What happens if you are injured in the workplace and can’t return to work? Will you lose your job? Can you get paid while recovering from your injuries? These are questions that the state of Texas asked and answered long ago. Workers in Texas are entitled to receive compensation when they lose wages due to a workplace injury. However, just because you are entitled to receive compensation, that doesn’t mean the money is easy to get. Insurance companies, employers, and the state government often make the process of getting money arduous for employees injured in The Woodlands. Workers’ compensation lawyers from Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law can help guide you through the process.
Don’t rely on the goodwill of your employer, their insurance company, or the state government after suffering an injury at work in The Woodlands. Our work injury lawyers are dedicated to helping you cut through the red tape to get your benefits. Contact us today at (713) 973-8888 for your free consultation.
How Workers’ Compensation Works in Texas
Woodlands Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Are Ready To Help You
The workers’ compensation program in Texas is administered by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). Under this program, every worker is guaranteed insurance coverage for medical bills resulting from a workplace injury or work-related illness. Additionally, this program provides partial wage replacement for employees who miss work due to these same reasons.
While this program covers all workers, employers have the option to subscribe to it or not. Employers who subscribe can purchase insurance from any insurance company licensed by Texas, or they can self-insure. By doing this, employers foot the costs of workers’ compensation insurance but limit their liability when an employee is hurt at work. Alternatively, employers can opt out, providing workers with no insurance coverage. However, this allows the workers to file a lawsuit, which may get them more compensation than coverage would.
What Happens if Your Employer Is a Non-Subscriber?
While the state guarantees you coverage if you are hurt at work, unfortunately, you will have to rely on the courts to enforce that coverage if your employer doesn’t subscribe to the workers’ compensation program. In this situation, you should contact a workers’ compensation lawyer in The Woodlands immediately. You won’t get any compensation until the court orders it unless we can negotiate a settlement offer.
Since your employer isn’t covered by an insurance company, that means your lawyer will have to negotiate with the employer or the company’s lawyers directly. Either way, it will probably take a while to get compensation from an uninsured workplace in The Woodlands. Workers’ compensation lawyers will do everything possible to speed up the process.
How a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Serving The Woodlands Can Help
Injured at Work in The Woodlands? Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Will Guide You Through the Process
As previously noted, if your employer isn’t a subscriber, the main way an attorney can help is by acting through the courts. However, if your employer is a subscriber in The Woodlands, we can still get you the workers’ compensation legal help that you need.
Applying for Workers’ Compensation
While you might think it is easy to apply for workers’ compensation coverage, unfortunately, that process is controlled by your employer and their insurance company. The insurance company wants to pay you as little money as possible, and your employer doesn’t want their insurance rates to increase. Often this means that there is a lot of red tape, and the process is designed to give you as little money as possible. While the DWC is supposed to oversee this process and make sure it follows Texas law, that too involves a lot of red tape.
If you have been injured in The Woodlands, workers’ compensation attorneys from our law firm will guide you through the process to help you avoid getting held up by bureaucracy. We know what paperwork you need to file, what evidence will support your claim, and when the deadlines are. This makes the process go smoothly and increases the likelihood that you get the full compensation you deserve.
Workers’ Compensation Lawsuits
The other reason you hire a workers’ compensation attorney in The Woodlands is to prevent the need for lawsuits. Typically, insurance companies will treat you fairly when they know you are willing to sue. However, if they don’t, or if your employer isn’t subscribed, our lawyers will guide you through the legal process. This means we will file all petitions and motions on time and properly supported with documentation. When the case eventually goes to trial, our attorneys have decades of trial experience and an excellent record of getting positive results.
Did you fall ill due to work-related reasons or get hurt on the job in The Woodlands? Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law can help you get the compensation Texas law guarantees. Contact our law firm at (713) 973-8888 immediately to learn more about your legal options.
Why Choose Our Law Firm for Help With Your Work Injury?
Our law firm was founded by Terry Bryant, an attorney who has dedicated his career to helping those in need. Every attorney at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law is committed to the same cause. We understand how difficult it can be for the average person to navigate the bureaucracy of insurance claims or the legal system after suffering a work injury. The legal team at our law firm believes that no person should have their rights denied just because they don’t have a legal background.
But helping defend people’s rights from being infringed by their employers and insurance companies isn’t enough. That helps you move on financially, but it is rarely all the support you need after a work injury in The Woodlands. Workers’ compensation attorneys at our law firm also offer compassionate support to help speed your recovery. That means we direct you to the medical and support services that are best for your situation. We want to be trusted as a friend in addition to a lawyer. Whatever help you need, we are willing to provide it.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have been hurt in the workplace, you probably have a lot of questions about the law and how workers’ compensation works. Our legal team handles these types of questions in almost every workers’ compensation case. To make your life easier, we have provided the answers to the most common questions below.
Can I sue for pain and suffering after an injury at the workplace?
Possibly. Texas law protects employers from being sued for pain and suffering if they are subscribed and provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. However, if they aren’t subscribed, they may be sued for pain and suffering, if applicable.
How do I know if my employer provides workers’ compensation?
Your employer is supposed to provide that information before they hire you. Concealing that information is a violation of the law, and you should tell your workers’ compensation attorney in The Woodlands immediately if you were never informed that your employer doesn’t have workers’ compensation insurance.
Can I be fired for claiming workers’ compensation benefits?
No. If you are getting workers’ compensation, your employer can’t fire you for that reason. Furthermore, your job, or an equivalent job, should be available to you when you return from disability. If your employer doesn’t provide you with an equivalent job after you return to work, contact our law firm immediately to speak to an experienced workplace lawyer.
How much money will I get for missed wages while receiving workers’ compensation benefits?
You should receive 70% of your income, up to a maximum benefit value. That maximum changes every year, so you should consult with a lawyer to determine what the current maximum is if you have a high salary before getting injured. The maximum in 2022 was a little over $1,000.
How long will it take me to get workers’ compensation benefits?
You should receive your first payment for workers’ compensation within three weeks of the day you tell your employer about your injury. That assumes everything is working as expected. There may be reasonable delays based on the complexity of your case, the time of year, or other factors. If you think the insurance company is intentionally delaying payments, advise our legal team as soon as possible.
If you have additional questions about your workers’ compensation benefits or legal options, ask one of our attorneys during your free consultation.
Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law Today
Workers’ compensation isn’t a privilege. It is a right. If the insurance company, your employer, or any other party is interfering with your ability to take advantage of that right, you need the help of an experienced law firm.
With almost a century of combined experience, the lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law know how to handle Texas worker injuries, no matter how complicated they are. Contact our law firm at (713) 973-8888 immediately after getting hurt at work.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
