Industrial Workers Face Serious Risks Nationwide
Industrial accidents aren’t random events. They happen because employers cut corners on safety, rush production, or let dangerous conditions persist. In Texas, those choices often result in catastrophic injuries. In 2023 alone, our state recorded 564 fatal workplace injuries—an incident rate of 4.1 deaths per 100,000 workers, higher than the national average. The construction industry accounted for 22% of those deaths, while manufacturing and natural resources/mining added dozens more. Even nonfatal injuries occur at a rate of 1.8 cases per 100 workers, with trade/transportation/utilities and manufacturing near the top.
Texas also leads the nation in chemical disasters. A 2024 analysis of the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters' database found that Texas experienced 49 chemical incidents in 2023, with the Houston‑Galveston area accounting for more than half. Another market insight paper noted that Texas had 27 of the 100 chemical accidents recorded in the U.S. in 2023, more than any other state. In October 2024, workers at the PEMEX Deer Park refinery near Houston were performing maintenance when 27,000 pounds of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas were released, killing two workers and injuring 13. These incidents underscore the real dangers facing industrial workers and the communities that surround them.
Why Industrial Accidents Happen
Workers in plants, refineries, factories, and construction sites face hazards that aren’t found in office jobs. Heavy machinery can malfunction or be poorly maintained. Workers may be asked to climb scaffolding without proper fall protection, lift loads beyond safe limits, or work near flammable chemicals without adequate training. Texas Mutual’s 2024 safety data shows that while serious workplace injuries dropped by 13% overall, heavy manufacturing saw a 14% increase in severe injury claims, and framing contractors in construction recorded a 200% rise in claims due to falls from heights. These trends reveal that even when overall numbers improve, certain sectors remain extremely dangerous.
Chemical plants and oil refineries introduce unique risks. Facilities that store or process hazardous chemicals must follow strict protocols for containment, monitoring, and emergency response. Yet Texas has 1,558 facilities handling hazardous chemicals, the most of any state, and chemical releases occur on average every two days in the U.S. When pipes corrode or valves fail, workers can be exposed to toxic gases, fires, or explosions. People living in “fenceline communities”—areas within a mile of a chemical facility—often suffer the brunt of these incidents.
Common Injuries & Lasting Impact
Industrial accidents, like any work accident, can lead to catastrophic injuries: burns from explosions, respiratory damage from toxic gas, amputations or crush injuries from equipment, traumatic brain injuries from falls, and chronic musculoskeletal problems. These injuries don’t just require immediate treatment; they may demand lifelong care, rehabilitation, and major changes to how a person lives and works.
Loss of income, inability to return to a physically demanding job, and mental trauma can devastate an entire family. That’s why compensation in industrial injury cases must account for future medical costs, vocational retraining, and the long‑term effect on quality of life.
How Marc LaHood Law Helps Injured Workers
When you’re hurt in an industrial accident, you up against a powerful company with deep pockets and an army of lawyers on speed dial. You need your own advocate who understands the technical, regulatory, and human elements of industrial injury litigation. Marc LaHood Law brings generations of trial experience and a family legacy of advocacy in San Antonio to every case.
Our approach includes:
- Investigating immediately – We secure maintenance logs, training records, video footage, and witness statements before evidence disappears. We also work with engineers, safety experts, and medical professionals to build the strongest case possible.
- Identifying all liable parties – In industrial cases, responsibility can fall on plant owners, equipment manufacturers, contractors, or maintenance firms. We ensure everyone who contributed to the accident is held accountable.
- Calculating full damages – We don’t just look at current medical bills. We factor in future surgeries, rehabilitation, lost earning capacity, disability adjustments, and the human cost of living with pain or permanent injury.
- Negotiating aggressively & preparing for trial – Many companies offer quick, low settlements. We prepare each case as if it will go before a jury, forcing insurers and corporations to take your claim seriously.
- Standing with families after fatal accidents – When an industrial disaster results in a wrongful death, we fight to secure compensation that supports surviving spouses, children, and dependents and sends a message that safety failures have consequences.
Why Choose Our Industrial Accident Law Firm?
Clients trust Marc LaHood Law because we have deep roots in the community and a record of standing up to powerful opponents. We’ve seen firsthand how industrial accidents tear lives apart, and we believe workers deserve better. We offer honest counsel, clear communication, and relentless advocacy from the moment you contact us until your case is resolved. Our firm isn’t afraid to challenge corporate safety practices, take high-level management to task in deposition, or take a case to trial if that’s what it takes to get justice.
Behind every statistic is a person whose life was shattered because someone else failed to keep them safe. If you or a loved one was injured in a plant explosion, refinery accident, chemical leak, construction collapse, or any other industrial disaster, we’re here to help.
Call us at (210) 714-2625 or request a free consultation today. You’ve carried enough—let our San Antonio industrial injury lawyers lead the fight for your future.
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