Franklyn Aguiar Killed in Work Accident in Nederland, TX

Nederland, TX — January 29, 2024, Franklyn Aguiar was killed as the result of a work accident that happened around 3:00 p.m. off Twin City Highway.

According to preliminary information about the accident, it happened at Energy Transfer just off the 2300 block of North Twin City Highway, near Magnolia Avenue.

Investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said that 27-year-old Franklyn Aguiar was a contract worker at the terminal. While doing work on scaffolding, it appears Aguiar somehow fell, and he sustained fatal injuries as a result.

There is no report of others being hurt in the accident. Right now, the cause of the accident remains unconfirmed. Investigations are ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

I don’t want to seem like I’m piling on after an incident like this, but most Texans don’t realize that our state has the most complex work accident law in the country. What’s more, there are many facets beyond a worker’s control that go into determining which area of the law applies in a particular instance. Employers choose whether or not they subscribe to workers’ compensation as well as the conditions and tools an employee uses, and that’s before we even get into accidents caused by outside parties. Any combination of these circumstances go into determining which law governs a work fatality in Texas.

Before families can even determine what their rights and remedies are, they often need help determining which area of Texas law even governs their loved one’s death. While this freedom for businesses allows them flexibility that they don’t have in other states, it’s a nightmare for families who lose a loved one on the job in Texas.