Next Steps for Work Injury Victims in San Antonio

For years now, San Antonio has seen steady growth in several key industrial sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and aviation, bioscience and healthcare, and information technology. These industries boost our economy, drive local innovation, and present numerous employment opportunities to residents and newcomers alike.

There are, however, a few key risks to workers that accompany this flood of new development. From the moment most businesses settle in San Antonio, they begin either the construction or renovation of office and factory spaces. Many of these companies, innovative as they are, require high-tech machinery. Employees who must use or share space with these powerful appliances may be at risk in ways employers have neglected to recognize.

Workplace Injuries are a Constant Threat

While we would like to think that no employer consciously seeks to put its workers at risk, defective products and other workplace hazards frequently present obstacles to employee safety. Even though businesses are responsible for creating a safe work environment, threats to safety may be unrecognized or knowingly unacknowledged. What’s more, employees afraid of losing their position may decline to report injuries that occurred on the job, which means that many dangers go uncorrected and unaccounted.

The San Antonio work injury accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw have aggressively represented workers for years. As a firm, we want our clients to feel empowered to seek justice for workplace injuries, and we have successfully assisted employees seeking workers’ compensation many times. Let us serve you by putting our firm’s extensive knowledge about the laws governing workplace accidents to use. The next step for work injury victims in San Antonio is clear: call a lawyer at Carabin Shaw.

Filing a Workplace Injury Claim

Though most employers in San Antonio offer workers’ compensation, filing a successful claim is an arduous process. It is necessary for injured workers to have a clear picture of their rights and responsibilities, as outlined by the Texas Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC).

According to OIEC, employees injured on the job have a right to:

• Hire an attorney to assist with their claim
• Receive assistance from OIEC if they do not have an attorney
• Receive medical and income benefits regardless of who was at fault for the injury, with certain exceptions
• Receive medical care to treat their workplace injury or illness as long as it is necessary
• Dispute resolution regarding income and medical benefits
• Choose a treating doctor
• Have their workers’ compensation claim remain confidential

While these rights are easily enough to understand, managing the responsibilities that accompany a workers’ compensation claim might require the help of the San Antonio workers’ compensation lawyers at Carabin Shaw.

Some of these responsibilities require employees to:

• Tell their employer, within 30 days of injury, that they have been hurt at work
• Figure out if they are in a Workers’ Compensation Health Care Network
• Tell their doctor how their injury occurred and whether that injury is work-related
• Send a completed Employee’s Claim for Compensation for a Work-Related Injury or Occupational Claim Form (DWC041) to the Division of Workers’ Compensation
• Inform the Division of Workers’ Compensation and the insurance carrier if there is any change in their employment status or wages
• Avoid making fraudulent or frivolous claims or demands

As you can see, figuring out the next steps for work injury victims in San Antonio is not a simple process. If an employer disputes the workers’ compensation claim, things can get even more complicated. The lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help you traverse this terrain and any other obstacles you might encounter on the path to rightful redress.

Carabin Shaw: Your Ally in Workplace Liability Claims

We at Carabin Shaw believe that every Texan has the right to a safe work environment. Our attorneys are not only armed with a strong command of the law but also an immense compassion for the people and communities they serve. Helping you understand the next steps for work injury victims in San Antonio is one of our imperatives. We will not charge you unless we win your case, and your initial consultation is always free.

If you have any questions about workplace liability claims, please call our San Antonio office at 210-222-2288, or toll-free at 800-862-1260.

---