No one expects to be injured when they go into work. Safe work environments are a guaranteed right by law. If you are injured while on the job, you may be thinking to yourself, “I was injured at work, what are my rights?” As a worker in Texas, there are laws in place that protect you when you are injured on the job. There are specific actions you need to take to make sure you are able to receive appropriate compensation for your injuries.

Take the following steps after a Texas workplace accident:

  1. Report the Injury: While you may be scared and don’t want to get in trouble with your manager, the most important thing you can do after being hurt on the job is report the injury immediately. You must report the injury within 30 days to your employer or you may lose your right to seek compensation. Your employer cannot retaliate against you, so do not be afraid to report the incident right away. By reporting a work injury when it occurs, your employer cannot later claim the injury did not happen on the job.
  2. Seek Medical Attention: No matter the severity of your injuries, seeking medical attention immediately after a workplace injury is a wise choice. You may not realize how hurt you are. If you have fallen and hit your head, head trauma can sometimes take over 24 hours to present itself. Seeing a doctor, even if you believe the injuries to be minor, is critical to recovery. You will also have medical records indicating that you have been injured while at work. Your employer may want you to go to a company doctor first. While you are not required by law to do this, some work policies require this to keep your job. Choose a doctor or facility you are comfortable with who accepts workplace injury related claims.
  3. Document Everything: Be sure to keep track of all of your bills, whether emergency room, medical doctor, physical therapy, parking, or another expenses. Building and maintaining a paper trail is crucial to being able to prove up your damages in negotiations and in court, if needed. In addition, be careful what documentation you sign without speaking to an experienced attorney first.
  4. Hire an Experienced Attorney: Hiring an experience work injury attorney is your next step to ensuring you receive fair compensation. An experienced personal injury trial lawyer can determine if there are any liable third parties that need to be sued for financial compensation if their negligence or other actions were involved in your work injury.

Houston Area Workplace Injury Attorneys

Getting injured at work can change your life dramatically, but you do not have to deal with it on your own. Our Houston, Texas personal injury legal team can guide you through the legal processes necessary to recover financial damages for your injuries and the associated costs. You have a limited amount of time to file your claim. Contact us today to talk to our legal team.

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