If you have been hurt on the job, you already know how quickly a workplace accident can turn your entire life upside down. One moment you are earning a living for your family, and the next you are facing painful injuries, mounting treatment costs, and real uncertainty about when or whether you will be able to return to work. Your employer’s insurance company is not looking out for you, and navigating the workers’ compensation system on your own can feel overwhelming when you are already dealing with so much.
Austin’s rapid growth has brought a surge of construction projects, warehouse operations, manufacturing facilities, and commercial development across the region, and that expansion has created more dangerous working conditions for everyday employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Texas consistently records some of the highest numbers of fatal workplace injuries in the nation, with hundreds of workers killed and tens of thousands more suffering serious, non-fatal injuries every year.[1] Many of these incidents are preventable, caused by employers who cut corners on safety training, fail to maintain equipment, or ignore Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations designed to protect workers like you.[1]
At Jim Adler, The Texas Hammer®, our team has spent decades fighting for injured workers across Texas, and we are ready to fight for you, too. An experienced Austin work injury lawyer from our firm can help you understand your rights, pursue the full compensation you deserve, and hold negligent employers and insurance companies accountable for the harm they have caused. You should not have to carry this burden alone, and you do not have to.
With offices serving Austin and communities throughout Texas, our team can move quickly to investigate your workplace injury and start building your case. Your first step is a FREE workplace injury case review.
Call 1-800-505-1414 now or click here to get started online.
A coworker at a chemical blending facility accidentally ignited sodium chloride powder on the floor, triggering an explosion and fire that destroyed the entire building. Our client, a young worker caught in the blast, suffered excruciating burns covering more than a third of his body, concentrated on his hands, arms, shoulders, and back. He endured multiple rounds of skin grafts and laser surgeries, but the damage left him with permanent scarring and a lasting loss of grip strength and fine motor control. Jim Adler & Associates fought to recover $3.5 million for his burn injuries, medical treatment, and long-term impairment.*
After a serious workplace accident, you need more than just someone to fill out paperwork and wait for the insurance company to make an offer. You need a legal team that understands the complexities of work injury claims in Texas and knows how to fight for injured employees who are up against powerful employers and well-funded insurance carriers. At Jim Adler & Associates, we have been standing up for injured Texans since 1973, and we bring more than 50 years of experience to every case we handle. An Austin workplace injury lawyer from our firm can step in to protect your rights and pursue the full compensation your injuries demand while you focus on healing.
Building a strong work injury case starts with collecting the right evidence before it disappears. Employers and their insurance carriers understand that key records can become harder to obtain over time, and some companies do not go out of their way to help injured workers access the documentation they need. Incident reports, safety inspection logs, equipment maintenance records, surveillance footage, and witness statements from coworkers all play a critical role in proving what happened and who is responsible for your injuries.
Our legal team moves quickly to secure this evidence and build a detailed picture of the conditions that led to your workplace accident. We work with safety experts, medical professionals, and investigators who can analyze the scene, review OSHA compliance history, and identify every violation or shortcut that contributed to your injury. The sooner you contact an Austin work injury lawyer, the more evidence we can collect to strengthen your claim and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Texas is the only state in the country where private employers are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which means the legal path forward after a work injury depends heavily on your employer’s coverage status. If your employer participates in the workers’ compensation system, your claim is handled through the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, and the process involves specific filing requirements, medical documentation standards, and dispute resolution procedures that can be difficult to manage without legal guidance.[3] If your employer is a non-subscriber, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit directly against them, which opens the door to a broader range of compensation but also requires you to prove negligence.
An experienced Austin workplace injury attorney understands the critical differences between these two paths and can help you determine which option gives you the strongest chance of recovering what you deserve. Workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits each come with their own rules, deadlines, and strategic considerations, and choosing the wrong approach or missing a key filing deadline can cost you dearly. Our attorneys evaluate every angle of your case to make sure you are pursuing the legal strategy that protects your interests and maximizes your recovery.
Whether your claim goes through a workers’ compensation carrier or a private liability insurer, the insurance company’s goal is the same: pay you as little as possible. Claims adjusters are trained to look for reasons to deny your claim, dispute the severity of your injuries, or argue that your condition is related to a pre-existing condition rather than the workplace accident. They may also pressure you to accept a quick settlement offer before you understand the true value of your case, knowing that once you sign a release, you generally cannot come back and ask for more.
