If you have been injured at work, you need to take immediate action to ensure your legal rights are protected. Many on-the-job injuries cause permanent or long-lasting side effects, such as pain and limited range of motion.
You may be entitled to compensation for your current medical expenses, as well as the medical expenses you incur in the future.
Texas Workers’ Compensation Laws
Texas does not actually require all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation insurance protects employers from lawsuits in the event that an employee is injured on the job. In addition, workers’ compensation provides employees with a faster way to obtain coverage for medical bills and lost wages.
If an employer does carry workers’ compensation insurance, illnesses and injuries are generally covered, even if the employee was at fault, so long as the employee was acting within the scope of employment. Of course, some exceptions may apply.
If an employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, an injured employee may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the employer to recover damages for the injuries he or she has suffered on the job.
Oil & Gas and Well Site Injuries
Texas is home to numerous companies in the oil and gas industry. Jobs in this industry are notoriously dangerous, with deaths increasing by 26 percent from 2016 to 2017.
Common injuries in oil & gas and well site injury claims include:
- Burns
- Loss of limb
- Eye injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Respiratory conditions
- Hearing loss
Employees injured due to dangerous work conditions should not have to bear responsibility for their exorbitant medical expenses.
Oil & Gas Truck Wrecks
Those who drive big trucks already have a dangerous job, but those who transport highly flammable oil and gas have an elevated risk of injury in the event of an accident. Explosions and fires are risks that oil and gas truck drivers face every day on the job.
In addition, like many truck drivers, these employees feel pressure to drive long hours and meet deadlines. Trucking companies may face liability when their truck drivers are injured in devastating accidents.
Construction Site Injuries
Construction workers operate around live wires, dangerous chemicals, and heavy machinery. Their work may require them to hang from the side of tall buildings or they may work around falling debris.
Construction workers may be entitled to compensation if they are injured on the job site. Many construction workers suffer injuries that are so severe they are no longer able to work. Disability payments are possible in many workers’ compensation claims.
Industrial Accidents & Explosions
Industrial accident and explosion claims encompass incidents that occur in factories, nuclear plants, power plants, the mining industry, the defense industry, and a variety of other locations. Explosions, fires, and other types of deadly occurrences are risks for employees who work in these industries.
Employers must ensure that the workplace is safe for employees. Meeting safety regulations, inspecting and maintaining equipment, and verifying that all employees are properly trained make the difference between life and death in the workplace.
Employees injured in these accidents should consult with a Texas on-the-job injury attorney as soon as possible to determine what legal options are available.
Compensation in On-the-Job Injury Claims
The amount of compensation available to an injured employee varies from case to case. However, compensation may include any of the following types of damages:
- Medical expenses, including the cost of future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of employment benefits
- Expenses associated with remodeling a home (for example, installing wheelchair ramps)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- If an employee has died on the job or has died as a result of on-the-job injuries, funeral and burial expenses may be claimed, as well as the estimated value of the employee’s future earnings.
Many workers’ compensation carriers and employers attempt to deny valid injury claims. However, with the assistance of an experienced Texas on-the-job injury attorney, the odds of prevailing and recovering compensation improve significantly.
Call Brooker Law, PLLC Today to Discuss Your Texas On-the-Job Injury Claim
At Brooker Law, PLLC, our attorneys are experienced in Texas on-the-job injury claims and work hard to ensure our clients are fully compensated for their injuries. To schedule a free consultation with us, contact or call (214) 217-0277 today.