Waco Workplace Injury Lawyer

Accidents can happen on the job. Some jobs pose a higher risk than others for accidents. When you have been injured on the job and your ability to earn a living is in jeopardy, you want to make sure that you can take care of yourself and your family. A workplace injury can impact your ability to do the work that you do, or keep you out of work, permanently. Your worker’s compensation insurance, if your company offers a plan, may be insufficient to take care of you while you are incapacitated.

A Waco workplace injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you need to take care of your medical expenses, as well as other losses that you might incur as a result of your injury. Craft Law Firm will go to work when you can’t to make sure that your needs are taken care of.

At Craft Law Firm we have experienced lawyers who have represented workers in Texas and across the country. We believe each case is the most important case in each of our client’s lives, and we treat their case accordingly, to get the best outcome for them and their families. We have a reputation for excellence and experience, including our track record of results.

If you have been injured in the workplace, call us at 254-212-4107 for a free and confidential case evaluation. You will speak with a Waco personal injury attorney when you call, not a paralegal or intake specialist.

Types of Workplace Injuries

Texas is home to some high-risk workplaces like the oil and gas industry, but all workplaces have varying degrees of risk associated with them. Workplace injuries can be caused by exposure to hazardous materials, defective machines, poorly maintained work tools, dangerous premises, or misconduct by another employee or third-party. Employers have a responsibility to maintain a safe and conducive work environment for their employees, but no matter how careful an employer is, accidents can happen, which is why there are workers’ compensation laws to ensure that people who suffer injuries in the workplace are adequately compensated.

The most common workplace injuries include:

Transportation incidents
Falls, slips, and trips
Contact with objects and equipment
Burn injuries from fires and explosions
Violence or other injuries by persons or animals
Exposure to harmful substances or environments

If your loved one died in a workplace accident, contact a Waco wrongful death attorney for help.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation insurance is provided by law to ensure that workers who are injured on the job are adequately compensated for their injuries. Employers and employees make contributions to a plan for the benefit of injured workers. Workers’ compensation covers injuries that happen while an employee is working at the employer’s work location or not. For example, if a delivery person is injured in a road accident while making a delivery for their employer, their injury took place in the course of their duty for their employer, so they would be eligible for workers’ compensation.

Workers’ compensation operates on a no-fault basis so that the injured employee gets compensation to cover their medical expenses and a percentage of their salary regardless of whether the employee or the employer were at fault for the injury. The difficulty with workers’ compensation is that it does not cover all injuries suffered on the job and may not sufficiently compensate the employee for all their losses. In exchange for the guarantee of compensation in the event of an injury, the employee cannot file a civil lawsuit against the employer, except where the injury occurs as a result of the employer’s negligence or misconduct.

Third-Party Liability

There are instances where an employee is injured as a result of the actions or omissions of another person or entity that is not their employer. In such instances, they may be able to get compensation from that person or entity under a third-party liability claim. If an employee is injured as a result of a defectively manufactured equipment, they may be able to make a claim against the manufacturer. The benefit of a third-party liability claim is that the employee’s claim is not limited to their medical expenses as it is with their workers’ compensation. They are able to make claims for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering in a third-party liability claim.

If your employer has a workers’ compensation policy, the insurance company may have a subrogation interest in your third-party liability claim, which means that they make a claim on your behalf. Every state has its own rules about third-party liability claims, and an experienced lawyer can advise you on the options available to you to receive compensation for your injuries.

Can I Still Make a Claim if I Had a Pre-existing Condition?

You may be worried about making a claim for a workplace injury because you have a pre-existing condition. While having a pre-existing condition may make a claim for some injuries more complex, it does not mean that you are ineligible to make a claim. Your employer’s insurance company may try to put a cap on how much workers’ compensation they pay you because of your pre-existing condition. Having an experienced Waco workplace injury lawyer pursuing your interests with the insurance company and any other parties liable for your injury will ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Craft Law Firm has medical experts who will work with you to prepare a solid claim.

What to Do After a Workplace Accident

You should immediately inform your supervisor or human resources officer and follow your company’s policy for reporting a workplace injury. The next thing to do is to seek medical attention. Your company policy may have restrictions on which providers you can see for your injuries. Your employer has a limited timeframe to make a report to their insurance company to make a claim, and they may also be required to report the accident to the state. The insurance company also has a timeframe to respond to the claim with their decision. The insurance company’s decision will determine how you proceed. You should contact a Waco workplace injury lawyer immediately if you are not satisfied with the decision of the insurance company.