Your Employer’s Responsibility After a Construction Accident in McAllen
At Anderson Alexander (A2X), we believe that every employer owes their workers a basic level of respect, safety, and fairness, a responsibility that too many employers fail to uphold. When a construction accident happens, workers are often left not only dealing with pain and medical recovery but also forced to fight for compensation, accountability, and their rights. These are rights they should never have to question, especially when they were injured simply doing their job.
Texas has a long history of hardworking men and women in construction building roads, refineries, housing developments, and oilfield infrastructure that keep the state running. Yet Texas also has a unique and often confusing system for workplace injury claims. Unlike most states, Texas allows employers to opt out of the traditional workers’ compensation system. These “non-subscriber” employers often handle injury claims through private insurance or internal policies, systems that can leave injured workers vulnerable and without the support they deserve.
At A2X, we see this imbalance every day. Many injured workers in McAllen come to us after their employers have refused to help, ignored their injuries, or pressured them to return to work before they’re ready. Our firm steps in to take that burden off your shoulders. We handle the investigation, the communication, and the fight for justice, especially when your employer is unwilling to take responsibility. You have rights under Texas law, and we are here to make sure they are respected.
The Realities of Construction Work in McAllen
McAllen’s construction industry is vital to the Rio Grande Valley. New commercial spaces, residential developments, road projects, and industrial expansions keep the region growing, but they also expose workers to serious risks. Every job site has potential hazards: heavy equipment, scaffolding, electrical lines, chemical exposure, moving vehicles, and extreme weather conditions.
While construction workers accept that the job involves risk, they should never accept preventable injuries. Employers, contractors, and site owners have legal duties to maintain safe work sites, provide proper training, supply safety gear, and ensure compliance with state and federal safety standards. When those responsibilities are ignored, and someone gets hurt, that’s not just an accident; it’s negligence.
At A2X, we fight for injured construction workers because we understand the challenges they face. Many of our clients are skilled tradespeople who take pride in their work. They don’t want handouts; they want fairness. They want their employer to step up, acknowledge what went wrong, and make it right. And when that doesn’t happen, A2X steps in to make sure justice is served.
Understanding Employer Responsibility After a Construction Accident
After a serious construction injury, your employer’s responsibilities depend on several factors, particularly whether they are a subscriber or non-subscriber to Texas’s workers’ compensation system. Understanding the difference is crucial to knowing what comes next.
Employers Who Carry Workers’ Compensation (Subscribers)
If your employer carries traditional Texas workers’ compensation insurance, they are generally responsible for:
- Reporting your injury to their insurance carrier promptly
- Providing you access to medical care under the plan
- Covering a portion of your lost wages during recovery
However, workers’ compensation is a trade-off: you usually cannot sue your employer directly for negligence. The idea is that you get guaranteed benefits quickly, even if the employer wasn’t clearly at fault.
But many Texas employers choose not to participate in this system. That brings us to the next category, one that A2X frequently handles.
Non-Subscriber Employers
Texas is one of the few states that allows employers to opt out of workers’ compensation. These non-subscriber employers often claim to “take care of their workers” through alternative insurance or internal benefit plans. Still, in reality, they may leave injured employees with little real protection.
In these cases, employers often:
- Delay or deny medical care
- Pressure employees not to report injuries
- Fail to document incidents properly
- Refuse to pay lost wages or cover treatment
- Intimidate workers who speak up about unsafe conditions
At A2X, we’ve seen employers go so far as to fire or demote injured workers who asked for help. This is not only unethical, but it is often times illegal. Non-subscriber employers lose certain legal protections when they opt out of workers’ compensation, meaning you can file a direct claim against them if their negligence caused your injury. We take over from there, handling communication, gathering evidence, and building your case so that you can focus on healing.
What Your Employer Should Do After a Construction Accident
Whether your employer subscribes to workers’ compensation or not, they still have fundamental duties after a workplace accident. These include:
- Providing Immediate Medical Attention: Employers must ensure you get proper medical care as soon as possible after an injury, whether by calling emergency services or helping you access treatment.
- Reporting the Incident: They must adequately document the accident, including the cause, witnesses, and extent of injuries. This report is often essential for any future claim or legal action.
- Cooperating with Investigations: Employers must cooperate with internal, insurance, or OSHA investigations into what went wrong.
- Preventing Retaliation: Texas law prohibits retaliation against employees who report injuries or unsafe conditions.
- Taking Corrective Action: After an accident, employers must fix the hazard that caused it to prevent others from being hurt.
