In this article, we will let you the importance of getting legal advice after a work injury in Texas.
Most employers in Texas have regular workers’ compensation insurance. When a worker gets injured at work, this insurance covers their injuries, pays their medical bills, and pays any lost wages due to the work injury.
But under Texas law, some employers can opt out of the normal workers’ comp system.
These employers are referred to as non-subscribers, and if you work for such an employer and get injured, you can’t go through the normal workers’ comp route to get compensated.
You can still recover compensation, but it’s through a different system. This different system is called non-subscriber workers’ compensation in Texas and could involve a lawsuit filed directly against your non-subscribing employer.
Texas non-subscriber workers’ comp claims are more complicated than ordinary workers’ comp claims.
So if you are suffering from a work injury in a non-subscribing company, you need a lawyer who focuses much of their practice on non-subscriber work injury cases.
The law firm of Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP has been fighting for the rights of injured workers for decades.
Let our lawyers use their skills and knowledge to fight for the compensation you deserve. Our firm has the resources to take on huge corporations and insurance companies, so give us a call and let us put our experience to work for you.
Non-Subscriber Cases Are Similar to Other Negligence Cases
With simple workers’ comp cases, all you receive is the payment of your medical bills and reimbursement for any lost wages—and that’s it.
But non-subscriber cases are different. Non-subscriber cases are similar to other injury cases based on negligence, such as car and truck collisions, slips and falls, and defective products.
In non-subscriber cases, you can go after your employer if they were negligent and that negligence caused your work injury.
You can potentially receive compensation for:
- Past lost wages;
- Future lost earning capacity due to ongoing or permanent disability;
- Medical bills and the cost of future necessary work-related medical treatment;
- Loss of life’s pleasures;
- Pain and suffering;
- Impairment;
- Disfigurement;
- Loss of consortium; and
- In rare cases, you may be able to get punitive damages.
Punitive damages are rare because they are not intended to compensate you for losses. Instead, they are meant to punish your employer for activity beyond mere negligence and for outrageous or intentional misconduct that caused the injury.
An experienced workplace injury attorney can work to increase your chances of getting the compensation you need.
These can be complex cases that require very experienced lawyers who understand the law covering non-subscriber workers’ compensation in Texas.
The Texas Non-Subscriber Injury Lawyers at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP Fight for the Rights of Injured Workers
If you were injured and are wondering how to file a workers’ comp claim in Texas, we have the answers.
If you have a Texas non-subscriber workers’ compensation claim, the best thing you can do for yourself is to contact the right law firm.
The attorneys at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP will help you get the compensation you deserve. Please contact us online or call us for a free consultation at 832-402-6637.
Scott Armstrong obtains remarkable results for his clients. He has successfully tried numerous cases to favorable verdicts and reached significant settlements on his clients’ behalf. In the process, he has recovered millions for his clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely nothing. At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you owe us nothing unless we win your case, whether that’s in the form of a settlement or a judgment. We offer a free consultation to anyone who thinks they might have a personal injury case.
We suggest speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after your injury. Something to keep in mind is that all personal injury cases need evidence, and that evidence often degrades over time. As a result, many jurisdictions have a strict statute of limitations (or time limit) for filing a claim. In Texas, most victims have only two years from the date of injury to file, so it is important to start building your case immediately.
In the state of Texas, employers have the option of filing for workers’ compensation insurance. This policy covers them in case an employee suffers an injury on the job. However, some employers choose to be non-subscribers, which means they opt out of this coverage and lose certain legal protections. This means that if an injured employee sues them after a work injury, they may end up paying more damages. In addition, they may be liable for pain and suffering, punitive damages, and medical benefits. Learn more about non-subscriber injuries here.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) keeps track of employers that report their non-subscriber status. Currently, you can find a spreadsheet of every reported non-subscriber business in Texas under TDI’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage verification page. This includes the business address, business name, and filing dates. Learn more here.
There are a few different ways to manage your bills while waiting for your case to settle. For medical treatment, it is common to arrange a lien with the doctor’s office or hospital. A medical lien is essentially an agreement to pay back your treatment costs with a portion of your potential settlement. Another option for miscellaneous bills, such as rent, utilities, or other essential expenses, is lawsuit funding. Much like a lien, you pay these loans back with a portion of your settlement or judgment. However, these loans have high interest rates and fees, so be sure to discuss this option with your attorney.