Lawyers for a Back Injury at Work

Get Compensation Through a Back Injury at Work Lawsuit

Back injuries are common in American workplaces, and they are leading causes of lost work time. Symptoms from back injuries can range from mild discomfort to debilitating injuries, such as spinal cord damage and paralysis that make it impossible to continue to work. Medical and household bills keep piling up at a time when you are not earning income, and your life and that of your family may never be the same.

If you have suffered a back injury at work in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation through workers’ compensation or a personal injury lawsuit or both, depending on the circumstances. However, Texas laws regarding workers’ compensation and personal injury are complicated, and employers and their insurance companies have high-powered lawyers on their side working to deny benefits or get you to accept less than you deserve. Whether or not workers’ comp is involved, if you have a work-related back injury that keeps you from working, it helps to get legal advice as soon as possible.

The experienced back injury lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law can keep you from making costly mistakes and help you get the benefits you are entitled to. If you are covered under workers’ comp, we can ensure that everything is filed correctly and that you receive the benefits you deserve, and we can appeal your case if it is denied. If your employer does not provide workers’ comp, we will pursue maximum compensation for you in a personal injury lawsuit.

We provide a free, no-obligation consultation to examine the facts of your individual situation and show you how we can help. Call us today to get started at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000.

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Houston Attorney for a Back Injury at Work Fights for You

Why Choose Us

There are many attorneys in Houston, and it’s important for you to find the one you feel comfortable with. Here are some reasons why we think Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law is your best choice:

• We have more than 35+ years of experience.
• We get results, and have recovered $1 Billion for our clients.  Visit our client victories page to read about real cases — and real money — the dedicated attorneys at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law have won.
• We are available 24/7 for client emergencies.
• Terry Bryant and two additional attorneys are board certified.
• We have a 98 % positive group of satisfied clients who give testimonials to our service.
• We are recognized in our field — our law firm has received the Better Business Bureau’s Winner of Distinction Award multiple times.
• We offer free initial consultations to get you started.
• We offer a No-Fee Guarantee, which means you pay us nothing unless you get your money.
• We know the methods employers and insurers use to withhold payment to injured workers and know how to make sure that doesn’t happen to our clients.

Here’s what our Houston back injury at work lawyers will do to pursue justice for you:

• Investigate how your back injury happened and determine whether workers’ comp is the way to go or if you can file a lawsuit.
• Gather evidence such as from videos, work records and medical reports, and interviews with witnesses, co-workers, and first responders.
• Thoroughly assess all your damages, including current and future medical bills, all forms of lost income, damaged property, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.
• Take care of all legal requirements in a timely manner, including filing all paperwork, making court appearances, and handling appeals.
• Negotiate aggressively – and in good faith – for maximum compensation.
• If negotiation isn’t possible, we fight to win full and fair compensation for your injuries in court.

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Back Injury at Work Settlement

If you receive a back injury on the job and are unable to work, the compensation settlement you may receive depends on several factors. Let’s explore these options:

1. Covered by Workers’ Compensation

The Texas Workers’ Compensation Act protects workers injured on the job. If your employer participates in the system and you put in a successful claim, you may receive benefits that include:

Medical benefits to cover medical and rehabilitation costs.

Income benefits These cover some of your lost income based upon your average weekly wage in the 13 weeks prior to the workplace injury. Income benefits are 70% to 75% of this weekly wage, and may include temporary income benefits, impairment income benefits, supplemental income benefits, and lifetime income benefits.

Death and burial benefits  These replace 75% of income for surviving family members and pay up to $10,000 of the deceased worker’s funeral costs.

2. Damages Through Lawsuits

There are several situations where you can go beyond workers’ comp and bring a lawsuit for your work-related back injury.  These include:

• Third-party liability claims – If you are injured due to the negligence of a third party, such as the manufacturer of a faulty product, or a driver who ran you over while you were working, you can sue that party for damages.
• Employer is a non-subscriber for workers’ compensation coverage — Employers who opt out are particularly vulnerable because they cannot use defenses available in most personal injury lawsuits, such as contributory negligence and co-worker negligence.
• Independent contractors – These are not considered to be employees and are not covered by workers’ comp. Still, an employer can be found liable for damages in a personal injury lawsuit in situations such as when:
  • The incident occurred on company property.
  • The contractor was working on a project for the business.
  • The employer was negligent and did not take reasonable care to prevent avoidable foreseeable harm.