Our team handles all communications with the insurance company so you do not have to worry about saying something that could be used against you later. We push back against delay tactics, challenge unfair denials, and make sure the insurance carrier is held to its obligations under the policies and regulations that govern your claim. Having an Austin workplace injury lawyer on your side sends a clear message to the insurance company that you are serious about pursuing every dollar you are owed.
Many injured workers are afraid to file a claim because they worry about losing their job or facing retaliation from their employer. This fear is understandable, but Texas Labor Code Section 451.001 specifically prohibits employers from firing, demoting, or disciplining employees for filing a workers’ compensation claim in good faith.[4] If your employer retaliates against you for exercising your legal rights, you may have grounds for an additional claim that carries its own damages and penalties.
Our attorneys work to make sure your employer respects your rights throughout the entire process, from the moment you report your injury to your supervisor through your medical treatment and eventual return to work. If you have been treated unfairly or pressured to come back before your doctor clears you, an Austin workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm can intervene on your behalf and take the steps necessary to protect both your health and your livelihood.
One of the biggest mistakes injured workers make is accepting a settlement offer without understanding the full value of their case. Insurance companies know that people dealing with financial hardship after a work injury are often eager to get any money they can as quickly as possible, and adjusters use that urgency to their advantage. The true cost of a serious workplace injury goes far beyond your current medical bills, and an experienced Austin workplace injury attorney can help you account for every category of loss you have suffered and will continue to suffer in the future.
Our team works with medical specialists, vocational experts, and economists when necessary to calculate the complete impact of your injuries. This includes the cost of ongoing care and rehabilitation, lost wages from the time you have missed at work, diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation, and the physical pain and emotional toll the accident has taken on your life and your family. We fight to make sure nothing is left on the table when pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Most work injury cases are resolved through negotiation, but the key to getting a fair settlement is being fully prepared to take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer what your claim is worth. Insurance carriers pay close attention to which law firms are willing to go to court and which ones will accept whatever offer lands on the table. When the other side knows your legal team has the resources and the track record to win in front of a jury, they have far more incentive to negotiate in good faith.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we prepare every case as though it is going to trial, even while we work to reach a fair resolution through negotiation. Our team of more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals gives us the firepower to take on large employers and their insurance companies, and our track record of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements proves that we do not back down from a fight. Your Austin work injury lawyer will pursue every available path to recover the maximum amount for your injuries.
Our Austin workers’ compensation lawyers help Texans get the benefits they deserve. We only get paid if you win.* And we fight to win.
You should never have to pay out of pocket to find out whether you have a case or to get a legal team working on your behalf. At Jim Adler & Associates, your consultation is free, and we handle work injury cases on a contingency fee basis.* That means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.* Our firm takes on the financial risk of building your case, hiring experts, and fighting the insurance company so that you can focus entirely on your recovery without worrying about legal costs adding to your financial burden.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a workplace accident, The Texas Hammer® is ready to fight for you. Call us today or fill out the form on this page for a free consultation, and let our team start working to get you the compensation you deserve. You pay nothing unless we win your case.*
Understanding your legal rights after a work injury is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. The path forward depends largely on whether your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, and Texas is unique in that it does not require private employers to participate in the workers’ compensation system at all. This means that the legal options available to you after a workplace accident can vary significantly depending on your employer’s coverage status. Regardless of how your employer handles insurance, you have rights as an injured employee, and an Austin work injury lawyer can help you understand exactly which options apply to your situation.
