Shaw Cowart represents accident injury victims in Austin and the surrounding areas

Construction Accident Lawyers Austin: Falls from Heights

One moment you were working on the scaffold, the next you were falling—and your life changed forever. Falls from heights kill more construction workers than any other hazard, and those who survive often face permanent disabilities that end their careers and transform their lives. Austin’s construction boom means workers throughout the city face fall hazards daily on high-rise projects, residential builds, and commercial developments. Our construction accident lawyers Austin have extensive experience representing workers injured in falls from scaffolding, roofs, ladders, and elevated work surfaces. The Austin construction accident attorneys at Shaw Cowart understand that fall accidents are almost always preventable, and we fight to hold negligent parties accountable.

Falls: Construction’s Leading Killer

Falls account for approximately one-third of all construction fatalities, making them the deadliest hazard in the industry. Even non-fatal falls cause catastrophic injuries—broken bones, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries—that leave workers unable to return to their profession. Our Austin construction injury attorneys know that OSHA regulations exist specifically to prevent falls, and when employers, contractors, or property owners ignore these requirements, workers pay with their bodies and their futures. The construction accident attorneys Austin at Shaw Cowart investigate fall accidents thoroughly to identify every party whose negligence contributed to preventable tragedies.

Fall Statistics

According to OSHA, falls from elevation cause over 300 construction worker deaths annually. Thousands more suffer serious injuries. The majority of fatal falls occur from heights of 20 feet or less—heights where proper fall protection would have prevented tragedy.

Common Fall Scenarios

Falls occur in predictable scenarios where proper safety measures would prevent them.

Scaffolding Falls

Scaffolding provides essential access for construction work but presents serious fall hazards when improperly erected, overloaded, or lacking guardrails. Workers fall when scaffolds collapse, when planks break or shift, and when guardrails are missing or inadequate.

Ladder Falls

Ladders cause more falls than any other equipment. Workers fall when ladders are defective, improperly positioned, used on unstable surfaces, or when workers overreach rather than repositioning. Extension ladders that aren’t properly secured can slide or tip.

Roof Falls

Roofing work exposes workers to unprotected edges, fragile surfaces, and steep pitches. Workers fall through skylights, off roof edges, and through weak roofing materials. Residential roofing is particularly dangerous because guardrail systems are often skipped.

Unprotected Edges and Openings

Construction creates temporary edges and floor openings that require protection. Workers fall from floor edges where walls haven’t been installed, through floor openings for stairways or equipment, and from elevated platforms lacking guardrails.

Aerial Lift Falls

Boom lifts and scissor lifts elevate workers to height but create fall hazards when workers lean out, when lifts tip, or when workers fail to use fall protection equipment provided with the equipment.

Fall Protection Requirements

OSHA requires fall protection for construction workers at heights of six feet or more. Multiple fall protection methods exist.

Guardrail Systems

Guardrails provide passive protection requiring no worker action. Properly constructed guardrails include top rails, mid-rails, and toeboards meeting specific height and strength requirements.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Harnesses connected to anchor points stop falls after they begin. These systems must be properly fitted, connected to adequate anchors, and positioned to limit fall distances.

Safety Net Systems

Nets positioned below work areas catch falling workers. Net systems must be properly installed with adequate clearance below.

Covers and Hole Protection

Floor openings and holes must be covered with materials capable of supporting workers and loads or guarded with standard guardrails.

Causes of Fall Accidents

Falls result from identifiable causes that proper safety management would eliminate.

Missing Fall Protection

The most common cause is simply failing to provide required fall protection. Employers who skip guardrails or don’t provide harnesses bear direct responsibility for resulting falls.

Defective Equipment

Scaffolding with defective components, worn harness webbing, and compromised anchor points fail when workers depend on them. Regular inspection should identify defects before failures occur.

Improper Setup

Scaffolding assembled incorrectly, ladders positioned improperly, and inadequate anchors create fall hazards even when equipment is present.

Inadequate Training

Workers who aren’t trained to recognize fall hazards, use fall protection equipment, and follow safety procedures face elevated risks.

Pressure to Skip Safety

Schedule pressure leads workers and supervisors to skip fall protection setup to save time. This pressure often comes from contractors prioritizing speed over safety.

Injuries from Falls

Fall injuries reflect the violent forces of sudden deceleration.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head impacts during falls cause concussions, skull fractures, and severe brain damage. Even with hard hats, the forces of falls can cause fatal brain injuries.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Falls onto backs or impacts compressing spines cause spinal cord damage ranging from herniated discs to complete paralysis.

Multiple Fractures

Falling workers instinctively try to break falls with hands and arms, causing wrist, arm, and shoulder fractures. Impact with surfaces breaks legs, pelvises, and ribs.

Internal Injuries

Impact forces damage internal organs even without external wounds. Ruptured spleens, liver lacerations, and internal bleeding require emergency surgery.

Fatal Injuries

Falls from height kill more construction workers than any other hazard. Families lose breadwinners to entirely preventable accidents.

Liability for Fall Accidents

Multiple parties may share responsibility for construction falls.

Employers

Employers must provide fall protection and train workers in its use. Employer failures create workers’ compensation liability and potentially direct negligence claims.

General Contractors

General contractors controlling job sites bear responsibility for site-wide safety including fall protection compliance. Their negligence can create third-party liability.

Property Owners

Property owners who create or allow fall hazards may share liability for resulting injuries.

Equipment Manufacturers

Defective scaffolding, ladders, harnesses, or anchor systems that fail create product liability against manufacturers.

Scaffolding Companies

Companies that erect scaffolding bear responsibility for proper assembly. Negligent erection causing collapses creates direct liability.

Fighting for Fall Victims

Every construction fall represents a failure—a failure to provide protection, a failure to follow regulations, a failure to prioritize workers over schedules. Our Austin construction accident attorneys at Shaw Cowart hold responsible parties accountable for these failures, pursuing maximum compensation for injured workers and families of those killed in falls.

If you were injured in a construction fall in Austin, contact us immediately. We’ll investigate the accident, identify responsible parties, and fight for the compensation you deserve.