Common Questions About Workers' Comp in Texas

Were you recently injured on the job? Your employer might not have answers for all of your questions about workers' compensation, which can be extremely frustrating when you need to take action quickly. Below, you can find answers to some of the most common questions that the Daspit Law Firm receives from our clients. If you don't find what you're looking for here, please don't hesitate to contact a Houston workers' compensation lawyer from our office at (713) 364-0915.

Will my medical bills be covered by workers' compensation?
Yes. One of the primary intentions of workers' compensation is to pay for the expenses accrued from medical bills, such as hospital fees and doctor visits. Essentially, any medical-related fee that can be tied back to the diagnosis and treatment of your work-related injury should be covered by workers' comp benefits. In addition, your benefits should cover the cost of disability payments while you are out of work for recovery, as well as any rehabilitation that might be needed.

Can I only seek workers' compensation if I was injured? What about illnesses?
In addition to work-related injuries, workers' compensation considers other harm that could be suffered on the job—such as an illness or occupational disease. An illness or disease that developed from long-term exposure to harmful toxins or chemicals at the workplace, for example, would qualify you for workers’ compensation. If you are suffering from lung disease, a heart condition, or even a stress-related digestive issue, you can seek workers' comp benefits for your illness.

Is any injury that is sustained on the job eligible for workers' compensation?
Generally speaking, workers' compensation benefits can be applied to most cases of on-the-job injuries; however, there are exceptions. Assuming that your injury was sustained in a work-related accident, workers' compensation can be applied. This is also true of injuries that are sustained through the careless actions of another employee or your employer. However, workers' compensation coverage can be denied in situations such as the following:

• Injury suffered while employee is committing a crime on the job
• Injury suffered while employee is violating company policy
• Injury suffered from self-infliction
• Injury suffered while employee was not technically on the job

How do I know if I'm covered by workers' compensation?
In Texas, not all employers are required to provide workers' compensation benefits to their employees. Therefore, you must first figure out whether or not your employer provides workers' comp before moving ahead any further. Typically, workers' compensation is only required of companies that are large in their size and number of employees. Your employer might also not provide workers' compensation if you are a domestic employee, farm worker, or seasonal worker. You can speak with your employer to learn if your company carries workers' compensation, and you can work with our firm for additional help.

Contact a Houston Workers’ Compensation Attorney

As we mentioned above, if you still have questions about Texas workers' compensation laws after reading through these FAQs, do not hesitate to speak with a Houston workers’ compensation lawyer at the Daspit Law Firm. We are here to offer 24-hour support to our clients; you can call us at any time if you're looking for more answers to your questions. Contact us today.