Houston’s heavy industries rely on massive machines, and when those machines fail, lives change forever. Stephen Goldenzweig, a board-certified Houston heavy equipment accident attorney at Goldenzweig Law Group, leads a dedicated team that fights for injured workers across Greater Houston. We have secured millions of dollars for clients hurt by forklifts, cranes, dump trucks, and more.
Our Bellaire office sits minutes from the Galleria and Energy Corridor, letting us reach job-site victims in Downtown, Baytown, Sugar Land, and beyond. Clients praise our compassion and courtroom tenacity. We advance every cost and charge nothing unless we win—so calling (713) 561-5003 is risk-free.
How Our Houston Heavy Equipment Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Heavy-equipment claims are complex, but we make the process straightforward. Houston heavy machinery accident lawyer Stephen Goldenzweig and our investigative team photograph scenes, download equipment data, and preserve OSHA logs before evidence disappears.
We coordinate with safety engineers and reconstructionists to prove each at-fault party—from negligent subcontractors to careless manufacturers. We then calculate every dollar you will need for surgery, rehab, lost earnings, and lifelong care, and we refuse lowball insurance offers. While you heal, our Houston heavy equipment injury attorneys manage deadlines, filings, and negotiations so you can focus on recovery.
What Causes Heavy Equipment Accidents in Houston?
Most heavy-equipment tragedies stem from preventable mistakes. Operator fatigue, miscommunication, or reckless speed can send a 10-ton forklift over a pedestrian’s foot path. Employers that skip training or ignore OSHA rules leave workers guessing at safety procedures.
Defective parts, worn brakes, or missing safety guards often trigger catastrophic failures. Add Houston’s dimly lit petrochemical plants, slick Gulf-coast humidity, and congested freeway work zones, and accidents multiply. When profits outrank safety, disaster strikes.
Common and Uncommon Heavy Equipment Accidents
Common incidents involve forklifts backing over warehouse pickers, cranes dropping loads on refinery decks, dump trucks tipping on Beltway 8 job sites, and excavators collapsing trenches in Cypress subdivisions.
Uncommon—but devastating—events include tower-crane collapses on downtown high-rises, conveyor entanglements in grain terminals, offshore rig hoists snapping in the ship channel, and hydraulic press amputations in steel mills. Our Houston heavy equipment accident attorneys litigate them all, securing justice for life-altering injuries.
Injuries Caused by Heavy Equipment Accidents
Crushing forces can amputate limbs or shatter pelvises in seconds. Falling steel beams cause traumatic brain injuries and paralysis. Sparks from equipment contacting live wires ignite burns and electrocutions. Internal bleeding, organ rupture, and PTSD frequently follow.
These are catastrophic injuries that demand specialized medical care and long-term financial support—support we fight to obtain.
What to Do After a Heavy Equipment Accident
- Get medical help immediately. Hidden internal injuries kill.
- Report the accident in writing to a supervisor and keep a copy.
- Document everything. Photos, videos, damaged parts, witness names—save it all.
- Track expenses and missed work. Your claim’s value depends on documentation.
- Follow medical advice and attend every appointment.
- Speak to a Houston heavy equipment accident lawyer before giving any statement to an insurer.
- Stay silent online. Social posts can be twisted against you.
Compensation & Legal Options
Texas workers’ comp pays medical bills and a fraction of wages, but not pain and suffering. Some employers carry no coverage at all. Houston heavy equipment accident attorney Stephen Goldenzweig pursues third-party lawsuits against negligent contractors, property owners, and equipment makers so clients recover full damages—medical costs, complete wage loss, future earning capacity, disability, anguish, and, when warranted, punitive damages.
Families who lose a loved one may file wrongful-death and survival actions for funeral costs and loss of companionship. The statute of limitations is two years from the accident date—miss it and rights vanish. We file on time, every time, and we work on contingency, so hiring us costs you nothing now.
Where Do Heavy Equipment Accidents Happen in Houston?
