Buda, TX — November 24, 2023, Francisco Rodriguez was killed as the result of a work accident that happened around 3:17 p.m. on Hillside Terrace.
According to officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the incident happened in the 1600 block of Hillside Terrace, just west of F.M. 2001.
Investigators said that 50-year-old Francisco Rodriguez was on a ladder doing measurements when he apparently fell from the ladder. Rodriguez hit his head, resulting in fatal injuries. Right now, exact circumstances can’t be confirmed. However, OSHA alleged a “lack of safety training” contributed to the accident. Six recommended citations were listed, five of which were described as “serious.” No further information is available right now.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
It’s not my place to speculate on how true these allegations are. But I’ve often found people see OSHA make allegations in their public statements, and they assume that makes things open-and-shut for the victim’s loved ones. What they don’t realize, though, is the challenge isn’t always about proving what happened in an accident. The path following those conclusions involves its own unique challenges.
In fact, work fatality law in Texas is more complex than in any other state due to the fact employers aren’t required to subscribe to the workers’ comp system. I’ve talked to families who assumed OSHA and workers’ comp were looking out for their best interests only to find they were on their own. They didn’t realize that getting the help they needed would require having their own experienced allies with the tools to navigate that legal maze. For some, they don’t realize it until it’s too late.
So whatever led to this accident, my concern is whether or not steps were taken to ensure the victim’s loved ones could at least move forward on even footing. It’s not right when people are at the whim of complex laws no one bothered to warn them about. That’s why I speak about it publicly as often as possible.
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