Texas is the only state that allows private employers to opt out of carrying mandatory workers’ compensation insurance. This leaves many workers vulnerable if they get injured on the job.
However, as experienced Texas work injury attorneys, we help injured employees pursue legal action and recover damages when their employers lack proper coverage. Here’s what you need to know about nonsubscribers and filing injury claims in our state.
The Nonsubscriber Problem in Texas
Under Texas law, businesses can choose not to provide workers’ comp and instead create their own plans to cover work injuries. These companies are known as nonsubscribers.
Without workers’ compensation:
– Employees who get injured on the job can’t get benefits like lost wage reimbursement or long-term medical care which are guaranteed under work comp.
– Workers who get injured on the job must prove their employer was legally liable and negligent in civil court to recover damages. This can be very difficult.
– Employers face higher risks and costs of lawsuits but avoid paying work comp insurance premiums.
Alarming Texas Work Injury Claim Statistics
– Over 200,000 Texas employers choose nonsubscriber status – approximately 18% of all businesses in the state.
– Consequently, more than 1.5 million Texas workers are employed in jobs with no workers’ compensation protections if they are injured on the job.
– Between 2012-2020, just 30% of all Texas workers’ personal injury lawsuits against nonsubscribers resulted in any payment to the injured employee.
– Nonsubscriber claims have a success rate less than half that of regular Texas workers’ comp cases.
Seeking Legal Help After Injuries on the Job
Accordingly, recovering fair compensation is extremely challenging without the benefits and protections of workers’ compensation insurance. The team at Armstrong Law has a successful track record litigating against even the largest nonsubscriber employers in Texas. These employers include Walmart, Target, Amazon, HEB, O’Reilly Auto, Kroger, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Randalls/Tom Thumb, and many others.
If you were injured on the job and your employer denied benefits, contact our experienced attorneys today. We will aggressively pursue compensation for your lost income, medical treatment, pain and suffering, and other damages. Our consultations are always free.