Refineries in Baytown and Pasadena, chemical plants in Deer Park, and Port Houston docks all bristle with cranes and forklifts. I-10, I-45, and US-59 construction zones crowd workers beside speeding traffic. High-rise projects in Midtown and the Medical Center swing multi-ton loads above sidewalks.
State data show about 149,700 Texas workplace injuries in a recent year, with construction and manufacturing leading the list. Our Houston heavy machinery accident legal team serves victims from Bellaire to Beaumont and throughout the Lone Star State.
Why You Need a Houston Heavy Equipment Accident Lawyer
Liability webs are dense. Workers’ comp bars most suits against subscribing employers, so success often hinges on identifying every third party. Equipment black-box data, maintenance logs, and metallurgical tests can vanish without prompt legal action.
Insurers deploy adjusters within hours to shift blame and slash payouts. Stephen Goldenzweig, Houston heavy equipment injury lawyer, counters with expert witnesses, detailed damages models, and trial-tested strategies that maximize recovery. We handle the fight; you focus on healing.
“Absolutely thrilled with my experience with Goldenzweig from start to finish, they handled my personal injury case with professionalism, dedication, and a real commitment to getting me the best possible outcome. They fought hard for my settlement, and they made a home run.” – Tony P.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do I have to file a claim?
Texas gives most injured people two years from the accident date to file a personal-injury lawsuit. Workers’ compensation claims have much shorter internal deadlines—injuries must be reported within 30 days, and Form DWC-041 must be filed within one year. Acting fast preserves evidence and keeps every legal option open.
Can I still sue while receiving workers’ compensation benefits?
Yes. Workers’ compensation bars lawsuits against a subscribing employer, but it does not stop you from suing negligent third parties such as equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or property owners. A third-party case lets you recover damages—like pain and suffering—that workers’ comp never pays.
What is my case worth?
Case value depends on the severity of injuries, total medical bills, lost income, future earning capacity, and the personal toll of pain, disability, and emotional stress. Our Houston heavy-equipment accident lawyers work with economists and medical experts to project lifetime costs so you don’t settle short. We also pursue punitive damages when gross negligence is involved.
Will I owe any money up front?
No. We advance every cost—from filing fees to expert-witness invoices—and our fee comes solely from the final settlement or verdict. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Texas follows proportionate-responsibility rules. You can still recover damages if you are 50 percent or less at fault, but your award is reduced by your percentage of blame. Our attorneys gather evidence to minimize any fault assigned to you.
I’m labeled an independent contractor—do I still have rights?
Possibly. Many “independent contractors” are misclassified employees under state or federal law, giving them more protection than employers admit. Even true contractors can file personal-injury suits against negligent companies or property owners.
What evidence should I collect?
Photographs of the scene, damaged machinery, safety-guard failures, and your visible injuries are critical. Keep copies of incident reports, repair logs, training records, medical bills, and any communication with insurers. The more documentation you preserve, the stronger your case.
Could I lose my job for filing a claim?
Retaliating against an injured worker for asserting legal rights is illegal under both Texas law and OSHA regulations. If an employer threatens or fires you, we can add a retaliation claim or file a separate whistle-blower action.
How long will the legal process take?
A straightforward claim may settle in a few months, but cases involving severe injuries, multiple defendants, or disputed liability can take 12–24 months or longer. We push for timely resolutions without compromising on full value.
What happens if the equipment was defective?
Defective machinery shifts liability to the manufacturer, distributor, or maintenance contractor. Product-liability claims often increase potential recovery because they allow punitive damages and aren’t capped like workers’ comp. Our attorneys secure engineering analyses and recall data to prove the defect.
Call for a Free Consultation
Healing comes first—handling insurers and contractors is our job. Dial (713) 561-5003 or visit us at 6575 West Loop South, Suite 420, Bellaire, TX 77401 for a free, 24/7 case review. We never charge a fee unless we win, so your path to justice starts with one conversation.