If you are employed in Texas and have sustained an injury at work, it is essential to know your rights. An injury on the job is considered a workplace injury, and there are laws to protect workers. Contact a Texas worker injury lawyer to ensure that you are compensated for an accident caused by the negligence of others.
Where Do the Most Common Texas Workplace Injuries Occur?
In Texas, employees are often subjected to dangerous conditions in the workplace. Some jobs are more prone to injury than others. These jobs are among the riskiest:
- Construction work
- Oilfield work
- Railway jobs
- Utility work
- Logging
- Commercial fishing
- Transportation jobs
- Warehouse work
If you are injured on the job, you have rights as an injured employee. A personal injury attorney understands these rights and can help you to navigate the next steps after a workplace accident.
Rights of an Injured Worker
After sustaining an injury at work, you should seek medical attention. Some of the rights you have as an injured worker include:
- Freedom to choose a doctor to treat your injuries
- Thorough medical care for your injuries
- Right to an attorney at all times to assist you with your claim
If you need help from a team of Texas workplace injury lawyers to obtain all potential sources of compensation to which you may be entitled, contact The Krist Law Firm, P.C. We are committed to pursuing every available option on your behalf so that you can have what you need to cover the financial expenses you now face and recover from your injuries.
Intentional Harm Inflicted by an Employer or Coworker
If the employer intentionally inflicted injuries sustained at work, the injured employee is entitled to file a claim against their employer. This also applies to injuries inflicted by another coworker. These could include physical attacks or deliberate negligence, such as faulty equipment or exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Every employee in Texas has the right to a safe work environment. When the employer fails to provide for such needs, they are liable for injuries or even deaths that may occur because of their disregard.
For instance, an employer may know that the lighting is poor and a staircase is slippery. By not providing better lighting and more surface traction, they are practicing intentional negligence and putting their workers at risk. If the injuries are fatal, the deceased worker’s estate can file suit against their employer for gross negligence and behaving intentionally in a way that caused the death.
Compensation After a Workplace Injury
In Texas, it is not mandatory for a business to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This means the employer is assuming responsibility for injuries that take place on the job. This is what is expected of all Texas employers:
- Employers must inform employees whether or not they are participating in the workers’ compensation program.
- Employers must provide a safe work environment for their employees.
- Proper training must be provided.
- Equipment must be safe and maintained.
- Provisions for required safety gear must be enforced.
- Provide adequate training and safe equipment.
Employers are required to abide by those obligations. Their failure to do so can leave them exposed to legal action. If you’ve been harmed in an accident on-the-job, and you were not properly trained and/or if poorly maintained equipment caused your injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation and possibly even punitive damages.
Damages To Which an Injured Texas Worker is Entitled
If you have been in an accident, you must seek the care of medical professionals immediately. The required tests and treatments can contribute to exorbitant medical bills. The entity responsible for your injuries is expected to shoulder those bills. Some of these may include:
- Ambulance travel
- Surgeries or procedures to repair damages
- Nights spent in the hospital
- Physical as well as occupational therapy
- Home health services
- Prescription medications
- Medical equipment like wheelchairs and crutches
Your Texas injury attorney will find ways to lessen your accident’s economic strain on you and your loved ones. Maximum financial compensation is our goal for you.
Lost Income
When an injury affects your ability to make a living, stress and frustration take the place of a paycheck. An injured person should not be forced to struggle with financial distress without options. The situation is not a hopeless one. And your Texas personal injury attorney will understand your options.
The responsible party must reimburse you for financial losses that you have sustained because of your inability to work. If your injury is a permanent one and you are unable to return to work, you will likely be owed compensation for the loss of future earnings. Your injury terminated the potential to earn a living or to follow a particular career path.
Your attorney will ensure that the future loss of wages is considered when filing claims on your behalf. Our team’s goal is for you to focus your energy on healing while we focus on ensuring your financial future by negotiating with the responsible parties or going to trial if necessary.
Legal Help is at Your Fingertips
An on-the-job injury can have long-ranging consequences. Workplace injuries can be painful, expensive, and even fatal. If you or a loved one has been a victim of an occupational injury, it is vital to know your rights and your employer’s responsibilities. An on-the-job Texas injury lawyer will understand how to navigate the process, and they are ready to help you.
If you’ve suffered an injury on-the-job in Texas and need to know if or how you can make a claim to obtain compensation, the Texas workplace injury lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. are here to help. Contact us for a free case evaluation.