Houston’s busy construction boom means excavation work happens every day across I-10, the Ship Channel, and countless neighborhood developments. Excavation sites are dangerous, and trench collapses kill about 25 U.S. workers every year while roughly 100 construction workers lose their lives annually in Harris County alone.

Our Bellaire-based firm understands these stakes. Houston excavation accident lawyer Stephen Goldenzweig and our legal team devote our practice to helping severely injured workers rebuild their lives. We investigate insurance challenges and pursue every dollar of compensation so you can focus on healing. Call (713) 561-5003 for a free case review. We handle the legal aspects while you recover.

  • We have decades of combined courtroom and negotiation experience in catastrophic construction-injury cases.
  • Our office on West Loop South allows us to serve clients from Katy to Baytown, the Galleria to the Medical Center.
  • Excavation accidents involve man-made cuts, trenches, or utility digs that expose workers to cave-ins, toxic gases, and heavy equipment hazards. Cave-ins alone account for two-thirds of all excavation deaths, underscoring the need for strong legal representation.

How an Excavation Accident Lawyer Helps

Legal guidance after a trench accident is vital. Stephen Goldenzweig, a Bellaire trench-collapse attorney, quickly secures site plans, OSHA reports, and witness statements, then consults engineers who can explain why walls failed or machinery malfunctioned.

We manage every conversation with insurers and employers, calculate full losses, and prepare for trial if necessary. Our mission is simple: recover payment for medical bills, lost wages, and pain so injured Texans never face powerful insurance companies alone.

What Is an Excavation Accident?

An excavation accident occurs when a worker is hurt in any man-made cavity. OSHA defines an excavation as a cut or depression in the earth and a trench as a narrow excavation deeper than it is wide. Typical scenarios include digging for pipelines, telecom lines, or building foundations. Because Houston’s soil can be water-logged and sandy, trench walls may become unstable without strict protective systems.

Causes of Excavation Accidents in Houston

Unsafe job sites cause most trench injuries.

  • Lack of protective systems: OSHA data show trench shields or shoring were absent in 76 % of fatal incidents.
  • Utility strikes: Contact with buried gas or electric lines can trigger explosions or electrocution.
  • Oxygen deficiency or toxic gases: Deep holes trap exhaust or natural gases, causing asphyxiation.
  • Heavy-equipment misuse: Excavators operating near a trench edge add dangerous vibration and weight.
  • Human error: Inadequate training and fatigue increase mistakes on fast-paced Houston sites.
  • Rain-soaked soil: Frequent Gulf Coast storms saturate ground and weaken trench walls.
  • Regulatory violations: Cited Houston builders have ignored OSHA rules, leading to deadly collapses.

Common Excavation Accident Types

  • Cave-ins or trench collapses: Walls give way and bury workers within seconds.
  • Utility-line accidents: Electrocution or explosions from striking live lines.
  • Asphyxiation or drowning: Flooding from a ruptured water main or oxygen-poor air.
  • Falls: Unprotected edges expose workers to sudden drops.
  • Falling objects: Loose soil, tools, or concrete crush workers below.
  • Heavy-equipment incidents: Backhoes and cranes can roll or pin workers close to the trench.

Uncommon but Serious Scenarios

  • Fuel fires or explosions ignite when gasoline vapors accumulate underground.
  • Toxic chemical releases occur when digging disturbs buried waste pits.
  • Adjacent structure collapse sends debris cascading into open cuts.
  • Trench-box or shoring failure caused by defective equipment.
  • Hidden hazards such as abandoned wells or septic tanks create sudden voids. Even rare events justify a thorough legal investigation for third-party liability or product defects.

Injuries Caused by Excavation Accidents

  • Crush trauma and fractures from collapsing walls.
  • Spinal cord or brain injuries with life-altering paralysis.
  • Amputations when limbs are pinned by machinery.
  • Internal organ damage from heavy compression.
  • Burns and electrocution after line strikes.
  • Respiratory harm or poisoning from toxic gases.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from near-burial experiences. These catastrophic injuries can end careers and place lifelong burdens on families.

