Understanding Workers Compensation After a Dallas Construction Site Accident

Understanding Workers Compensation After a Dallas Construction Site Accident

As experienced Dallas construction site injury lawyers, we have learned that construction workers in need of compensation frequently do not actually understand what workers compensation actually is. To be honest, that's not terribly surprising considering that the laws and regulations concerning workers compensation in Texas are incredibly complex. Put simply, however, if your employer has workers compensation, it means that you must pursue a claim for damages solely through their workers comp insurance provider. If your employer has a workers compensation policy, then you will not be able to pursue additional compensation above the liability limit of the workers comp policy. However, it is always a good idea to consult with an experienced workers compensation attorney, because companies and their insurance representatives often use the legal complexities of workers compensation to cheat injury victims out of recovering the full and fair compensation they are entitled to.

You should also be aware that sometimes your employer might purposefully give you the impression that they have a workers comp policy in place, when in reality no such insurance exists. The reason companies do this is because they think that if their employees believe they have workers comp, then they will accept the minimal compensation should an accident occur. In reality, if no workers compensation exists prior to your accident, then your employer would be liable for all damages related to your accident including your full medical costs and loss of income‚ as well as compensation for the pain, suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life that you have experienced as a result of your injuries. Do not take your employer's word at face value. It is always worth having true peace of mind by consulting with an attorney before you sign any paperwork or accept any settlement check.

Assuming that your employer does indeed have workers compensation, that does not mean that all other avenues of recovering compensation are closed to you. This is important to understand, particularly since a serious construction accident can often leave the employee with significant injuries which might mean they will never be able to return to their current occupation. The financial implications of this can be huge. Aside from the medical expenses associated with the accident, there will be a significant impact on the individual's future earning capacity. Since the amount of money you can recover on a workers compensation claim is strictly capped, you might still be looking at significant economic problems. If your accident was the fault of another party (a separate contracting company or the manufacturer of defective equipment, for example) then you might also be able to pursue additional compensation through another claim against them directly.

If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury while working at a construction site or in another job function involving physical labor, it is critical that you consult with an experienced Dallas personal injury lawyer. Call Guajardo & Marks today, toll free at 877-290-1382.