All workplaces experience accidents from time to time, but the fact is that some jobs are riskier than others. Many employers in Texas have workers’ compensation, so if you are injured while at work in Austin, you may be able to apply for compensation through your employer’s insurance provider. However, workers’ comp. is not compulsory in Texas, so you may be one of the unlucky ones who work for an uninsured employer. If you are injured while at work and believe that your employer was at fault and know that your employer is uninsured, you may still be able to pursue a personal injury claim with the help of an appropriate attorney. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in Austin There are a large number of attorneys who are based in and around San Antonio, but it is best to select an attorney who is both licensed as a San Antonio based attorney as well as one who specializes in workers’ compensation and personal injury law. There are at least 155 attorneys in the city that will deal with workers’ comp., so you have a big choice and should easily find one who is prepared to take on your case. In the event that you have to file a personal injury claim instead, a WC attorney is still a good choice as they will have had experience dealing with employers’ insurance providers. Common Injuries at Work in Austin All workplaces in Austin have a certain amount of risk attached to working in them, even if it is a slip and fall on a wet floor or tripping over a loose bit of carpeting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the two most common accident prone occupations in the state are in transportation and construction. These two occupations alone account for* nearly 50% of all fatal and non-fatal accidents in the state. Construction injuries may be caused by faulty equipment, encouragement by the employer or contractor to use unsafe working procedures such as insufficient scaffolding, or lack of training. Transportation injuries in and around the city of Austin may happen when the worker is working in an exposed location and is hit by a driver who drives too fast, or too recklessly. The Workers’ Compensation Procedure in Austin The first step in filing a claim for compensation after a workplace injury is to determine whether to file a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury claim. If your employer has workers’ comp. insurance this means that you will not be able to pursue a personal injury claim instead. A workers' comp. claim should be filed with your individual employer’s insurer within 1 year of the injury, preferably much sooner. Also note that whatever insurance provisions your employer has at work, you should notify your immediate supervisor or manager of the injury as soon as you can, giving details of what happened, how it happened and the date and time. If there is no workers’ compensation insurance available, you will need to file a personal injury claim instead with the help of a personal injury attorney, preferably one who also deals with workers’ comp. cases. The petition, when compiled, should be filed with an Austin civil claims court. Your attorney will help you file the petition with the right court. Unless the amount is very small (less than $200), this is more than likely going to be the Travis County District Court in Austin. Court hours for all enquiries that cannot be answered online should be made between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. every weekday, except for Texas and national public holidays. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Austin Based Attorney There are good reasons why you should get experienced legal assistance from an Austin based licensed workers’ comp. attorney. Because there are so many to choose from, you can use our free evaluation form below to help you select the best attorney to assist you with your claim, whether it is a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury claim. Remember that there are strict statutes of limitations in Texas that mean you should file your claim with adequate documentation well within the time limit, or you may not be able to obtain any compensation at all. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation Attorneys in Texas Workers’ Compensation in Texas *Source: bls.gov/iif/oshstate.htm#TX