Unfortunately, many employers in McAllen fail to meet even these basic obligations. That’s when A2X steps in to make sure they are held accountable and that you are not left to fight alone.
When Employers Fail to Take Responsibility
A construction accident can change your life in seconds. One moment you’re doing your job; the next, you’re facing medical bills, missed paychecks, and uncertainty about how you’ll support your family. Employers who fail to take responsibility add another layer of hardship to an already devastating situation.
Some workers are told not to file a report or are promised “the company will take care of you,” only to find that promise broken later. Others are pressured to return to work before they’ve healed, or told they were “careless” and that the injury was their fault. These tactics are designed to minimize liability, not protect you.
At A2X, we see through those tactics. We know how to investigate construction accidents, identify who had control over the worksite, and prove negligence, whether it’s an employer, general contractor, subcontractor, or equipment supplier. When companies refuse to do the right thing, we make sure they face the consequences.
Common Causes of Construction Accidents in McAllen
The McAllen area is home to a wide range of construction projects, from highway expansion to industrial buildouts. Common causes of accidents on these sites include:
- Falls from heights (scaffolds, ladders, roofs)
- Falling objects or equipment strikes
- Unsafe machinery or equipment malfunctions
- Electrical hazards and electrocution
- Trench collapses or structural failures
- Lack of protective gear (PPE)
- Inadequate training or supervision
- Fatigue and long work hours
Each of these hazards can lead to catastrophic injuries such as spinal damage, fractures, burns, amputations, or traumatic brain injuries. Many of these incidents are entirely preventable when employers follow OSHA regulations and industry best practices. When they don’t, they must be held accountable.
How A2X Fights for Construction Workers and Protects Their Rights
At A2X, we fight for construction workers because we believe in fairness, accountability, and respect. Every day, we see how hardworking men and women across McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley are treated after accidents and ignored, blamed, or left without support. These workers build the communities we live in, yet when they’re injured, many employers turn their backs. A2X stands against that injustice.
When you’ve been hurt on a construction site, you have rights, no matter what your employer says. You have the right to medical care, to fair compensation, and to work in a safe environment. You have the right to be treated with dignity, not intimidation or indifference. And when your injury was caused by unsafe conditions, defective equipment, or another person’s negligence, you also have the right to pursue accountability under Texas law.
Our role is to make sure those rights are protected and enforced. From the moment you contact A2X, we take immediate action: investigating the scene, securing evidence, collecting witness statements, and identifying everyone who may be responsible, from employers and contractors to equipment manufacturers and property owners. We work with medical experts, safety engineers, and industry professionals to clearly demonstrate how the incident happened and the impact it has had on your life.
But our advocacy goes beyond investigation; it’s about empowerment. A2X helps you understand your legal options, explains every step of the process in plain language, and handles all communication with employers and insurance representatives so you can focus on healing. We build powerful, evidence-based cases designed to hold negligent companies accountable and to recover what you’re entitled to, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term disability or impairment.
We are trial lawyers at our core, which means we prepare every case as if it’s going before a jury. That readiness and determination often lead to better results for our clients, whether through negotiation or litigation. We fight for construction workers not just because it’s our job, but because it’s our purpose. At A2X, we believe you deserve a team that works as hard for your future as you have worked for everyone else’s.
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Choosing the right law firm after a construction accident can make all the difference in your recovery and your future. At Anderson Alexander (A2X), we combine deep local understanding with national trial experience to deliver the strength, precision, and advocacy that injured workers in McAllen deserve. We know the industries that drive this region, from the construction companies to the oilfield contractors and industrial employers, and we know how to hold them accountable when they fail to protect their workers.
From the moment you contact us, A2X moves quickly to protect your rights. Our clients trust us because we are transparent, compassionate, and relentless. We explain every step of the process in plain language, keep you informed, and stand by you from start to finish. You don’t have to face your employer or their insurance company alone. A2X is here to take that fight off your shoulders, strategically and professionally, with an unwavering commitment to your recovery. Every case we handle is approached with urgency and care, because we understand what’s at stake: your livelihood, your health, and your future.
If you’ve been injured on a construction site in McAllen or anywhere in South Texas, don’t wait. Evidence fades quickly, deadlines pass, and employers often move fast to protect themselves. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can begin protecting your interests and building your case. At A2X, we believe every construction worker deserves fairness, dignity, and accountability after an injury. We will investigate your case, demand answers, and fight to secure the outcome you deserve. Contact A2X today to request a consultation. Let our team stand up for your safety, your rights, and the justice you are entitled to.
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