Texas has more workplace fatalities per year than any other state – and hundreds of thousands of workplace injuries per year. A workplace injury may reduce your ability to work or prevent you from working all together. If you have been injured at work, the Sloan Firm wants to help you!
What matters to you, matters to us. Client-centered representation is a key part of our law practice at the Sloan Firm. Our goal is to make sure that you are satisfied. We see the person behind the injury, and we know that each person is different.
Common Types of Injuries Suffered on the Job
Almost any type of injury may occur while on the job. The most common injuries are generally as a result of a slip and fall, overexertion (like from lifting or pushing), falling from heights, slipping or tripping without falling, walking or running into something, falling objects, heavy machinery injuries, repetitive motion, vehicle crashes, or workplace violence. More extreme cases include oil field injuries and construction site accidents.
These incidents often result in the following general types of injuries:
- Head injuries. This includes traumatic brain injuries (or TBIs), skull or face fractures, concussions, and facial lacerations, among other things.
- Neck and back injuries. This includes herniated disks, spinal cord injuries, broken vertebrae, and whiplash. Spinal cord injuries can be especially serious and could lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.
- Bone and joint injuries. These include all kinds of fractures and dislocations of bones and joints. Some bone injuries require surgery, but most bone injuries heal with time.
- Loss of limbs. Losing a limb is more common in occupations that deal with heavy machinery. A workplace accident involving machinery could cause a limb or extremity to be severed or to be so badly crushed or injured that the arm, leg, hand, foot, toe or finger needs to be removed.
- Muscle, tendon or ligament injuries. These injuries are not always immediately apparent and cannot be seen, but may cause significant pain and lasting impairment.
- Burns. Burns can be severe, life-changing, and sometimes fatal. In the workplace, they can be caused by fires, explosions, or chemical spills, for example.
- Stress Injuries. These are injuries that are common in an office setting or in a factory — any time you are doing the same movement over and over, such as typing or assembly, for example. Stress injuries include issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis and “trigger finger.”
Types of Compensation That May Be Available for Your Workplace Injury
If you are injured at work, you may have two avenues through which to pursue compensation for your injuries. If your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, we may be able to help. Because companies in Texas are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, your company may be privately insured, in which case you can sue the company directly for your personal injury. You may also have a personal injury claim against a third party if someone other than your employer or a co-worker did something to cause your injury.
Under workers’ compensation, the following types of claims are generally brought:
- Medical expenses. This includes expenses incurred for treating your workplace injury, such as hospital bills and doctor’s bills. However, nontraditional or experimental medical practices or therapies may not be covered.
- Rehabilitation. This includes physical therapy as well as any training or instruction you may need in order to return to work, whether at your former job or at a new one.
- Disability. Depending on your injury and its impact on your ability to work, you may qualify for disability payments. The amount you receive is usually two-thirds of what you were earning previously, and you are not required to pay taxes on the income from disability payments.
- Death. This is intended to provide income for dependents if they lose a family member in a workplace accident.
If you have a personal injury claim against your company (if it carries private insurance rather than workers’ compensation) or a third party, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Therapy
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other physical, financial and emotional harm
- Wrongful death
New Mexico and Texas Workplace Injury Attorneys
Contact a workers’ compensation attorney from the Sloan Firm today. We have lawyers ready to help you in Longview, Houston and throughout East Texas, as well as in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We can provide advice and guidance to help you through this difficult time.