That’s where George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help. Our San Antonio workers’ compensation lawyers are ready to help you fight to not only win your claim but exhaust all benefits owed to you under Texas state law.
We’re trusted, respected, award-winning Texas trial attorneys with a client-driven approach to litigation. Our ability to connect with our clients, tell their stories, and achieve meaningful results is a testament to the work we do. We’ve won millions of dollars in life-changing benefits, settlements, and verdicts in the process.
Call our law office at (210) 225-0909 in San Antonio, TX to discover how we can help you make the most of your claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Your initial case evaluation is free, so contact us to get started today.
How George Salinas Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Workers’ Compensation Claim in San Antonio, TX
A million questions can pass through your mind after a workplace accident in San Antonio.
How do I know if my employer has workers’ compensation insurance? What happens if they don’t? What do I need to do to kickstart my claim? Can I see my own doctor, or are there limitations to what I can do? How much can I expect to get if my claim for benefits is successful?
Don’t stress yourself out by trying to handle all of this alone. Let our San Antonio personal injury lawyers answer your questions and take on your fight for compensation.
We’ll handle the insurance company, the paperwork, the litigation, and everything else that can overwhelm and create stress during an already difficult time in your life.
Our top-rated Texas trial attorneys will:
- Provide appropriate notice of your claim to your employer and the insurance company
- Determine if you may have additional recourse for compensation, such as a civil personal injury lawsuit for damages
- Carefully investigate the circumstances surrounding your workplace injury or illness
- Consult respected experts and specialists throughout the process
- Obtain an independent medical evaluation to support your claim or challenge the insurance company’s findings, if appropriate
- Prepare and submit a formal claim for workers’ compensation
- Handle benefit settlement negotiations on your behalf
- Help you appeal a denial or unreasonably low benefits package
At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we understand that a job-related injury can be devastating. Not only will you suffer physical injuries, but you might be forced to miss time at work, as well. You’re in the middle of an incredibly stressful financial situation, and we don’t want the cost of hiring an attorney to make things worse. That’s why our workers’ compensation lawyers work on contingency. You pay absolutely nothing for our help unless we win your case.
Give our law office in San Antonio a call or reach out to a member of our team online to learn more. As always, your first consultation is free.
Workers’ Compensation Can Help Workers Recover From Severe, Catastrophic Injuries
At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we fight to help clients exhaust their workers’ compensation benefits after they’ve been injured on the job in:
- Construction accidents
- Oil rig accidents
- Truck accidents
- Logging accidents
- Warehouse accidents
- Farm accidents
- Hospital accidents
- Waste collection accidents
- Roofing accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Manufacturing accidents
If you’ve been hurt on the job or diagnosed with an occupational illness or disease in San Antonio, don’t hesitate to reach out to our personal injury law firm for help. We’ll be there to answer your questions, offer guidance, and help you figure out the best path forward to compensation.
What is Workers’ Compensation in Texas?
Workers’ compensation is a state-regulated insurance system through which injured workers in the state of Texas can recover compensation for injuries and illnesses sustained during their employment.
Unlike other states, most Texas employers don’t have to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage. They can choose to have a separate insurance policy or forego protection for their workers altogether. However, many do opt into the state’s workers’ compensation system, helping to offset the costs of workplace accidents and support their employees.
Texas’s workers’ compensation system is an exclusive remedy, which means that injured workers waive their right to sue their employers for job-related injuries. In exchange, the worker is entitled to benefits regardless of fault.
This arrangement can help limit litigation and get much-needed compensation into injured workers’ hands almost right away.
How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Claim for Workers’ Compensation in San Antonio?
You may have the right to recover workers’ compensation benefits if:
- You’ve suffered a work-related injury or been diagnosed with an occupational illness or disease;
- Your employer opted into the state’s workers’ compensation insurance system; and
- You are a covered employee.
Typically, this means that you’re a full or part-time employee who’s been injured while performing a job-related task or responsibility.
