Aggressive Houston Industrial Accident Lawyers

What is classed as an industrial accident in Texas?

An industrial accident is any workplace injury that occurs in settings involving heavy machinery, hazardous materials, manufacturing processes, or large-scale construction and production operations. Texas is home to one of the largest industrial economies in the nation, with thousands of workers employed in refineries, chemical plants, steel mills, construction sites, and manufacturing facilities across the Houston metropolitan area.

Industrial accidents differ from typical workplace injuries in several important ways. These incidents often involve:

Catastrophic injuries
Multiple victims
Complex chains of liability
Sophisticated equipment failures

The scale of industrial operations means that when something goes wrong, the results can be devastating, and the moving parts mean that they often require expert analysis to fully understand.

What makes industrial accidents legally significant is that they frequently involve negligent third parties beyond your direct employer. Equipment manufacturers who sold defective machinery, subcontractors who cut safety corners, property owners who failed to maintain safe premises, and maintenance companies who botched critical repairs can all be held accountable for the injuries they cause. These third-party claims allow injured workers to pursue full compensation far beyond what limited benefit programs might provide.

Common workplace injuries from heavy machinery and industrial equipment

Industrial accidents produce some of the most severe injuries our attorneys encounter. The massive forces involved in heavy machinery operations, combined with the presence of hazardous materials and extreme temperatures, mean that even a momentary lapse in safety — whether by a negligent third party, a reckless employer, or a defective piece of equipment — can result in life-altering trauma.

The injuries our industrial accident lawyers in Houston see most frequently include the following:

Injury type	Common causes	Potential consequences
Traumatic amputations	Caught in machinery, crush injuries, cutting equipment	Permanent disability, prosthetics, career-ending limitations
Severe burns	Chemical exposure, explosions, electrical arc flash, steam	Extensive skin grafts, chronic pain, disfigurement
Traumatic brain injuries	Falls from heights, struck by objects, explosions	Cognitive impairment, personality changes, permanent disability
Spinal cord injuries	Falls, crush injuries, equipment rollovers	Paralysis, loss of mobility, lifetime medical care
Toxic exposure	Chemical leaks, inadequate ventilation, improper PPE	Respiratory damage, cancer, organ failure
Crush injuries	Heavy equipment accidents, structural collapses	Internal organ damage, compartment syndrome, amputation
Electrocution	Faulty wiring, contact with power lines, arc flash	Cardiac damage, severe burns, neurological damage
Hearing and vision loss	Explosions, chemical splashes, prolonged noise exposure	Permanent sensory impairment, reduced quality of life

These injuries don't just affect your ability to work — they can impact every aspect of your life. The medical bills pile up, the rehabilitation stretches on for months or years, and the emotional toll on you and your family can be overwhelming. Meanwhile, the companies whose negligence caused your suffering are already working to limit what they'll pay you.

How much can I sue for a workplace injury in Houston?

This is the question every injured worker wants answered, and the honest answer is: it depends. The value of your industrial accident case is determined by a complex calculation that accounts for the severity of your injuries, the extent of your financial losses, the degree of negligence involved, and the long-term impact on your life and earning capacity.

If your employer carries workers’ compensation and there is no third-party liability or gross negligence involved, your recovery will likely be capped by workers’ compensation. If your company is a non-subscriber, was grossly negligent, or a third party was involved in your claim, that’s a different story.

Personal injury lawsuits against negligent third parties and non-subscriber employers allow you to pursue the full scope of your damages. In Texas, there is no statutory cap on economic damages in most personal injury cases, meaning you can recover every dollar of your medical bills, lost wages, and future earning capacity.

Factors that influence the value of your industrial accident claim include:

Severity and permanence of injuries
Current and future medical expenses
Lost wages and earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Degree of defendant negligence
Multiple liable parties

Our industrial accident attorneys have secured policy-limit settlements for our clients in under three months — because when the insurance companies know they're facing a trial-ready firm, they pay what they owe.

Workers’ compensation benefits vs. personal injury cases in Texas

Employers in Texas protect themselves with workers’ compensation policies. If you were hurt on the job and your employer carries workers’ compensation, there’s a good chance your recovery will be limited and you will not be able to pursue a personal injury claim.

But an important thing to know about industrial accident cases is that your direct employer is often not the only party responsible for your injuries. Texas industrial sites are chaotic environments with multiple companies, contractors, and equipment suppliers all playing a role. When an accident occurs due to negligence, any party whose carelessness contributed to your injury can be held accountable.

There are three major types of personal injury claims that come from industrial accidents:

Third-party liability claims

These claims target parties other than your direct employer who bear responsibility for your accident. Third-party defendants commonly include equipment manufacturers who designed or sold defective machinery, general contractors who failed to maintain safe site conditions, subcontractors whose negligent work created hazards, property owners who knew about dangerous conditions and did nothing, and maintenance companies whose shoddy work led to equipment failures. Third-party claims allow you to pursue full compensation — including pain and suffering — that might otherwise be unavailable.

