How Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers Helps After a Workplace Accident in Bedford
We figure out every source of compensation available to you and pursue it while you recover. Texas is unusual: most employers aren’t required to carry workers’ compensation, so an injured worker may be able to sue the employer directly. Even when workers’ comp applies, a negligent third party may be responsible. Our firm, led by founding attorney Brad Parker, has represented injured people from our Bedford office and across Tarrant County since 1985.
When you hire us, we:
- Investigate the accident to identify liable parties and collect evidence
- Determine whether your employer is a workers’ comp subscriber
- Work with professionals in other fields to evaluate and support your claim
- Handle communication and paperwork with insurers and employers
- Negotiate with the at-fault party for a fair settlement
- File a lawsuit and take your claim to court if needed
Your initial consultation is free.
What Are My Options if I Was Hurt at Work in Bedford?
You may have a workers’ compensation claim, a personal injury lawsuit, or both, depending on your employer’s coverage and who caused the accident.
Workers’ compensation. Texas does not require most private employers to carry workers’ comp, though some must, such as private employers that contract with government entities. If your employer has coverage, you generally file a claim and can receive benefits even if the accident was your fault. Benefits can include:
- Medical benefits
- Temporary income benefits (TIBs)
- Impairment income benefits (IIBs)
- Supplemental income benefits (SIBs)
- Lifetime income benefits (LIBs)
Lawsuit against a non-subscribing employer. If your employer opted out, you can sue it for negligence and seek both economic and non-economic damages, which workers’ comp doesn’t pay. Texas law also bars non-subscribers from using certain defenses.
Third-party claim. Even with workers’ comp, you may sue a negligent third party. For example, if you were making a delivery and another driver caused a car accident, you may sue that driver. Read more: Should I file a workers’ comp or personal injury claim in Texas?
What Kinds of Workplace Accidents Do We Handle?
We handle on-the-job injuries in every kind of Bedford workplace, from offices and stores to construction sites and warehouses. Common cases include:
- Construction accidents, including crane and scaffolding accidents
- Work-related vehicle and truck accidents
- Slips, trips, and falls on the job
- Falling objects and crushing accidents
- Electrocutions and burns
- Injuries from defective tools or equipment
Accidents involving equipment or several contractors often create third-party claims, so we look beyond your employer.
What Is My Bedford Workplace Accident Case Worth?
The value of a workplace accident case depends mostly on whether you can file a lawsuit for full compensation and how severe your injuries are. Cases involving the most serious injuries are generally worth the most. Other factors include:
- Your age at the time of the accident
- Whether you are expected to make a full medical recovery
- The evidence available to prove your claim
- Whether you share blame (usually relevant only in third-party claims)
Demanding too little can leave you short, so a careful evaluation is a necessary step. We review your medical records, earnings, and future needs before we put a number on your claim.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Workplace Accident in Texas?
In a lawsuit against a non-subscriber or third party, you can recover economic and non-economic damages. These can include:
- Medical expenses, therapy, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and decreased earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental conditions such as depression and PTSD
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Decreased enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages may be available in rare cases where the at-fault party acted with malice or gross negligence. Workers’ comp benefits, by contrast, don’t cover pain and suffering.
What if I’m Blamed for My Workplace Accident?
You can often still recover even if you share some blame. Workers’ comp is largely no-fault, and benefits are denied only in limited circumstances. In a lawsuit against a non-subscribing employer, Texas law prevents the employer from arguing that your own negligence caused the injury.
In a third-party claim, Texas modified comparative negligence applies. You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault, reduced by your share, but you recover nothing at 51% or more. We gather the evidence to push back on unfair blame.
What Injuries Do Workplace Accidents Cause?
Workplace accidents can cause anything from sprains to permanent disability. We help Bedford workers with:
- Soft tissue injuries, sprains, and strains
- Broken bones and fractures
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Chest and foot injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Electrocution injuries, burns, and crushing injuries
- Catastrophic injuries, such as amputations
If a loved one died in a workplace accident, see our Bedford wrongful death lawyer page.
What Is the Deadline for a Workplace Accident Claim in Texas?
If your employer has workers’ comp, you must notify it within 30 days of the injury and generally file a claim within one year. A lawsuit against your employer or a third party generally must be filed within two years. Exceptions exist, so contact a lawyer soon to confirm your deadline.
About Brad Parker
Bedford Workplace Accident FAQs
Can I sue my employer after a workplace accident in Bedford?
Possibly. Texas lets most private employers opt out of workers' compensation. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you can sue it for negligence and seek full damages, including pain and suffering. If your employer carries workers' comp, you generally must use that system against the employer, but you may still sue a negligent third party.
Do I need a Bedford workers' compensation lawyer or a personal injury lawyer?
It depends on your employer's coverage and who caused the accident. Workers' comp pays limited benefits regardless of fault, while a lawsuit against a non-subscriber or third party can recover full economic and non-economic damages. We review your situation and explain which path, or combination of paths, fits your case.
What if I was partly to blame for my workplace injury?
Workers' comp is largely a no-fault system, so your own mistake usually doesn't stop benefits. In a lawsuit against a non-subscribing employer, Texas law prevents the employer from using certain defenses, including your contributory negligence. In a third-party claim, modified comparative fault applies, and you can recover if your share is 50% or less.
What are the deadlines after a work injury in Texas?
If your employer has workers' comp, you must notify it within 30 days of the injury and generally file a claim within one year. A lawsuit against a non-subscribing employer or a third party generally must be filed within two years. Missing a deadline can end your claim, so act quickly.
What if I was hurt in a crane or construction accident?
Crane, scaffolding, and other construction accidents often involve several companies, such as general contractors, subcontractors, equipment owners, and manufacturers. Even if your own employer carries workers' comp, one of those other companies may be liable as a third party. See our Bedford construction accident page for more.
How much does a Bedford workplace accident lawyer cost?
We handle workplace accident cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront and don't owe attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee will never exceed your recovery, and we explain the exact terms in writing before we begin.
Visit Our Bedford Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Bedford Office
2317 Plaza Pkwy #100, Bedford, TX 76021
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed