Published by Carabin Shaw – San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers
Being Hit by Equipment or Falling Objects: Key Issues in Work Accident Cases
Being struck by equipment, a vehicle, a tool, or a falling object is one of the most dangerous categories of workplace accidents in Texas. These incidents happen in an instant and can leave workers with traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, broken bones, internal injuries, and in the worst cases, fatal wounds. San Antonio workers in construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and oil and gas face elevated daily exposure to these hazards. If you were hit by equipment or struck by a falling object at work, speaking with our work injury lawyers San Antonio immediately can help you preserve critical evidence and protect your right to full benefits.
OSHA identifies struck-by accidents as one of the “Fatal Four” — the four leading causes of construction worker deaths nationwide. According to OSHA data, struck-by hazards account for nearly 10 percent of all construction fatalities annually. Beyond construction, workers in warehouses, shipping yards, and manufacturing plants face significant risks from forklifts, heavy machinery, swinging equipment, and overhead loads. The severity of struck-by injuries means work injury attorneys in San Antonio handle some of the most complex and high-value workers’ compensation and personal injury cases arising from this type of incident.
One of the critical distinctions in struck-by work accident cases is whether a third party — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — may share responsibility for the incident. In many San Antonio work accident cases involving equipment or falling objects, there are potentially liable parties beyond the employer. A workplace accident lawyer who evaluates all potential sources of compensation can significantly increase the total recovery for an injured worker or their family.
Find more information about our workers Comp Attorneys San Antonio on this page
Common Types of Struck-By Work Accidents
Falling Tools and Materials
On construction sites and in multi-story buildings, tools and materials dropped from elevated surfaces can strike workers below with deadly force. A hammer dropped from a scaffold, unsecured lumber that shifts during a lift, or improperly stored materials that topple can deliver injuries equivalent to a high-speed impact. OSHA’s walking-working surfaces and scaffolding standards require fall protection for objects as well as workers.
Forklift and Heavy Vehicle Accidents
Forklifts kill and seriously injure workers in Texas warehouses and distribution centers regularly. A worker struck by a forklift can suffer crushing injuries, fractures, internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries. OSHA’s powered industrial truck standards require operator training and safe travel procedures, but violations are common. If a third-party operator or equipment owner contributed to the accident, a personal injury claim may run alongside a workers’ comp claim.
Swinging Equipment and Cranes
Crane-suspended loads that shift or fall, and equipment with wide swing arcs, create significant struck-by hazards on construction sites. A load that swings unexpectedly can catch a worker off-guard even when proper rigging and signaling procedures are in place. When crane accidents involve third-party contractors or equipment lessors, additional liability may exist.
Flying Debris and Projectiles
Power tools, grinders, saws, nail guns, and pneumatic equipment can propel debris at high velocity. Eye injuries, facial lacerations, and penetrating wounds are common results. In some cases, flying debris causes partial or total vision loss, a permanently disabling injury.
Being Struck by Moving Vehicles
Workers in parking lots, loading docks, roadside construction zones, and industrial yards face risks from trucks, delivery vehicles, and other motorized equipment. When a worker is struck by a vehicle operated by someone other than their employer — a delivery driver, for example — a third-party personal injury claim against the at-fault driver may be pursued in addition to a workers’ comp claim.
Rollover and Tip-Over Accidents
Forklifts, front-end loaders, and other equipment that rolls over or tips can strike and pin workers in their path. Crush and entrapment injuries from rollovers frequently cause catastrophic harm.
Injuries Caused by Being Struck at Work
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A blow to the head from a falling object or swinging equipment can cause mild to severe traumatic brain injury. Even TBIs initially classified as “mild” can cause persistent cognitive problems, headaches, mood disorders, and sensitivity to light and sound. Workers with TBI from a workplace struck-by incident should be evaluated by a neurologist, and their workers’ comp claim should reflect the full extent of their neurological injury.
Spinal and Neck Injuries
An object striking the head, neck, or back can fracture vertebrae, herniate discs, or damage the spinal cord itself. Workers with spinal cord injuries from struck-by accidents may face partial or complete paralysis, permanent loss of bladder and bowel function, and a lifetime need for attendant care.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Bones in the skull, arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis are all vulnerable in struck-by incidents. Compound fractures requiring surgical fixation and prolonged rehabilitation can keep workers out of work for months.
Internal Injuries
A blow from heavy equipment may not break the skin but can rupture internal organs or cause internal bleeding. Liver lacerations, spleen injuries, and kidney damage are particularly serious and may require emergency surgery.
Key Legal Issues in Struck-By Work Accident Cases
OSHA Violations and Employer Negligence
When a struck-by accident results from an employer’s failure to follow OSHA safety standards, that violation is powerful evidence in a workers’ compensation or non-subscriber lawsuit. OSHA reports are public records and can support a claim that the employer’s negligence caused the accident.
Equipment Defects and Product Liability
If faulty equipment design, defective components, or inadequate safety guards contributed to a struck-by accident, the manufacturer or equipment distributor may be liable in a product liability lawsuit independent of the workers’ comp claim.
Third-Party Contractor Liability
On multi-employer job sites, a general contractor’s failure to enforce safety protocols or a subcontractor’s negligent work practices may give an injured worker grounds for a third-party lawsuit. Work injury attorneys in San Antonio evaluate all potential defendants in complex struck-by cases.
Being struck by equipment or a falling object at work can change a worker’s life permanently. Injured workers and their families in San Antonio deserve legal representation from work accident lawyers who understand these cases deeply and who will pursue every available avenue for compensation.