If your employer doesn’t subscribe to workers’ compensation, you may need the help of a Houston non-subscriber claims lawyer to protect your rights when you’re hurt at work. Employers in Texas are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Some of the largest companies don’t carry workers’ comp, including big names like Walmart, Home Depot, Kroger, Amazon, HEB, Landry’s, HCA, and others. While most larger non-subscriber employers have their own insurance plans to cover on-the-job injuries, and some may even misleadingly call their coverage “workers’ comp,” these are not official state insurance plans.
These non-subscriber insurance plans aren’t subject to Texas Department of Insurance oversight when workers get hurt. Employees of non-subscriber companies can get left out in the cold if they are injured, instead of getting the healthcare and wage replacement benefits they need. Don’t let this happen to you.
Our Non-Subscriber Claims Lawyer Will Protect Your Rights
Do you work for a company that doesn’t carry “real” workers’ compensation insurance? If so, you may be at a great disadvantage when trying to get fair medical and wage coverage after an injury from a work accident. The reason many non-subscriber companies opt out of workers’ comp is because it is cheaper to provide their own insurance. This allows them more control over whether they will provide benefits and for how long.
Our Houston non-subscriber claims lawyer won’t let your employer or their insurance company take advantage of you when you’re hurting. If you work for a non-subscribing employer and are having trouble getting or keeping benefits after a work-related injury or illness, let us know. If you aren’t sure whether or not your employer is a non-subscriber, we can find that out for you, too. Once we do, we’ll advocate for you throughout the steps involved in getting coverage.
Schedule a free consultation with an experienced non-subscriber work injury lawyer in Houston by calling (713) 688-4878 today.
Understanding Workers’ Comp Versus Non-Subscriber Plans
Workers’ comp is a legal system created by statute, with rules established by the Texas Department of Insurance. When a worker files a traditional workers’ comp claim, there is a standard and well-documented process to get coverage. There are also state rules in place that say how long a person can get coverage based on disability levels. Injured workers who are denied coverage after their initial filing can take their claim to the next level through the workers’ comp appeals process.
If you’re injured and work for a non-subscriber, these processes and rules go out the window. Assuming they have one, the company’s plan–and not state law–governs whether you’ll get benefits and for how long. When you work for a non-subscriber, the sad truth is that you are at the mercy of your employer and its insurance company to get the medical benefits and wages you need. There is no oversight through the state and no official process for getting benefits or appealing if you are denied.
There is good news for injured workers, though. Unlike companies that carry workers’ compensation, companies that don’t carry it can be sued in the courts by injured employees. Once we review your case, we can determine whether you may be able to file a non-subscriber lawsuit against your company.
Non-Subscriber Accident Lawyer in Houston Protects Clients’ Interests
When you’re injured on the job, it can be devastating both physically and financially. The loss of your income can ruin your ability to feed your family and pay your debts. Medical bills can quickly pile up, causing mounting stress and financial hardship.
Because the stakes are so high, it’s critical that you work with an attorney who has successfully taken on non-subscriber cases. Our work injury lawyers at the Waldman Legal Group have the experience and skill to fight for you. Our law firm has in-depth knowledge of both the workers’ comp system and the alternative insurance coverages that try to pass themselves off as workers’ compensation. Call us today at (713) 688-4878 to learn how we can help you when you’ve been hurt at work or have an occupational illness. If you work for a non-subscriber company that isn’t giving you the help you need when you’re injured, you could get compensation through a lawsuit.
Learn About Filing a Non-Subscriber Lawsuit
In a non-subscriber lawsuit against your employer, you could get compensation to pay for medical expenses and lost wages. Here are damages that may be asked for in a lawsuit:
- Current and future medical treatment related to the injury or illness
- Medical equipment and devices
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- Lost wages from not being able to work while you recuperate
- Future lost earnings if your injuries make you unable to work or you have to work in a lower-paying job
- Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional trauma you’re experiencing
- Disfigurement from burns, amputations, and other severe injuries.
How much you could get will generally depend on the severity of your injuries and the degree to which you’re disabled and unable to work. To have the best chance of being successful in a lawsuit, however, you’ll need a skillful attorney who understands workplace injury law. Our non-subscriber accident lawyers in Houston have extensive experience standing up for the interests of people injured in the workplace.
Our Houston Non-Subscriber Claims Lawyer Will Fight for You
In Houston, serious work accidents happen every day. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cannot keep up with all the workplace incidents that occur. And, unfortunately, sometimes employers seek to cover up responsibility for injury accidents by not reporting them. But non-subscriber employers with five or more workers are required to report fatalities, injuries, and occupational illnesses that result in at least one lost workday to the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Our Houston non-subscriber lawyers at the Waldman Legal Group recognize that some employers try to cover up injuries, or even blame them on employees. If you’ve been injured at work and are being treated unfairly by your employer, we’ll fight for you. Call us for help at (713) 688-4878.
What to Do After a Workplace Accident
After a workplace injury, there are important steps to take to help protect your rights.
Get Medical Attention Right Away
When an injury accident happens, get medical attention right away. Failing to seek medical treatment is often used by insurance companies as a basis for denying benefits. Even if you don’t feel seriously injured, go to the doctor for an evaluation. Injuries don’t always show up right away. Your injury may be worse than you suspect, or it may get worse. If filing a non-subscriber lawsuit is a possibility in your case, doctor reports will be necessary evidence.
Report the Injury to Your Employer
Also, immediately report your injury to your employer. Don’t wait to report your injury, because any delay could be used to deny your benefits. You may be required to fill out an Accident Report. In the report, provide as much detail as possible and explain how the accident occurred. If you believe the accident was the fault of someone else or a defective piece of equipment, take the time to put that on the report. If there were witnesses to the accident, ask for statements from them. Do not give a recorded statement to anyone until you have talked to an experienced non-subscriber claims lawyer.
File a Claim for Your Injury
Once you’ve reported your injury, ask your employer about the process for filing a claim against their non-subscriber insurance. If you have any difficulty with filing or getting benefits coverage, we can help you. Don’t hesitate to contact our Houston non-subscriber work injury lawyers.
Contact Our Houston Non-Subscriber Work Injury Lawyers for Help
Employers who don’t have to pay injured worker insurance claims keep their costs down. Insurance companies make more money when they deny claims. Our Houston non-subscriber work injury lawyers take on employers and their insurers who don’t do right by workers. When you’ve been injured and need the benefits to which you’re entitled, we’ll aggressively stand up for you.
Waldman Legal Group in Houston has extensive experience handling cases for Texans injured at work. After reviewing your case, we’ll advise you about your options for filing a non-subscriber lawsuit against your employer, as well as any responsible third parties. We provide free consultations in a low-pressure, no-obligation environment. Call the Waldman Legal Group today at (713) 688-4878 to speak with a non-subscriber work injury lawyer you can trust.
