Protect Your Right to Proper Work Injury Treatment and Medical Care After an On-the-Job Injury
You're going about your typical workday when suddenly you slip, trip, fall, or get injured by a piece of equipment. Now, on top of the pain and shock of the incident, you're left wondering how you'll get the work injury treatment you need — especially if your employer doesn't have workers' compensation insurance.
While most private employers in Texas are not required to carry workers' compensation coverage, this doesn't mean you're out of options if you've been hurt at work. As an experienced work injury attorney serving Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding areas, Warren Armstrong understands the challenges you're facing. He is here to help you understand your medical care rights after an on-the-job injury.
You Have a Right to Receive Necessary Work Injury Treatment Without Retaliation
First and foremost, it's crucial to understand that if you've been injured at work, you have the right to seek the work injury treatment you need without fear of retaliation from your employer. This means your employer cannot fire you, demote you, reduce your hours, or take any other adverse action against you simply because you sought medical treatment for your work-related injury.
If your employer does attempt to punish you for getting necessary work injury treatment, you may have grounds for a retaliation claim in addition to your work injury claim. Retaliation is illegal, and the law protects employees who assert their medical care rights.
You Can Choose Your Doctor for Work Injury Treatment
In a workers' compensation case, your choice of medical providers is often limited to those approved by your employer's insurance carrier. However, if your employer is a non-subscriber (meaning they don't carry workers' comp insurance), you generally have the right to choose your doctor.
This is a significant advantage because it allows you to select a medical provider you trust who will prioritize your health and well-being over your employer's bottom line. You can choose a doctor who specializes in treating your specific type of injury and who will provide the comprehensive work injury treatment you need to achieve maximum medical improvement.
Your Employer May Still Be Responsible for Your Medical Bills
Just because your employer doesn't have workers' compensation insurance doesn't mean they're off the hook for your medical expenses. If your injury was caused by your employer's negligence or the negligence of a co-worker, you may be able to hold your employer liable for your medical bills and other damages through a personal injury claim.
In a non-subscriber work injury case, you'll need to prove that your employer's negligence contributed to your injury. This might involve showing that they failed to provide proper safety equipment, didn't adequately train employees, or allowed dangerous work conditions to persist.
An experienced Dallas-Fort Worth work injury lawyer like Warren Armstrong can help you gather the evidence needed to build a strong case and pursue the compensation you deserve for your work injury treatment and more.
You May Be Entitled to Additional Damages Beyond Medical Expenses
In addition to compensation for your medical bills, you may also be able to recover damages for:
- Lost income. If your injury has caused you to miss work, you can seek compensation for your lost wages, commissions, benefits, and other income.
- Reduced earning capacity. If your injury has left you unable to perform the same work you did before or has forced you to take a lower-paying job, you can pursue damages for the reduction in your earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering. You can seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional anguish caused by your work injury.
- Disability. If you've been left with a permanent impairment or disability due to your work injury, you may be entitled to additional damages.
An experienced work injury attorney can help you assess the full extent of your damages and fight for the maximum compensation available in your case, including the costs of work injury treatment.