Sometimes, in an effort to limit costs, an employer might try to argue that an injury isn’t job-related or that an employee isn’t covered by a policy. So, it can be essential to enlist the help of a qualified workers’ compensation attorney near you in San Antonio if you’ve been hurt on the job.
What Types of Benefits Are Available Under the Texas Workers’ Compensation System?
The types and amounts of compensation you can receive through a workers’ compensation claim in Texas are limited.
Under Texas law, injured workers are entitled to medical benefits and income benefits. Income benefits fall into four different categories, depending on the extent and severity of the worker’s injury. Families can also potentially receive death benefits if a workplace accident in San Antonio is fatal.
Medical Benefits
You can receive compensation for the reasonable and necessary costs of treating your workplace injury or illness. However, you must receive treatment from a plan-approved medical professional – which means you might not have a lot of say in choosing a doctor.
Temporary Income Benefits
Temporary income benefits (TIBs) are available to workers who lose some or all of their wages for at least seven days due to a work-related injury or illness. Benefits equal 70 to 75 percent of your average weekly wages, calculated using the last 13 weeks’ income.
Texas law sets minimum and maximum weekly payments.
For injuries sustained between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, these are:
- Minimum TIB: $167
- Maximum TIB: $1,112
Temporary income benefits end once a worker can return to work at their full capacity, reach maximum medical improvement, or the statutory period for TIBs has expired.
Impairment Income Benefits
Impairment income benefits (IIBs) are awarded when a work-related injury causes permanent damage. Compensation equals 70 percent of a worker’s average weekly wage, subject to state-issued maximums and minimums.
For injuries sustained between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, these are:
- Minimum IIB: $167
- Maximum IIB: $778
Impairment income benefits can continue even after a worker is able to return to work.
Supplemental Income Benefits
Supplemental income benefits (SIBs) help to offset the loss of income a worker experiences when they aren’t able to return to work in the same capacity.
Intended to bridge the gap between pre-injury wages and post-injury wages, benefits equal 80 percent of the difference between the two.
There is no minimum SIBs benefit in Texas, but the maximum allowable weekly benefit for 2023 is $778.
Lifetime Income Benefits
Lifetime income benefits (LIBs) are reserved for workers who have sustained catastrophic injuries on the job, including the loss of multiple limbs, traumatic brain injury, or blindness.
Benefits equal 75 percent of the worker’s average weekly wage, subject to state limitations.
For injuries sustained between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023:
- Minimum LIB: $167
- Maximum LIB: $1,112
The benefit is also subject to an annual 3 percent increase to adjust for inflation.
Does Shared Fault Affect Benefits Through Workers’ Compensation in San Antonio, TX?
No. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so shared fault will generally not affect an injured worker’s ability to recover compensation.
However, if you file a related personal injury lawsuit against a liable third party, Texas’s modified comparative negligence system would have an impact. You would be barred from recovering damages if shared responsibility exceeded 50 percent. Any damages awarded would be reduced in direct proportion to fault.
How Much Time Do I Have To Request Workers’ Compensation Benefits After I’m Hurt on the Job in San Antonio?
You must notify your employer of your injury or illness within 30 days of its discovery or diagnosis.
This preserves your right to file a formal claim for benefits under their workers’ compensation insurance policy, which must be done within one year of your accident.
Don’t let the statute of limitations expire. Once that happens, you lose the opportunity to bring a claim and recover much-needed benefits for your medical bills and lost wages.
Arrange a Free Case Assessment With an Experienced San Antonio Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Make the most of your claim for workers’ compensation benefits by calling George Salinas Injury Lawyers for help. Our San Antonio workers’ compensation attorneys have decades of experience handling complex insurance matters like yours.
We’re ready to take on your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier and work to get you every cent you deserve under the law.
Call our compassionate legal team in San Antonio or connect with a member of our staff online. Your first consultation is free, so contact us today.
George Salinas Injury Lawyers
6243 I-10 Ste. 955, San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 225-0909
Open 24 hours
