Sustaining an injury or getting sick at work can have significant consequences for you and your family. You will have the worries of having to take extended time off from work, bills piling up, and how you will make ends meet, on top of dealing with your physical recovery. That’s why you should know about Texas Workers’ Compensation laws.
Every state has its own workers’ compensation laws which allow people to request benefits if they sustain job-related injuries or illnesses on the job or as a result of their employment. The workers’ compensation regulations that are codified in state law outline the specific benefits to which these employees are entitled, as are the procedures for obtaining these benefits. If you need help navigating the legal system in order to get the benefits you need due to a workplace injury claim, contacting a reputable personal injury attorney is key.
Workers’ compensation laws are intended to make certain that employees who are harmed on the job in Texas receive set financial compensation, without having to fight for it in court. Workers’ compensation laws provide protection for employees who could suffer an injury or illness in the course of their employment. Chapter 406 of the Texas Labor Code which addresses workers’ compensation insurance coverage defines the three main types of benefits that employers are required to pay to any employee injured or ill due to work-related events or circumstances:
- medical benefits,
- income benefits, and
- death benefits.
(Note: In the case that one or more other laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act provide greater protection than workers’ compensation laws, they are applied to the case instead of workers’ compensation laws.)
It is important to know that the State of Texas does not require most employers to have some form of workers’ compensation insurance to deal with providing coverage to employees who are harmed while performing work duties; it is optional. But there are some Texas industries and employers that ARE required to have workers’ compensation coverage. These include:
- Any public employer, including cities, counties, and state agencies
- State universities, including the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech University
- Building and construction contractors for public employers
- Motorbus companies
- Motor carriers (providing transportation over public highways)
- Liquid propane gas and compressed natural gas dealers
- Employers of inmates in work furlough programs
– https://www.insureon.com/small-business-insurance/workers-compensation/texas
If any employers not on that list choose not to offer insurance coverage, their businesses could possibly face personal injury lawsuits filed by employees who sustain workplace injuries or suffer other job-related harm.
If you have questions regarding legal action due to workplace injuries, reach out to the McAllen, Texas-based attorney Manuel “Manny” Guerra of Guerra Law Firm, P.C. When you need the services of a reputable South Texas lawyer for a workers’ compensation case, you can be sure that the honest and caring counsel at Guerra Law will work to secure fair and just compensation for you. Mr. Guerra has practiced law in Texas for over 20 years and is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Contact Guerra Law Firm, P.C. at any time online or by calling 956-277-9497.