Texas is a booming state with many industries that are crucial for the country, including the fuel industry, manufacturing, agriculture, commercial freight, and construction. While a workplace accident can occur even in a luxurious office setting, they are far more common in sectors that require hands-on labor, heavy equipment, and transportation, all of which are prevalent in many Texas workplaces.
If you or a close family member suffered an on-the-job injury in El Paso, you deserve experienced representation for your workers’ compensation claim. Contact our El Paso personal injury lawyer at Cal Mundell Injury Law today for a free, confidential consultation.
Why Choose Cal Mundell Injury Law for Your Workers’ Compensation Claim In El Paso?
Workers’ compensation is a critical safety net for Texas employees. Unfortunately, it also comes from an insurance company with profits as its motive. By choosing Cal Mundell Injury Law, you’ll find the following advantages:
- A workers’ compensation attorney in El Paso on your side who began his career defending insurance companies, giving him the advantage of knowing what makes a compelling claim
- A personalized strategy tailored to the unique circumstances of your case, rather than a carbon-copy approach that might not result in the best possible outcome
- A compassionate attorney who understands the impacts of a workplace injury on the victim and their family, and is ready to assertively argue for your full and fair compensation
A free confidential consultation and contingency-based payment means you pay nothing for your legal representation until you receive your compensation.
When Can I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim In Texas?
Anytime a Texas employee suffers an injury in the workplace or while performing work duties off their worksite, they are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, provided they inform their employer and meet all filing dates and requirements.
An employee may file for workers’ compensation if their injury is significant enough to require medical treatment and interferes with their ability to return to work due to temporary total or partial disability, or permanent total or partial disability.
What Types of Injuries are Eligible for Workers’ Compensation In El Paso?
Texans work hard, including in El Paso, but on-the-job accidents can disrupt an injury victim’s life, leaving them facing financial hardship and an uncertain future. Common injuries named in El Paso workers’ compensation claims include the following:
- Bone fractures
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Knee Injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and tendon damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crush injuries
- Facial and dental trauma
- Burns
- Chemical exposure illnesses
- Electrocution injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chest and thoracic injuries
Some workplace injuries have only temporary effects, resulting in damages such as a single emergency room bill, a bill for a follow-up appointment, and a few days or a week of lost pay. More serious injuries can cause extensive medical bills and rehabilitative care costs, as well as weeks or months of lost wages. In the worst cases, a workplace injury results in permanent disability or death.
What Can I Get From a Workers’ Compensation Claim In Texas?
When a serious injury prevents an El Paso employee from a prompt return to work at the same time that they have medical bills piling up, they may feel frightened about their future and wonder how they will provide for their family. Fortunately, a well-executed workers’ compensation claim can result in the following benefits:
- Reimbursement of your medical expenses and payment for all future injury-related medical care through a provider from the employer’s list
- Temporary income benefits at 70% of your average weekly wages based on the pay you earned from your employer during the 13 weeks prior to your injury, but not to exceed the state’s average weekly wage, or
- Temporary income benefits at 70% of the difference between your normal pay and light-duty pay if you can return to work, but not in your previous capacity
- Impairment income benefits of 70% of your average weekly wages for permanent bodily injury (this also applies to employees who are able to return to work despite their permanent bodily injury for a period of time based on the impairment rating assigned to them by their doctor)
- Supplemental income benefits of 80% of your average weekly pay for impairment ratings of 15% or more if you are out of work or earning less than 80% of your prior pay, and can show that you are looking for work. This benefit requires reapplication every three months
- Lifetime income benefits of 75% of your average weekly wages, plus a 3% annual increase, for catastrophic injuries such as the loss of one of the senses, loss of limb, or brain injury
- Death and burial benefits of 75% of the decedent’s income and $10,000 burial costs paid to the closest surviving family member, such as a spouse, child, or parent
Workers’ compensation is a crucial safety net for injured workers in El Paso and throughout Texas, but an injury victim may receive a claim denial unless they carefully adhere to the filing process and provide significant evidence of the cause and extent of their injury.
What to Do After a Workplace Accident In El Paso
After suffering a serious injury, it can be difficult to take purposeful action to advocate for yourself while you are dealing with pain and trauma. However, it’s crucial to take whatever steps you can to protect your physical and financial future. You can do this by using your phone to snap pictures of the cause of the injury, anything relevant to the injury, and the injury itself. Add the names and contact information of any fellow employees who were eyewitnesses to the accident. Then, ask your immediate supervisor to fill out an accident report.
To receive workers’ compensation in Texas, you must inform your employer of the injury in writing within 30 days of the injury.
Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer before formally informing your lawyer is highly advantageous to ensure the best possible outcome.
Contact Cal Mundell Injury Law for Your El Paso Workers’ Compensation Case
Facing an inability to return to work because of a serious workplace injury is frightening, leaving an injury victim worried about their financial future as well as their physical one. Instead of taking on such a crucial legal process without skilled representation, reach out to the El Paso workers’ compensation law firm that gets prompt, favorable results for injured clients. Cal Mundell Injury Law is ready to help.