Last week MySanAntonio.com reported on a tragic industrial accident that killed a Texas worker. The workplace accident occurred on a job site in Waco, Texas. Tragically, a man was crushed on the job by a hydraulic aerial lift. An aerial lift is a piece of heavy industrial equipment that is primarily used to provide temporary access to places that are inaccessible from ground level. Cleary, like all heavy machinery, aerial lifts can be extremely dangerous. Waco police stated that the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Workers’ Compensation In Texas

The Workers’ Comp is a program run by the state of Texas to provide benefits to employees injured on the job. The Texas Workers’ Compensation Act is designed to be an employee’s remedy for recovering compensation against their employers. Workers’ compensation issues can get very complicated and can have dramatic long-term effects. If you think you might file for workers’ compensation, it is important that you speak to an experienced attorney.

Texas Workers’ Comp: Important Deadlines

You must pay close attention to all of the deadlines within Texas’s workers’ compensation law. The last thing you want to do is to put your legal rights at risk by missing key deadlines. There are two very important baseline deadlines for every Texas worker to remember. First, if you are injured on the job, you must report the injury to your employer within thirty days of the accident. Second, you must report the injury to the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation within one year of the accident. Beyond those two, there are many different deadlines within the act for specific issues and disputes. Any one of these deadlines could be relevant to your individual case. If you have a question or concern about deadlines, contact an attorney immediately. You do not want to lose your opportunity to pursue fair compensation. No matter your situation, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you figure out the next step.

Do I Have Any Other Options Besides Workers’ Compensation?

There are certain exceptions to Texas’s exclusivity provision. For example, if an employer intentionally causes an injury to a worker, further legal action is not prohibited by the statutory exclusivity provision. Further, workers may be able to recover under an employer’s general liability policy. So yes, you might have legal options available beyond workers’ compensation. You should speak to an experienced San Antonio workers’ comp attorney who can review the specific facts of your case and determine the best steps for you to take next.

Contact An Experienced San Antonio Workers’ Comp Attorney

Workers are the backbone of our economy and we must protect their safety. If you, or a family member, has been injured in a workplace accident, you should contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Office of Ronald A. Ramos, P.C., we are experienced in handling a wide array of Texas work injury cases. Contact our office today for a free case evaluation.