Non-subscriber employer claims

Texas is unique: it's the only state that doesn't require employers to carry workers' compensation insurance. Many Texas employers, including some major industrial operations, have opted out of the workers' comp system entirely. These "non-subscriber" employers lose their legal protections when their workers are injured. You can sue them directly for negligence, and they cannot hide behind defenses like contributory negligence or assumption of risk. Non-subscriber lawsuits frequently result in substantially larger recoveries because you're entitled to the full range of damages, including pain and suffering.

Gross negligence claims

When a company's conduct goes beyond ordinary negligence into willful or grossly negligent territory, Texas law allows injured workers to pursue punitive damages. Gross negligence exists when a defendant knew their actions created an extreme risk of harm and proceeded anyway with conscious indifference to your safety. Examples include companies that disable safety equipment to speed production, employers who ignore repeated warnings about dangerous conditions, and contractors who knowingly use defective materials. Punitive damages are designed to punish this outrageous conduct and send a message that cutting corners on safety will cost far more than doing things right.

These types of work injury claims create opportunities that inexperienced lawyers miss. At Thiessen Law Firm, we analyze every angle to identify all potentially liable parties and maximize the compensation available to our clients.

Is it worth getting a lawyer after an accident?

Let us be direct: if you've suffered a serious industrial injury, trying to handle your claim without an experienced attorney is like showing up to a gunfight with a pocket knife. The companies you'll be facing have unlimited resources, dedicated legal teams, and decades of experience minimizing what they pay injured workers.

There are a few reasons why you need an attorney after an accident:

The moment an industrial accident occurs, the company's insurance adjusters and defense attorneys swing into action. They're building their defense while you're still in the hospital bed.
Without a lawyer, you won't know what your claim is actually worth, you won't have access to the experts needed to prove negligence, and you won't have the leverage that comes from credible trial capability.
The insurance companies aren't your friends, and their adjusters aren't there to help you. Their job is to close your claim for as little money as possible. Every statement you make, every document you sign, every deadline you miss becomes a weapon they can use against you.

This is why the call to an experienced industrial accident lawyer should come before you speak with any insurance representative. The consultation is free, and the insight you gain could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How our industrial accident attorneys in Houston protect injured workers

At Thiessen Law Firm, we approach industrial accident cases with the same aggressive, trial-focused mentality that has made us one of Houston's most feared litigation firms. We don't just file paperwork and wait for settlement offers — we build cases designed to win at trial, because that's what forces the giants to take our clients seriously.

Our process begins with a comprehensive investigation.
We deploy our network of experts — including accident reconstructionists, industrial safety engineers, medical specialists, and vocational economists — to examine every aspect of your case. We secure and preserve important evidence before it can be altered or destroyed. We identify every potentially liable party, from equipment manufacturers to subcontractors to property owners, and we dig deep to uncover evidence of gross negligence that can support punitive damages.

Then we fight.
We negotiate from a position of strength because the defense knows we're not afraid to take their clients to verdict. Our track record speaks for itself: when Thiessen Law Firm demands policy limits, insurance companies pay — because they know what happens if they don't.

What sets us apart?
We’re different from other personal injury firms because of our unique combination of trial experience and insider knowledge. Our team spent years working for the insurance companies, learning exactly how they evaluate claims and decide what to pay. Now we use that knowledge against them, anticipating their tactics and countering their strategies before they can deploy them.

Economic and non-economic damages in industrial accident cases

Texas law allows injured workers to pursue both economic and non-economic damages in personal injury cases against negligent third parties and non-subscriber employers. Most injury victims have no idea how large the full scope of what they may be entitled to recover really is — and how that compensation goes far beyond what limited benefit programs like workers’ compensation provide.

Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses resulting from your injury. Because they can be calculated with relative precision, economic damages often form the foundation of your claim.

Economic damages in industrial accident cases typically include things like:

Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization
Surgical procedures and follow-up care
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Prescription medications and medical equipment
Home modifications for disability accommodation
Lost wages during recovery
Lost future earning capacity if you cannot return to your previous occupation

Non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for the intangible impacts of your injury — the aspects of your suffering that can't be captured on a receipt. While harder to quantify, non-economic damages often make up a substantial portion of the total recovery in serious injury cases. Unlike limited benefit programs, personal injury claims allow full recovery for life-altering harm.

Non-economic damages may include:

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress and mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life
Disfigurement and scarring
Loss of consortium (impact on spousal relationship)
Permanent disability and its psychological impact

Cases involving gross negligence may include punitive damages. These damages go beyond compensating you for your losses; they're designed to punish egregious conduct and deter similar behavior. Punitive damage awards can be substantial, sometimes exceeding compensatory damages, particularly when companies knowingly endanger workers to save money.

