Dallas Work Injury Lawyers

Work is one of the most important aspects of life. It gives meaning and offers a way for people to provide for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, an injury on the job can lead to extended time off and loss of financial resources. You have options for compensation if you are injured or become sick, and a Dallas work injury lawyer can help.

Sometimes, injured workers are unsure of their rights after an on-the-job incident. This puts them in a vulnerable position and may lead to lower benefit awards or a denial. If you’ve been injured on the job, know that you may be entitled to significant compensation from different sources.

At Crain Brogdon, LLP, we have a Dallas work accident attorney ready to speak with you about your case. We will present the various options you have for getting the financial resources you need. Call us anytime for a free consultation at 214-522-9404.

Our Dallas Work Injury Lawyer Fights to Get You Maximum Compensation

Your Case May Be More Valuable than You Think

The value of your case depends on many factors. If your payment comes solely from workers’ compensation, then your weekly payout may be limited in helping you cover your needs. The methods of calculating workers’ compensation benefits do not necessarily favor the injured worker, but a skilled work injury lawyer can fight for the benefit amount that their client truly needs.

If you get compensation from a third-party injury claim on top of your workers’ compensation insurance payout, then your payments will go much further in truly addressing the damages you have suffered. After reviewing your case, a Dallas work injury lawyer will walk you through your options.

Working with Our Dallas Work Injury Lawyers Helps Ensure a Smooth Process

You Deserve Peace of Mind as You Heal from Your Injuries

A work injury can create all manner of chaos in your life. The last thing you need is a stressful claims process standing in the way of your receiving compensation. Sadly, obstacles do present themselves, and workers often get discouraged. For this reason, it is wise to consider seeking adept legal representation from a work accident lawyer.

When you are feeling overwhelmed from the stress of your injury, you deserve to rest, gather your strength, and heal. Meanwhile, your work injury lawyer in Dallas will be handling the process for you with your best interests in mind.

A Dallas Work Accident Lawyer Can Handle Difficult Insurance Companies for You

When you submit a claim for workers’ compensation, you will be examined by a doctor who works for the insurance company handling your claim. It is in the best interests of the insurance company to have an impairment disability calculated at the lowest percentage possible or to deny a claim outright. For this reason, it is not uncommon for workers to get far less compensation than what they deserve.

At Crain Brogdon, we vigorously protect our clients’ claims by keeping insurance companies in check. We know the methods they use to try to devalue workers’ claims, and we don’t stand for these tactics.

For a discreet sit-down with a knowledgeable work accident lawyer, call Crain Brogdon today at 214-522-9404.

Our Dallas Work Accident Attorney Can Help You with a Denied Claim

It is not uncommon to have your workers’ compensation claim denied. Fortunately, you can appeal the decision. With the help of a work injury lawyer in Dallas, your chances of winning the appeal may be significantly higher. In order to dispute a rejection, you must appear at a benefit review conference (BRC) with the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation. During this meeting, your attorney will vigorously represent your case and fight for a reversal.

Whatever the stage of your claim, you can expect your work injury lawyer in Dallas to be on the case so that you can have some peace while you heal.

Workers’ Compensation Payout

When you are injured and have to take time off work, you should have as much compensation for lost wages and expenses as you can get. In Texas, there are four types of workers’ compensation benefits, with each type addressing a specific situation relating to the injury and the employee.

Temporary Income Benefits (TIBs)

If you are injured or become sick and lose some or all of your pay for more than seven days, then you may be eligible for TIBs. TIBs are calculated by subtracting what you can earn after your injury or illness from your average weekly pay. This amount is then multiplied by 0.70, and the product is your weekly benefit.

For example, a Six Flags Over Texas employee was injured in the spring of 2022. If this worker qualifies for TIBs and can only work half time for more than seven days due to their injuries, their benefit payout would be 50% of their average salary multiplied by 0.70. If they are unable to work at all, then the calculation would take 100% of their average weekly draw and multiply it by 0.70.

Impairment Income Benefits (IIBs)

If a work-related injury or illness leads to an impairment of your body, then you could be eligible for IIBs. Once a medical professional states that you have reached a level of maximum recovery, known as maximum medical improvement (MMI), then you may be entitled to receive three weeks of benefits per percentage of impairment. For example, if a healthcare provider determines that you suffer from a 25% permanent impairment of your body, then you’ll be entitled to three times 25 weeks of IIBs, or 75 weeks. IIBs are 70% of your average weekly rate.

Supplemental Income Benefits

Once your IIBs run out, you may be eligible for SIBs. In order to qualify for SIBs, your situation must meet the following requirements:

• You must have 15% or more impairment.
• You must be out of work or earning less than 80% of your average weekly wage.
• You must be looking for work.
• You didn’t agree to a lump-sum payment for your work injury.

SIBs are calculated by taking 80% of your average weekly wage minus post-injury wages and multiplying that number by 80%. For example, if you were paid $1,000 per week pre-injury and did not work after getting hurt, then your SIB would be $800 times 0.80, or $640.

Lifetime Income Benefits (LIBs)

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, LIBs are available if you:

• Lose sight in both eyes
• Lose both feet or hands or one hand and one foot at or above the ankle or wrist
• Experience spinal-injury paralysis of both arms, legs, or one arm and one leg
• Experience a traumatic brain injury that causes certain incurable mental issues
• Experience 3rd-degree burns on over 40% of your body and need grafting
• Experience 3rd-degree burns on most of your hands or one hand and your face.

