Wrongful Death
North Texas Wrongful Death & Workplace Fatality Lawyer | Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC
Losing a loved one due to a workplace accident is devastating, leaving families with emotional and financial hardships. At Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC, we fight for the families of workers who have lost their lives due to employer negligence or third-party misconduct in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Plano. If your loved one suffered a fatal work-related injury, we are here to help you navigate the wrongful death claims process and seek the compensation you deserve.
Understanding Wrongful Death in Workplace Accidents
Every year, over 5,000 workplace fatalities occur across the U.S., many of them in Texas industries such as construction, manufacturing, transportation, and oil & gas. Common causes of fatal work accidents include:
- Falls from heights
- Electrocution & electrical shock
- Burn injuries & explosions
- Heavy machinery & equipment failures
- Chemical exposure & inhalation
- Head trauma & blunt-force injuries
If an employer or third party failed to follow safety regulations, neglected worker training, or failed to provide protective equipment, they may be held liable for wrongful death. Our legal team at Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC is committed to investigating the cause of workplace fatalities and pursuing justice for grieving families.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?
Under Texas wrongful death law, certain surviving family members have the right to file a claim, including:
✔ Spouses
✔ Children (including legally adopted children)
✔ Parents
A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering. Additionally, in cases of gross negligence, punitive damages may be awarded to hold employers or third parties fully accountable.
Workers’ Compensation
The Texas Workers’ Compensation program is an injured worker compensation program managed under the laws of the State of Texas. Texas is one of few states that does not require employers to carry workers compensation. For that reason, not all Texas employers have work injury insurance under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act. Some employers elect non-subscriber status while others qualify as self-insured employers. Unfortunately, as an injured employee you need to know that there is yet another possibility and that is that the employer does not have any work injury insurance at all. It’s not illegal or against the law to be running a business and not have any work injury insurance but, not having insurance exposes the employer to liability for workplace injuries that result from company negligence. For this reason, most large and established companies do have insurance through Workers’ Compensation or by, electing non-subscriber status and having a policy or work injury benefit plan that covers work injuries. If you suffer a work injury, the first step is to determine if your employer has Texas Workers’ Comp coverage at all and, if not, is there private insurance in place that could provide assistance with medical treatment or lost wages. Workers’ comp claims are not the only type of work injury cases in Texas but it can difficult to assess your case without the assistance of work injury lawyer.
What are the Steps in Opening a Workers’ Compensation Case?
There are certain steps that apply in most work injury scenarios. When you get injured on the job while working for an employer with Workers’ Compensation coverage, you need to make sure you get informed, act quickly and, if you are unable to move your claim along or run into any problems, that you contact an experienced Texas Workers’ Compensation lawyer.
- Report the Incident: If you get injured on the job, the first thing you need to do is report your injury. You do not want to provide any reason for your employer to claim that you were not injured performing your assigned job duties. As long as you report your injury, you should have no issues proving that your injury occurred during the course and scope of your employment.
- Get Medical Attention: If you are injured on the job and you are in pain, you need to make sure you seek medical attention so that your injury can be assessed, and a treatment plan can be provided to you.
- Open the Claim: Once you know the extent of your injury, you will need to contact the right people to get your claim opened with the division of workers compensation. At this point, your wait to see if your employer’s workers compensation insurance has any reasons to deny your claim. Sometimes claims are denied because the insurance claims that at the time of the incident, you were not an “employee” of the specific employer. If your claim is denied, you will want to talk to an experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyer.
- Workers’ Compensation Benefits: Determining what benefits you are entitled to can be difficult. You should know that there are basically the following types of benefits under workers’ compensation: Income benefits (Temporary, impairment, supplemental, lifetime), Medical Benefits, Burial Benefits and Death Benefits. Generally, if your claim is accepted by your employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurance, you will be eligible for reasonable and necessary medical treatment and some income benefits until you recuperate as much as your going to under the care you are receiving (maximum medical improvement).
- Conflicts: Because your benefits are dependent on your injury and the continued need for care, there are times that the insurance may deny your claim because they believe continued medical care is no longer necessary. For this reason, when you hit a wall getting additional medical treatment approved by your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance, it’s crucial that you seek legal advice.
- Maximum Medical Improvement: From the point that a physician has determined that you have recuperated from your injury as much as you are going to (Reached MMI), your benefits are going to change. You will need to be aware that the benefits you may be entitled to will be based on your level of impairment.
Third Party Negligence
Third-Party Work Injury Claims | Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC
Not all workplace injuries are caused by an employer’s negligence. In many cases, a third party—such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or even a private citizen—may be responsible for the accident. If you’ve suffered a work-related injury in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, or Plano, it’s critical to explore all legal options, including third-party negligence claims, to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
What Is a Third-Party Work Injury Claim?
