Accidents can occur at any workplace, regardless of occupation, and can range from falls to chemical spills. Texas offers protection to workers who are victims of work-related accidents in the form of workers’ compensation claims. Most employers in Texas are part of the workers’ compensation system, and as such, are legally required to provide their employees with medical care or reimbursement, as well as wage reimbursement, after a work-related accident. If you or a loved one have experienced a type of work-related accident, you may be entitled for compensation for your medical care or lost wages resulting from your injuries.

Work-related accidents that lead to injuries may include the following:

• Heavy equipment malfunction
• Falls
• Falling boxes
• Chemical leaks
• Explosions

Workers in Texas are especially susceptible to accidents related to the oil and gas or chemical industry, including oil rig explosions or blowouts. These accidents can have dire consequences for all employees working on the oil rig, and should lead fall within workers’ compensation actions. Accidents which occur outside the state lines (such as on an off-shore rig) will likely fall within a federal statute. If you have any questions regarding your accident and the type of recovery you are eligible to receive, do not hesitate to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

The Texas Workers’ Compensation system provides employees with an avenue to bring a claim to the state after a type of work-related accident occurs that results in injuries. Extreme accidents and injuries can require an employee to spend weeks or even months in the hospital. For these types of injuries, an employee should bring a claim for their medical expenses as well as lost wages to cover the length of time they have had to be away from work as a result of the workplace accident.

An employee has the right to consult with an attorney prior to making a workers’ compensation claim. An attorney will be able to advise the employee regarding the correct method to file a claim, and whether the employer is covered within the state workers’ compensation protection.

It is important that the employee timely notify their employer of the accident and any resulting injuries, including the severity. Texas law requires that an employee notify their employer within 30 days of receiving the injury. However, the employee will still have one year from the date of the injury (or the date the employee discovered the injury) to make a claim with the state. While most injuries are the result of an accident, others may be due to a gradual incident at the workplace which slowly leads to an injury over time. If you have questions regarding your injury, contact a workers’ compensation attorney to further discuss your claim eligibility.

If you or a loved one were injured in a work-related accident, do not hesitate to contact Tony Malley of the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling workers’ compensation claims from all types of industries. Contact our Beaumont or Houston offices today for your initial free consultation.