To calculate LIBs, you simply take 75% of your average weekly paycheck and add a three-percent increase every year.

Personal Injury Claims

As mentioned, workers’ compensation is a limited benefit that may not necessarily cover all of your damages. Although you are barred from suing your employer (only if they have insurance), you may be able to file a claim against a third party with the help of a work injury lawyer in Dallas. Third parties are those who are associated with your work in some way, such as another company’s delivery driver or a customer. In many cases, these third parties cause workplace injuries. With a work accident lawyer representing your interests, you can seek compensation for these damages.

Instances involving third-party claims may include:

• A claim against a tool or equipment manufacturer for defective design or manufacture
• A vehicle accident claim against a negligent or reckless driver who caused an injury
• A claim against a customer based on negligence or recklessness
• A claim based on assault by another worker or a nonworker.

It is important to remember that a workers’ compensation award does not mean your losses will be covered. As explained, you will get a percentage of your pre-injury wage if you are approved for benefits plus coverage of some of your medical expenses. However, the true value of workers’ losses is frequently far more than the payout can cover.

Through a personal injury claim, you can pursue compensation for the myriad of damages an injury might cause, including:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of present and future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium.

Workers’ compensation is intended to help workers, but it can be insufficient to address all of a worker’s needs. In many cases, working with a work injury lawyer in Dallas is the recommended way to pursue the full compensation necessary to cover your injuries.

Is My Injury Covered?

Workers’ compensation covers injuries sustained on the job. However, not every employer has workers’ compensation insurance, and not every injury is covered. In order to receive any form of the benefit, your employer must have had insurance, and your injury must be compensable.

Your Employer Has Insurance

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that your employer may carry. However, it is not mandatory for most employers in the state. As such, you are not automatically guaranteed an easy workers’ compensation payout when injured on the job. If an employer chooses not to carry workers’ comp, they must tell their employees this fact and fulfill state filing requirements. Without workers’ compensation insurance, you cannot file a claim for payments with the state.

However, your quest for compensation does not necessarily end there. By not carrying workers’ compensation insurance, your employer loses valuable protection from employee lawsuits. Insurance provides employees with compensation for on-the-job injuries and protects employers from being sued by their employers.

If you have suffered a work injury and your employer did not purchase workers’ compensation insurance, then you can bring a personal injury claim to cover the damages occasioned by your injury. A Dallas work accident attorney can help you understand your options at this juncture.

You Suffered a Compensable Injury

Not every injury suffered at work qualifies you for a workers’ compensation claim. According to Texas law, your injury must be compensable, which is defined as “an injury that arises out of and in the course and scope of employment for which compensation is payable…”

In other words, your injury must have occurred while in the normal discharge of your duties. With that being said, there are instances when your claim for compensation may be denied even though you were engaged in your regular work activities. For example, if you were intoxicated during work and suffered an injury, then your claim is likely to be rejected. Additionally, if you seek to injure yourself or another person and succeed, then you will likely be denied workers’ compensation.

The same holds true if a third person injures you because of a personal reason unrelated to the company. That injury will not be covered. However, if a third party assaults you while you’re discharging your duties, then the result is different.

In November of 2021, a Southwest Airlines employee was assaulted and injured by a passenger at Dallas Love Field Airport. According to a news report, the passenger had been asked to leave the plane after being unruly and then hit the flight attendant in the head. She fell, hit her head, and was knocked unconscious. Her injuries are likely covered.

Other types of unqualified injuries include injuries sustained while participating in activities outside of work hours unless the activity was a required work event. Also, if it is determined that you were engaged in horseplay or other rowdy behavior when injured, then your injury can be denied. Finally, acts of God can also lead to a denial of a workers’ compensation claim.

In many cases, workers’ compensation claims are straightforward and handled efficiently. However, it happens all too often that injured individuals find themselves battling to get compensated for their valid workplace injuries. These workers would do well to hire a dedicated Dallas work accident attorney to represent their interests.

Dallas Work Injury Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes workers’ compensation cases are straightforward, undisputed, and paid out quickly. However, the complexity of some situations can lengthen the process and cause quite a bit of confusion. Below, you’ll find some of the questions our clients typically have regarding workers’ comp claims.

Why Choose Our Dallas Work Injury Attorneys?

We Fight on Your Behalf for the Full Value of Your Claim

At Crain Brogdon, we regularly help people with workers’ compensation claims. Our experience and training give us the know-how to quickly and efficiently work to resolve issues and obstacles that can come up during claims processing.

If you have been injured at work, our Dallas work accident attorney can assist you in all aspects of your case, helping you pursue the full extent of your workers’ compensation benefits and payment for damages if a third party caused or contributed to your accident. For a free consultation, contact 214-522-9404 today.

Attorney Quentin Brogdon

Quentin Brogdon has over thirty years of experience and expertise in the field of personal injury trial law. He is board certified in both personal injury trial law and civil trial advocacy. Quentin has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. This rating reflects an attorney’s ethics and abilities according to reviews from fellow attorneys. [ Attorney Bio ]