At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, no matter what your situation, we will fight to get optimum compensation for you and your family.

How Much Compensation from a Back Injury at Work?

Compensation You May Receive

The amount of payment you may receive in a back injury settlement depends on several factors, including the severity of your back injuries, the long-term effects of the injuries, and the expenses you have because of them.

In a successful Texas back injury lawsuit, you may receive additional compensation that may include:

1. Economic (or Special) Damages, that cover the cost of your bills for medical care, lost income, continuing care, modifications to your home, and other calculable expenses.
2. Non-economic (or General) Damages, that compensate for losses that do not have a specific dollar value but negatively affect your life, such as physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.
3. Punitive damages may also be awarded in rare situations where the injury was caused by actions that were wantonly reckless and negligent.

There are a wide range of damage awards possible in a personal injury lawsuit, depending on the circumstances of the case. A minor back injury that might mean being out of work for months may be worth several thousand dollars. A permanently disabling and painful back injury that requires continuing care or results in paralysis or a wrongful death could bring hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in compensation.

If you are going through workers’ compensation, amounts are limited by the laws and do not include compensation for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

Back Injury Lawyers Know How Back Injuries Happen

Back injuries come in many different forms. Some of the most common include:

• Spinal cord fractures
• Ligament sprains
• Pulled muscles
• Herniated or ruptured discs.

The back is comprised of several different bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, which means that back injuries vary greatly from one person to another. Back injuries are typically slower to heal than other injuries, simply because it is virtually impossible not to use your back while performing everyday activities. In some cases, a back injury will be permanent and lead to lifelong impairment.

We use our back in almost everything we do. If you have a serious, debilitating back injury, simply sitting at a desk can be excruciating. Every movement you make carries the potential to cause great pain or even worsen your condition. This makes recovery very difficult. It also greatly reduces your ability to work, which can limit all your activities and lead to a major loss in income.

One of the most notorious causes of occupational back injuries is lifting heavy objects. It is the job of an employer to train workers how to lift properly and to provide them with assistance or necessary equipment if an object is too heavy. Because so many jobs require lifting, it’s easy to see why this is such a common cause of injury. Lifting-related back injuries frequently happen in a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, nursing care, and retail jobs.

In addition, back injuries at work can be caused by:

• Being struck by or against an object
• Slipping and falling
• Twisting of the spine
• Repetitive actions (which leads to arthritis or repetitive stress injuries)
• Working with heavy equipment.

A back injury can require long periods away from work to ensure a full or acceptable level of recovery. You shouldn’t feel pressured to return to work until you are capable and your pain is manageable. If you are unable to return to work, then you should be given payment in lieu of income.

Back Injury Attorneys Know When Employers are Responsible

It is an employer’s responsibility to provide a safe workplace. This includes keeping a workplace hazard-free and ensuring that all workers receive adequate safety training. The best way to combat back injuries in the workplace is prevention, meaning that employers should always provide training and equipment to reduce the likelihood of a back injury. When an employer or supervisor fails to provide these things and a worker suffers an injury, that worker is often entitled to compensation for medical bills and lost wages.

For workers covered by workers’ compensation, benefits are generally provided after an injury regardless of whose “fault” that injury might have been. That’s because workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” program. However, it is not uncommon for employers or insurers to find ways to offer less than is needed or to deny benefits entirely.

At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we know the methods employers and insurers use to withhold payment to injured workers. Whether you are covered by workers’ compensation insurance or can file a personal injury lawsuit, we will fight to get you the payment you deserve.

Call Our Lawyer for a Back Injury at Work for Help

If you have suffered a back injury at work, call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law as soon as possible. Texas has a statute of limitations, a deadline for filing a case. According to the law (TX C.P.R.C. Title 2, Chapter 16, Sec. 16.003), you generally have two years after the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court or the courts are likely to dismiss your case. We want to start investigating your case promptly, while evidence is fresh and witnesses can be found and we have time to build the strongest case possible.

*Always speak directly to an attorney for the exact deadlines that apply to your potential claim(s).

Our workplace injury attorneys have a track record of standing up for injured workers in Texas to ensure they get maximum compensation to help with the costs of their injuries. We cater our services to meet your specific, individual needs and are here for you 24/7. With our no-fee guarantee, you pay nothing unless and until we win compensation for you, so you have nothing to lose.

Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law in Texas, and he is a former judge. He has the experience necessary to help clients in all areas of personal injury law. If you or a loved one has suffered a workplace back injury in Texas, call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000.