Liability for Excavation Injuries

Multiple parties may share fault.

  • Employers owe a duty to provide safe workplaces; however, Texas subscribes to a workers’ compensation system that often bars direct lawsuits against subscribing employers.
  • General contractors or site owners who control safety protocols can be liable for ignoring hazards.
  • Subcontractors performing the actual dig may fail to shore walls or follow trench-box guidelines.
  • Equipment manufacturers face responsibility when defective trench shields collapse.
  • Utility companies may have mis-marked lines.
  • Government entities can be liable when city permits or inspections are lax. Because roughly one-third of Texas employers opt out of workers’ compensation, a detailed review of coverage is essential.

Can I Sue My Employer?

Texas workers generally cannot sue subscribing employers because workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy. If an employer is a non-subscriber or acted with gross negligence, litigation becomes possible. Our attorneys check coverage status, investigate negligence, and file suit where the law allows—within the strict two-year statute of limitations.

Can I Sue a Third Party?

Yes. Third-party lawsuits are often available against equipment suppliers, negligent subcontractors, or property owners. These suits allow recovery for pain and suffering, full wage loss, and punitive damages—awards unavailable in workers’ compensation claims.

Compensation You May Recover

  • Workers’ compensation benefits for medical care, partial wage replacement, and disability payments.
  • Personal injury damages in third-party claims, including full lost income, future medical costs, pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and diminished earning capacity.
  • Wrongful-death benefits for funeral expenses, loss of support, and survivor grief.
  • Punitive damages when gross negligence or willful safety violations caused the collapse. We trace every insurance policy and liable party to maximize recovery.

Deadlines for Filing

Time matters. Texas gives injured workers two years to file personal injury lawsuits and just 30 days to report work injuries to employers, with one year to file for workers’ compensation. Evidence fades quickly at active job sites, so our Houston excavation accident legal team urges immediate legal action.

Why Choose Goldenzweig Law Group?

Our credentials set us apart.

  • Experience: Stephen Goldenzweig and the excavation accident attorneys at Goldenzweig Law Group have resolved numerous trench-collapse and construction-injury claims.
  • Local insight: We know Houston judges, juries, and industry practices.
  • Client-first approach: We treat every client like family, guiding them through medical care and financial stress.
  • No fee unless we win: We finance the case; you owe nothing up front.

What to Do After an Excavation Accident

  1. Seek medical attention immediately to protect your health and document injuries.
  2. Report the accident to your employer to preserve workers’ compensation rights.
  3. Preserve evidence: Photograph the trench, save work clothes, and note witnesses.
  4. Call (713) 561-5003 for a free case review. We handle the legal fight while you recover.

Client Testimonials

“A friend referred me to Mr. Goldenzweig and I am so thankful they did. My case with treated with individual attention and I feel like Mr. Goldenzweig truly understood every detail. The outcome of my case was incredible too. But even before it was finalized, I knew that Mr. Goldenzweig led me in the best direction. I tremendously appreciate all the time and attention I was shown.” – Brian T.

“One of the best attorney’s I know – and I’m only one of the attorney’s who has turned to him when they need someone tough and fair to take on a case. From personal experience, you will not go wrong choosing Stephen to handle your case, you can trust him.” – Lauae K.

Attorney Bios

Stephen Goldenzweig is a skilled trial lawyer and a dedicated advocate specializing in personal injury and employment law. At Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, he represents clients in various cases, including vehicle collisions, premises liability, workplace injuries, and wrongful death.

Need Help Today?

Houston excavation accident Attorney Stephen Goldenzweig and our dedicated team are ready to fight for your rights. Contact us now for compassionate counsel and a strong pursuit of the justice you deserve.

Call (713) 561-5003 for a free consultation, and let us manage the legal aspects while you focus on your recovery.