Workplace Injuries

Did You Know There’s More than Just Workers’ Compensation?

Legally Reviewed By Dan Christensen

This page has ben written, edited, and reviewed, by a team of our expert legal team following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by President and Founder, Daniel J Christensen who has more than 30 years of experience as a personal injury attorney

Fact checked By Dan Christensen

This page has ben written, edited, and reviewed, by a team of our expert legal team following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by President and Founder, Daniel J Christensen who has more than 30 years of experience as a personal injury attorney

Published By Dan Christensen

Last Updated June 12, 2019 – 17 minute read

Did You Know There’s More than Just Workers’ Compensation?

Workers are injured all the time in Austin. Fortunately, the state’s workers’ compensation system makes it relatively easy to get the medical care you need, at no expense to you. If you are injured and cannot work, you may qualify for income benefits.

However, workers’ compensation is not the only money you might receive for your injuries. Many workers are injured because someone was negligent, reckless, or careless, and these people should be held accountable. In these situations, you might be able to sue this person in a civil lawsuit filed in state or federal court.

Common Examples of Third-Party Lawsuits

Texas’ workers’ compensation laws prohibit injured workers from suing their employer in the vast majority of cases. However, if a third party has injured you, they can certainly be sued. For example:

  • You are running a work-related errand when another motorist slams into you, causing injury. Here, you can bring a third-party claim against the negligent driver.
  • A customer comes into your place of work and assaults you. Here, you have a valid claim against the customer.
  • You are unloading supplies from a vendor’s truck when supplies crash onto you. Depending on other facts, you might have a valid claim against the vendor.
  • A defective piece of equipment injures you. For example, you might climb a ladder to reach something in your office when the ladder collapses, sending you to the ground. If the product was defective, you might have a claim against the manufacturer.

The key in all these cases is whether the person who injured you was at fault. If so, they must pay you compensation.

Compensation from Third Party Claims

Workers’ compensation benefits rarely cover all our clients’ losses, that being said most of our clients benefit from bringing a third-party claim. For example:

  • Our client might need medical care that isn’t covered by workers’ comp.
  • Our client has lost wages not covered by disability benefits. Typically, benefits only cover two-thirds of a workers’ average wage. With a civil lawsuit, you can receive full compensation for lost wages.
  • Workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering or emotional distress, which could be considerable. A worker who has lost the use of his legs has suffered a dramatic change in his quality of life and should be compensated accordingly.

Every case is different, and there is no guarantee that an injured worker will win a third-party lawsuit. However, an experienced attorney should always be thinking about how to maximize the amount of money you receive so you can get back on track.

Give DJC Law a Call

If you are one of the thousands of Austin residents injured in a workplace accident and are worried about how you will cover your bills, we can help. DJC Law is an established personal injury firm in Austin that has worked with countless employees who have suffered injuries on the job.

Reach out to us today. You can call 512-888-9999 to schedule a free consultation where we can review your case.

Dan Christensen

Dan Christensen has been practicing law since 1994. He started his career working in military courts, notorious for their strict adherence to rules and procedures. For the last several years, Dan has focused his practice exclusively on representing injury victims. He has been involved in almost 200 trials during his career in numerous federal and state courts against the largest defendants, including the U.S. Government.

Years of experience: +30 years
Justia Profile: Dan Christensen
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024

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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of our expert legal team following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by President and Founder, Daniel J Christensen, who has more than 30 years of experience as a personal injury attorney.