When your employer participates in the Texas workers’ compensation system, you are generally entitled to benefits that cover your medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages without having to prove that your employer did anything wrong. Workers’ compensation operates as a no-fault system, which means you can receive benefits even if the accident was partly your own fault. In exchange for this guaranteed coverage, you typically give up the right to sue your employer directly for negligence related to the injury.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, oversees the claims process and sets the rules for how benefits are calculated and distributed.[3] Covered employees may be eligible for medical benefits that pay for all reasonable and necessary treatment related to the injury, as well as income benefits that replace a portion of wages lost during recovery.[3] These income benefits include temporary income benefits for workers who have not yet reached maximum medical improvement, impairment income benefits based on the permanent effects of the injury, and in the most serious cases, lifetime income benefits for catastrophic injuries that prevent the worker from ever returning to any form of employment.[3] Filing a workers’ compensation claim requires you to report your injury to your employer within 30 days under Texas Labor Code Section 409.001, and you must file your claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation within one year of the date of injury.[5]
However, the workers’ compensation system does not always treat injured workers fairly. Insurance carriers routinely dispute the severity of injuries, challenge whether treatment is medically necessary, and look for reasons to reduce or deny benefits altogether. Having an Austin workers’ compensation lawyer fighting on your behalf can make a significant difference when the insurance company tries to minimize what you receive.
Because Texas does not mandate workers’ compensation coverage for most private employers, a significant number of companies across the state choose to opt out of the system entirely. These employers are known as non-subscribers, and when you are injured while working for a non-subscriber, the legal landscape changes dramatically in your favor. Without workers’ compensation coverage in place, your employer loses several powerful legal defenses that would otherwise limit your ability to seek full compensation for your injuries.
Under Texas Labor Code Chapter 406, a non-subscribing employer cannot argue that your own negligence caused the injury, cannot claim that a coworker’s negligence was the real cause, and cannot use the assumption-of-risk defense to shift blame onto you for accepting a dangerous job.[6] You have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit directly against your employer, and if you can prove that their negligence contributed to your workplace accident, you may recover compensation that goes well beyond what the workers’ compensation system would provide. This includes full lost wages rather than a partial replacement, compensation for pain and suffering, and in cases involving especially reckless conduct, exemplary damages designed to punish the employer for putting workers at risk.
An experienced Austin workplace injury lawyer from our firm can investigate whether your employer carried workers’ compensation insurance at the time of your injury and help you pursue the legal strategy that offers the strongest path to recovering what you and your family deserve.
Regardless of whether your employer subscribes to workers’ compensation, you may have an additional legal claim if someone other than your employer or a coworker contributed to your workplace accident. These third-party claims arise in situations where an outside company, contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer played a role in creating the dangerous conditions that led to your injury. Third-party liability is separate from any workers’ compensation benefits you may receive, which means you could potentially recover compensation from both sources.
Common examples of third-party claims in work injury cases include lawsuits against the manufacturer of a defective piece of equipment that malfunctioned on the job, claims against a property owner who failed to maintain safe conditions at a worksite your employer sent you to, and lawsuits against subcontractors or other companies whose employees caused an accident through their own negligent actions. Unlike workers’ compensation, a third-party personal injury claim allows you to pursue the full range of damages, including compensation for your pain and suffering, the complete value of your lost earning capacity, and the emotional toll the injury has taken on your life and your relationships.
Identifying all potential third-party defendants requires a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding your accident, and this is where having The Tough, Smart Lawyer® on your side can make a real difference. Our Austin workplace injury attorney team examines every detail of your case to make sure no responsible party escapes accountability, and we fight to recover the maximum compensation available from every source.
With hundreds of workplace injury lawsuits filed, our numbers speak for themselves.
Austin’s booming economy has fueled rapid expansion in construction, technology, manufacturing, warehousing, and hospitality, and that growth has put more workers in harm’s way every day. Workplace accidents rarely happen by chance, and most of them trace back to an employer, a contractor, or a property owner failing to follow the safety rules and regulations that exist to protect employees on the job. Understanding the most common causes of work injuries in Austin can help you recognize when someone else’s negligence played a role in what happened to you, and why you may have a valid claim for compensation.
No matter what caused your workplace accident, you deserve to know whether someone else’s negligence contributed to your injuries and what your legal options are. The Voice of The Victims™ has fought for injured workers across Texas for more than five decades, and an Austin work injury lawyer from our team can investigate the circumstances of your accident and help you pursue the accountability and compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your situation.*
The physical toll of a workplace accident can range from painful injuries that keep you off the job for weeks to catastrophic damage that changes the course of your entire life. Unlike many car accidents, where the injuries may be relatively contained, work injuries often involve heavy machinery, falls from significant heights, chemical exposure, and other industrial hazards that can cause devastating harm to the human body. Understanding the types of injuries that commonly result from workplace accidents can help you recognize the seriousness of what you are dealing with and make informed decisions about your medical care and your legal options.
