Amarillo Workplace Injury Attorneys
If you have suffered a workplace injury, you are probably worried about how you will pay the bills while you are unable to work and who will pay for your medical care. Workplace injury cases are complicated in Texas, because it is the only state that does not require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. However, the majority of employers choose to carry the insurance because it shields them from liability in most circumstances. The Amarillo workplace injury attorneys of Wood Law Firm LLP, can determine what type of claim you have and which avenues of compensation are available to you.
Workers’ Compensation
If you are covered by workers’ compensation, you should file a claim right away. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving much-needed benefits. And, there are strict time limits involved. You must notify your employer within 30 days of your injury and you only have one year to file your workers’ compensation claim.
Benefits are limited, but you do not need to prove fault. Workers’ compensation will pay for your medical expenses and a portion of your lost income. It may pay for training, if necessary you to be able to work again. Workers’ compensation does not pay for noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering.
If you are covered by workers’ compensation in Texas, in most cases it is difficult to hold your employer liable for negligence, but attorneys at our firm will fight to ensure that you recover just compensation.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
If you are not covered by workers’ compensation, you are free to sue your employer for negligence. Employers who choose not to carry workers’ compensation insurance, in Texas, are called non-subscribers. They are not shielded from lawsuits for negligence and their defenses are limited.
In some circumstances, you may able to pursue a third-party lawsuit. This is lawsuit against someone other than your employer and it is an option even if you receive workers’ compensation. For example, a third-party lawsuit is appropriate if you are injured at work by a defective tool.
Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can receive compensation for economic and noneconomic damages including:
- Medical expenses and future medical expenses
- Long-term care
- Home healthcare
- Custodial care
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Special equipment and home modifications to accommodate disability
- Physical impairment
- Mental impairment
- Disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
To learn more about workplace injuries and how we can help you recover the compensation you need, please call an Amarillo attorney of Wood Law Firm LLP, at 806-372-WOOD (9663) or submit a contact form right away.
