Have you been injured while at work in San Antonio, Texas? If you have, you may be able to obtain compensation from your employer. Workers’ compensation is not compulsory in Texas, so you should find out if your employer has workers’ compensation insurance first before submitting a claim for compensation. You may be able to file a personal injury claim if your employer does not have WC insurance. A San Antonio based workers' compensation attorney can help you with either a WC or personal injury claim. Selecting a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in San Antonio Use a Licensed San Antonio based attorney if you decide to make a claim, or just want to ask for advice. There are several hundred licensed attorneys in San Antonio, around 60 whom specialize in workers’ compensation claims. It is best to select a workers’ comp. attorney as they will have worked with these sorts of claims before, they understand Texas WC law and can advise what to do if your employer does not have this type of insurance. Workers’ Compensation in San Antonio All workplaces can at times be accident prone, but some workplaces are more likely to experience accidents than others. Across Texas, statistics* show that the most accident prone jobs are in transportation. Workers who maintain highways are at risk from vehicle drivers who fail to slow down and keep a good look out. Highway maintenance contractors are expected to provide safe working conditions for their employees and there are stiff fines for drivers who fail to obey warnings before work sites on Texas roads, yet accidents continue to happen. Injured highway maintenance and construction staff may find it difficult to claim compensation from their employers without seeking legal help from an experienced attorney. Workers’ comp. attorneys will be able to determine just who is liable for compensation after a highway accident event and advise what sort of claim to file and how to provide sufficient evidence to back up the claim. Workers’ Compensation Process in San Antonio It is important that you are aware of the statute of limitations if you decide to make a claim for compensation for your injury at work. If you are making a workers’ compensation claim because your employer has WC insurance, you must file a claim within 1 year of the injury or within 1 year of a workplace related illness being detected. The claim should be filed with the San Antonio branch of the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Texas Department of Finance. If you are filing a personal injury claim, you should file the claim within 2 years of the injury. Your attorney will help you identify which court to file the claim with and what documentation you need when filing the petition. This might be the Bexar County Court or the San Antonio Municipal Court. Courts are open from 8 a.m. through to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Attorney Whether you are able to claim through your employer’s workers’ compensation policy or resort to filing a personal injury claim, you can find a suitable San Antonio workers’ compensation attorney by completing our free claim evaluation form below. It is advisable to start the claim procedure as early as you are able to do so. You must do so within the statute of limitations in any case, but the earlier you get started the more likely you will have a successful outcome. Additional Resources Denied Workers’ Compensation in Texas? Workers’ Compensation in Texas *Source: bls.gov/iif/oshstate.htm#TX
