Going to work is not without its risks and accidents can happen at any time. In many Dallas workplaces, but not all, employers provide financial protection for their employees with workers’ compensation cover. This helps to pay for medical expenses and lost earnings. Injured workers who work in an uninsured workplace may still be able to obtain compensation through a personal injury claim, but must be able to prove that their employer was to blame for the accident. In either case, help from an experienced Dallas workers’ compensation attorney will prove invaluable. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in Dallas In the event that you decide you wish to file either a workers’ comp. or a personal injury claim after a workplace injury, you have a very good selection of licensed WC attorneys in the city. Over 140 individual attorneys in Dallas are able to provide legal assistance in workers’ compensation cases. In the event that your claim is denied by your employer’s insurer or there is no insurance cover at all, you will find that it will be hard to obtain the compensation you need without legal representation. Common Injuries at Work in Dallas All workplaces in the city have a certain risk of injury. However, if you work in an office environment the risk of serious injury is far less than if you work in the transportation or construction sector*. Construction sites in and around the city of Dallas experience almost daily incidents in which workers are injured, frequently seriously. This could be from a fall from improperly secured scaffolding, or an impact from a heavy object falling from a height or back strain from lifting heavy objects. Note that workers’ compensation insurance, where available, is a no-fault insurance, so unless you have deliberately set out to become injured, or were intoxicated, you should still be able to claim compensation even if you cannot prove that your employer was to blame. The Workers’ Compensation Procedure in Dallas There are strict deadlines for completing claims after an accident at work. The first step is to notify your employer after an injury, giving details of how the accident took place. If the employer has workers’ comp. insurance, you will need to file your claim with the insurer within 1year of the injury, preferably much earlier. If there are any problems, the Dallas branch of the Division of Workers’ Compensation should be contacted. A personal injury claim, on the other hand, should be filed with a Dallas civil court. This will probably be filed at the Dallas Civil District Courthouse in Commerce St. (hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. to Friday). This ‘petition,’ as it is called, should only be filed if there is no workers’ compensation available, or the WC claim has been denied and then only if you have sufficient proof that your employer was to blame. A personal injury claim is also subject to the Texas statute of limitations, which is 2 years from the date of the injury. Use Our Free Claim Evaluation to Select a Suitable Dallas Based Attorney Once you have notified your supervisor or employer about your injury and obtained medical attention or treatment you will be in a position to decide whether you wish to claim for compensation. The number of suitable, experienced attorneys in Dallas can be daunting when seeking legal assistance, so this is why we have a free evaluation form which you can use to help you select an attorney who best suits your needs. Additional Resources Workers’ Compensation in Texas Denied a Claim by Texas Mutual? *Source: bls.gov/iif/oshstate.htm#TX