A third-party claim arises when someone other than your employer is responsible for your workplace injury. Common scenarios include:
✔ Negligent Contractors or Subcontractors – If a worker from another company on the job site caused your injury.
✔ Defective Equipment & Tools – If machinery, power tools, or safety gear failed due to a manufacturing defect.
✔ Unsafe Property Conditions – If an injury occurred due to hazardous conditions on a worksite controlled by a third party.
✔ Negligent Drivers – If you were injured in a work-related vehicle accident caused by another driver.
Why Third-Party Claims Matter
Many injured workers assume that workers’ compensation is their only option, but workers’ comp benefits have limits and may not cover all lost wages, medical expenses, or pain and suffering. A third-party lawsuit can provide additional compensation beyond what your employer’s insurance covers, ensuring you have the financial support you need for your recovery.
Holding Negligent Third Parties Accountable
At Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC, we thoroughly investigate workplace injuries to determine whether a third party’s negligence played a role. If so, we fight aggressively to hold them accountable. Even if you’re already receiving workers’ compensation benefits, you may still be entitled to pursue a third-party claim against those responsible.
Construction Injury Workers
As North Texas continues to grow, the demand for construction workers remains high. From building roads and highways to developing residential communities, office buildings, and commercial spaces, construction plays a vital role in the region’s expansion. Unfortunately, with this growth comes increased risks for workplace injuries—especially when safety regulations are ignored, deadlines take priority over worker protection, or faulty equipment is used on job sites.
By nature, construction sites are hazardous. When safety measures are not implemented, enforced, or properly followed, workers face serious risks of injury or even death. Some common causes of construction accidents include:
- Lack of proper safety protocols
- Failure to provide protective equipment
- Unqualified or improperly trained workers
- Faulty or malfunctioning tools and machinery
- Pressure to meet deadlines leading to safety shortcuts
Whether you are working on highway construction, commercial building projects, or residential housing, strict safety regulations must be followed to prevent unnecessary injuries. When employers cut corners or prioritize profits over safety, construction workers pay the price.
Protecting Injured Construction Workers in North Texas
A serious work injury can leave you unable to work, facing mounting medical bills, and worried about your family’s financial future. At Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC, we focus on fighting for injured construction workers and their families in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Plano. We work to hold negligent employers, contractors, and third parties accountable for unsafe work conditions and defective equipment.
If you or a loved one has suffered a construction-related injury, you don’t have to navigate this fight alone. Let us help you secure the compensation you deserve.
How Would you Determine Who Is Responsible for Your Injury?
Dallas | Fort Worth | Arlington | Plano | North Texas
If you’ve been injured on a construction site or other hazardous workplace, determining who is responsible for your injury can be complex. Liability may fall on multiple parties, including your employer, a subcontractor, or a general contractor. In some cases, even the injured worker may bear partial responsibility. That’s why it’s critical to have an experienced work injury attorney who can investigate your case and identify all potential sources of compensation.
Who Could Be Liable for Your Workplace Injury?
- Your Employer – If your employer is a non-subscriber to workers’ compensation, they may be directly liable for unsafe work conditions or failing to provide proper training and equipment.
- A Subcontractor – If a third-party contractor hired by your employer caused your injury, they may be held responsible.
- The General Contractor or Site Owner – If the general contractor in charge of the site failed to enforce safety measures or provided unsafe work conditions, they may be liable.
- A Product Manufacturer – If faulty equipment, tools, or machinery caused your injury, the manufacturer could be responsible.
- The Injured Worker – In some cases, worker error may contribute to an accident, but this does not necessarily eliminate the right to seek compensation.
Why Construction Accident Cases Require Legal Action
Construction companies and contractors often use legal contracts and insurance loopholes to avoid taking responsibility for workplace injuries. These documents dictate who is liable when an accident happens, and filing a lawsuit may be necessary to determine coverage for serious job site injuries.
At Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC, we thoroughly investigate workplace injury cases, reviewing contracts, insurance policies, and worksite conditions to build a strong claim. We fight to ensure that injured workers and their families are not left without legal recourse when a company tries to evade responsibility.
Why Choose Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC?
✔ Workplace Injury & Wrongful Death Focus – We specialize in workplace accidents and have extensive experience holding non-subscriber employers and third parties accountable.
✔ Fearless Litigation – If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we’re prepared to take wrongful death cases to trial.
✔ Personalized Attention – Every case is unique, and we provide compassionate legal support tailored to each family’s needs.
If you have lost a loved one due to a work-related accident in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, or Plano, we are here to fight for justice and help secure your family’s future.
📞 Contact Sandoval Armstrong, PLLC today at (214) 214-3777 for a free consultation.
