gross negligence is established. This monetary award is designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar unsafe practices in the future. Generally, attorneys are able to secure this additional form of compensation in cases involving large companies and more popular entities.
Legal Theories that We Rely Upon to Recover in Construction Death Cases
At Sneed & Mitchell LLP, we use a range of legal theories to hold negligent companies accountable and build a tailored legal strategy designed to uncover every avenue of liability and maximize recovery for your family. Below are the primary legal grounds we use to secure justice in these tragic and preventable cases.
Negligence
A claim for negligence may arise if a party acted unreasonably or was simply unsafe by not complying with various workplace safety laws. Such as inadequate training, unwarranted supervision, or failure to follow OSHA rules and regulations.
Gross Negligence
If someone used gross negligence, it indicates that they either knew of a life-threatening danger and failed to do anything about it or displayed a conscious disregard or indifference for safety. The existence of gross negligence opens the door for punitive damages.
Strict Liability for Dangerous Activities:
Certain types of construction work, like demolition and hazardous materials, are considered to be inherently dangerous. When dealing with inherently dangerous work, a company may be subject to strict liability, meaning we do not need to prove fault.
Product Liability
If there is injury or death caused by a defect in the use of a particular piece of equipment, or safety gear, we can pursue claims against the manufacturer, supplier and seller, including under strict liability due to design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to properly warn.
Third-Party Responsibility
If an entity besides the employer is responsible for the death, a subcontractor, equipment supplier, or property owner, we will pursue a third-party claim as well in order to maximize your recoveries.
Non-Subscriber Employers – Deaths in Construction
Texas is one of the only states that allows an employer to opt out of the state worker's compensation program. A non-subscriber can be sued based on any amount of fault. In construction death cases, the employer's fault is often negligence surrounding:
Not providing PPE
Not addressing safety complaints
Cutting corners to meet deadlines
Hiring unqualified laborers
Our Houston Non-Subscriber Work Injury Lawyers are nationally known for obtaining large jury verdicts in these complicated cases.
Taking the first steps by allowing our Houston wrongful death lawyers to build the strongest possible case while you focus on your loved one’s memory.
Filing The Estate Claim To Protect Your Family's Rights
At Sneed & Mitchell LLP, we assist families with the critical and sometimes overlooked process of opening an estate in probate court. Whether or not the deceased had a will, our attorneys take swift and strategic action to ensure the estate is properly established.
The actions we quickly engage in to protect your rights involve:
Filing to have a personal representative (this is an executor or an administrator) formally appointed by the court
Providing proper notice to all heirs, beneficiaries, and all interested parties
Securing the legal authority necessary to asset a survival action on behalf of the estate
These essential step in probate protect the decedent’s legal rights and ensure that any claims that need to be asserted can still be pursued on behalf of the accident victim. Our wrongful death lawyers handle this process with utmost care and precision so that your family can focus on healing.
How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death or Survival Action?
Here in Texas, the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death or survival action is two years from the date of the person’s death. When people don't meet this deadline, the potential claims are unfortunately nulliafiedand you can no longer to pursue justice and compensation. But, some exceptions exist that can extend out the deadline, such as when the surviving family member is a minor or if the at-fault company worked to conceal the true cause of your loved one's passing.
To protect your legal rights and preserve key evidence, it’s critical to speak with an experienced attorney with Sneed & Mitchell as soon as possible. Call our office today for a consultation free of charge to ensure your case is filed before and timelines are exceeded.
Contingency Fee Representation, No Upfront Fees
At Sneed & Mitchell LLP, we represent families in construction fatality and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t owe us a dime unless we recover compensation for you. We also advance all the costs needed to build your case, including:
Hiring accident reconstruction specialists
Bringing in safety and OSHA experts
Consulting with top medical professionals
Covering all filing fees and court expenses
Our goal is to take the financial burden off your family so you can focus on healing, not legal bills. We’re here to fight for justice, and you don’t pay unless we deliver results.
Why Families Retain Sneed & Mitchell LLP After a Construction Death
When a family decides to take legal action after the loss of a loved one, they need a trial team they can trust with the most personal and painful details of their story. Across Houston, Harris County, and throughout Texas, families turn to Sneed & Mitchell LLP to handle wrongful death litigation because:
We’ve never lost a case at trial
Our attorneys are nationally recognized and respected in the courtroom
We bring in top-tier experts in safety, OSHA regulations, and engineering
We offer both in-person and virtual consultations for your convenience
You can hire us straight from your phone, no office visit required
Our consultations are always free and fully confidential
We have Spanish-speaking attorneys ready to assist when needed
If your loved on died while working on a contruction site, call 713-800-6676 today. Our Fatal Accident and Injury Lawyers regularly represent familes in wrongful death and survival actions and can help secure maximum compensation in these complex cases. At Sneed & Mitchell LLP, we don’t just help, we stand up for you and work tirelessly for your greatest possible recovery.
Talk to a Houston Construction Accident Death Attorney Now
If you are mourning the loss of a loved one who dies following a construction accident then Sneed & Mitchell LLP can help. Let our firm guide you and your family through this difficult and challenging time, hold accountable all parties relative, and help your family obtain justice and the meaningful financial future your loved one envisioned for you.
Our Construction Death Attorneys are aggressive in the courtroom, compassionate with our clients, and relentless in our pursuit of justice. If you’re ready to talk, call us now at (713)800-6676. The consultation is free and completely confidential. Let’s take the first step forward unified.
We also provide spanish legal services to our clients and their loved ones: Nuestros abogados hablan español y pueden ayudarle con cada parte de su caso.
