Travelers insurance company reported that strains accounted for more workplace injuries than the next two largest causes combined. The second and third most popular of workplace injury complaints are sprains and fractures. They were often related to sudden injuries and also the result of accidents. An injured employee may ask, “What do I do after I am injured on the job?” The first answer is: 1) know your resources, 2) know your rights, and 3) call an experienced lawyer.
“KUHF News for Houston” reported on the matter. The report quotes Stacey Johnson, risk control director in Travelers’ Houston office. Johnson said, “Strains occur mainly because of repetitive motion type of things, things that happen over a long period of time. So it could be something where someone is, possibly, doing something where they’re reaching up or they’re lifting on a regular basis.”
Many injuries occur to offshore rig workers. The Jones Act covers these types of legal cases. We also know the area as Maritime Law. The laws that pertain to workers that suffer from injuries offshore of vessels, for example, are unique and different from our popular Texas laws. More severe injuries occuring offshore in the gulf costs, for example, can lead to a wrongful death case. Too many people are injured on the job in Texas.
If an injury occurs on land in Texas, an employee can recover directly from the employer. Other times, the injured person cannot sue the employer because the employer may subscribe to workers compensation insurance. But workers compensation policies can be expensive for small businesses. This is why some businesses do not purchase the policies. Without workers compensation insurance in place, the business may be exposed to lawsuits and required to payout damages including those associated with pain and suffering. Texas is unique in that it currently is the only state that allows private sector employers to opt out of purchasing workers compensation insurance. That is why it is important for the law firm representing an injured worker to investigate the business.
Article By Richard Weaver