Our attorneys work with medical experts, economists, and life care planners to document the full extent of your damages. We build comprehensive demand packages that leave no category of harm unaddressed.

When work injuries result in wrongful death claims

The worst industrial accidents don't just injure workers — they end their lives completely. When a family loses a loved one to an industrial accident caused by negligence, the grief is compounded by sudden financial hardship and the knowledge that someone's recklessness or indifference caused this tragedy.

Texas wrongful death laws allow certain family members (usually surviving spouses, children, and parents of the deceased worker) to pursue compensation when a worker is killed due to another party's negligence or gross negligence. These claims can recover damages for:

Loss of financial support that the deceased would have provided
Loss of services, care, and household contributions
Loss of companionship, love, and emotional support
Mental anguish suffered by surviving family members
Funeral and burial expenses

Additionally, the estate of the deceased worker may pursue a survival action to recover damages the worker would have been entitled to had they survived, including pain and suffering experienced before death, medical expenses, and lost wages.

Wrongful death cases require compassionate yet aggressive representation. While you're grieving, the companies responsible for your loved one's death are working to minimize their exposure. At Thiessen Law Firm, we handle wrongful death claims with the sensitivity your family deserves and the ferocity the situation demands.

How insurance companies fight to minimize your injury case

Whether you were involved in a car accident, a truck accident, or a plant explosion, the insurance companies will fight to keep you from what you deserve. They have playbooks for every type of accident claim, and their adjusters are trained to deploy these tactics systematically.

Tactic: The quick settlement

What it is: Shortly after your accident, an adjuster may contact you with what seems like a generous settlement offer. Don't be fooled. These early offers are calculated to close your claim before you understand its true value — often for a fraction of what you deserve, and always before you've identified all liable parties.

How we fight it: We immediately advise clients to refuse early offers and refer all communication to our office. Our team evaluates your claim's true value — including future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and all liable parties — before any settlement discussions begin. We don't let insurance companies rush you into a bad deal.

Tactic: Recorded statements

What it is: Adjusters will ask you to provide a recorded statement "just to help process your claim." In reality, they're fishing for inconsistencies they can use to discredit your account or establish that you were partially at fault.

How we fight it: We handle all communication with insurance companies on your behalf. If a recorded statement becomes necessary, we prepare you thoroughly beforehand and are present during the interview to protect you from misleading questions and bad-faith tactics designed to twist your words.

Tactic: Medical record fishing

What it is: Insurance companies will request broad authorizations to access your medical history, then comb through years of records looking for pre-existing conditions they can blame for your current symptoms.

How we fight it: We never allow clients to sign blanket medical authorizations. Instead, we provide only the records directly relevant to your injury and aggressively challenge any attempts to introduce unrelated medical history. When insurers try to blame pre-existing conditions, our medical experts establish clear causation between the accident and your current injuries.

Tactic: Shifting blame

What it is: In industrial accident cases, defendants routinely point fingers at each other — and at you. The equipment manufacturer blames the maintenance company. The contractor blames the property owner. Everyone blames the injured worker for not being careful enough.

How we fight it: We sue every potentially liable party and let them fight amongst themselves over who pays what share. Our investigation identifies all responsible parties from day one, and we build airtight cases establishing each defendant's negligence. When they try to blame you, we present evidence showing the accident resulted from their failures — not yours.

Tactic: Delay, delay, delay

What it is: By dragging out the claims process, insurance companies hope you'll become desperate enough to accept a lowball offer just to end the ordeal.

How we fight it: We set aggressive litigation timelines and hold defendants to them. We file motions to compel when discovery responses are late, and we push for early trial settings. Most importantly, we keep clients informed throughout the process so you understand that patience pays off — and that we're fighting every day to move your case forward.

We know these tactics intimately because our team members helped write the book — but now they anticipate every move the insurance company will make and position our clients to counter effectively.

Injured? The Houston industrial accident lawyers at Thiessen Law Firm can protect you from the giants.

The day of your industrial accident, corporations are already working against you. They’re working to minimize what they pay before business has even closed for the day, and they have vast resources at their disposal.

You need advocates who can match their firepower. At Thiessen Law Firm, we've built our reputation by taking on the biggest corporations and their insurance companies and making them pay what our clients deserve. Our combination of trial experience, insider knowledge, and relentless advocacy has produced results that speak for themselves.

Whether you need an attorney for an industrial accident, a Houston Uber accident lawyer, or a motorcycle accident attorney, we bring the same fight to every personal injury accident case we take on.

Don't let the giants push you around. Call Thiessen Law Firm at (713) 864-9000 or contact us online today to start fighting back.

Houston Industrial Accident Lawyers Who Fight Giants

Aggressive Houston industrial accident lawyers