Essential Information About Workers’ Compensation Claims In Texas
After a work-related illness or injury, you may have a lot of questions about your options and legal rights regarding workers’ compensation benefits in Texas. The lawyers at The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C., are committed to helping people through this complicated system. We can work with you to answer your questions, like those answered below, and make informed decisions.
Can I choose my own doctor for a work injury?
Regardless of what your employer or the insurance company may have told you, there is no requirement for you to stay in the health care network of their choice. Unless the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission says otherwise, you have the right to choose your own doctor. Your medical treatment is a vital part of your healing process after a work injury, and you deserve to have a doctor you trust to help you through your recovery.
Do I have a workers’ compensation claim?
You may be surprised to learn that most forms of workplace injuries qualify for workers’ compensation. In fact, it is often easier to explain what situations are not eligible for workers’ compensation. Some of these scenarios include:
- Intoxication or reckless behavior
- Driving to or from work (off the clock)
- While attending an off-duty work event (picnics, sports games, etc.)
- During recreational activities during work travel
Insurance companies may try to claim that your injuries do not qualify you for compensation, which is where we come in. Instead of representing yourself, we are prepared to fight against insurance companies to help you earn every cent you deserve after your accident.
How does workers’ compensation work in Texas?
When someone is hurt on the job or while working, their injuries were not caused by self-intoxication or recklessness and the incident meets other qualifications, they can seek compensation to cover medical costs and lost income, and family members can seek compensation for loss of life. The claim process typically involves:
- Reporting the injury to the employer within one month of the accident
- Seeking necessary medical attention
- Filing the workers’ compensation claim
- Creating a return-to-work plan
- The insurance company makes a settlement offer
- You receive a judgment
- You can choose to accept the payout
We can guide you through every step of your compensation claim to ensure that you receive your money as soon as possible and pursue the maximum amount available to you.
Who’s responsible for a work-related injury?
In most cases involving work-related injuries, the primary source of compensation is the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation coverage provides wage loss and medical benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries.
Negligent third parties are often responsible for injuries that people suffer in the course of doing their jobs. For example, if you were injured while making a delivery, a negligent motorist may be responsible for your injuries. In addition to helping you pursue the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve, we can also pursue a third-party personal injury claim against the negligent driver.
Why hire a workers’ comp attorney?
Injured workers are not required to have a workers’ comp attorney represent them in order to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. However, many workers in Texas find comfort and peace of mind in having a legal professional look out for their rights and guide them through what is often a complicated and intimidating process.
Contact Our San Antonio Firm To Get The Answers You Need
If you have any questions about workers’ compensation benefits in Texas, the attorneys at The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C., are here to answer them. Please contact us online or call us at 866-609-3852 today for a no-risk consultation with an experienced lawyer.