Back and neck injuries are among the most common and most debilitating outcomes of workplace accidents, and they affect workers in virtually every industry across Austin. A sudden fall, a heavy lifting incident, or the violent jolt of a transportation accident can cause herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, torn ligaments, and damage to the muscles and soft tissue that support your spine. These injuries often cause radiating pain that makes it difficult to sit, stand, walk, or perform even the most basic daily activities without significant discomfort.
Many back and neck injuries require surgery, extended physical therapy, pain management programs, and ongoing medical care that can stretch over months or years. Workers who suffer these injuries frequently discover that they cannot return to their previous occupation, especially if their job required physical labor, repetitive bending, or prolonged standing. The long-term impact on your earning capacity and your quality of life can be enormous, and you deserve compensation that reflects the full scope of what this injury has cost you and your family.
Broken bones are extremely common in workplace accidents, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and warehouse environments where workers are exposed to falls, heavy equipment, and struck-by hazards on a daily basis. The fractures that result from these incidents are often far more severe than a simple break, involving shattered pelvises, crushed legs, compound fractures where the bone pierces through the skin, and multiple breaks that require extensive surgical repair with metal plates, screws, or rods.
Recovery from serious fractures can take months, and many workers face complications that extend the healing process well beyond initial expectations. Infections, delayed union where the bone fails to heal properly, nerve damage, and chronic pain at the fracture site are all common obstacles that injured workers encounter during rehabilitation. These complications can mean additional surgeries, extended time away from work, and lasting physical limitations that affect your ability to earn a living for years to come.
Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries represent some of the most serious consequences of a workplace accident, and they can occur from falls, struck-by incidents, transportation accidents, and explosions on the job. The force of impact can cause skull fractures, bleeding in the brain, and diffuse axonal injury where the brain’s internal connections are torn apart. Even a concussion that initially seems mild can produce lasting problems with memory, concentration, mood regulation, and the ability to process information.
Many workers who suffer head injuries do not realize the full extent of the damage until days or weeks after the accident, when symptoms begin to interfere with their ability to function at work and at home. Headaches, confusion, personality changes, difficulty sleeping, and trouble completing tasks that were once routine are all warning signs that the injury is more serious than it first appeared. These injuries often require extensive neurological treatment, and the long-term effects on your career, your relationships, and your independence can be profound.
Workers in construction, manufacturing, food service, and industrial settings face elevated risks of burn injuries and electric shocks that can cause catastrophic, life-altering damage. Burns from fires, chemical exposure, steam, hot surfaces, and electrical arcs often require specialized treatment at burn centers, involving multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and painful rehabilitation that can stretch over months or years. The scarring and disfigurement that result from serious burns can affect a worker’s physical abilities, self-confidence, and emotional well-being for the rest of their life.
Electrocution injuries pose unique dangers because the electrical current can travel through the body and damage internal organs, disrupt heart rhythm, cause severe muscle contractions, and produce deep tissue burns that are not always visible on the surface of the skin. Workers who survive serious electrical injuries frequently deal with chronic pain, neurological problems, cardiac complications, and psychological trauma long after the initial incident. Employers who fail to follow OSHA electrical safety standards or who send workers into hazardous environments without proper protective equipment and training should be held accountable for the injuries that result.[2]
In the most severe workplace accidents, workers may lose fingers, hands, arms, legs, or feet either during the incident itself or through surgical amputation when doctors cannot save a crushed or mangled limb. Crush injuries occur when a body part becomes trapped between heavy objects, pinned under fallen equipment, or caught in unguarded machinery, and the damage to bone, muscle, nerve, and blood vessels can be so extensive that amputation becomes the only medical option.
Learning to live with an amputation requires not only physical rehabilitation and prosthetic devices but also a profound emotional adjustment that affects every aspect of daily life. Many workers who lose a limb struggle with phantom pain, depression, anxiety, and the challenge of relearning how to perform tasks they once completed without a second thought. The financial impact is equally significant, as prosthetic devices require regular replacement and maintenance, and many amputees find that their career options are permanently limited. An Austin workplace injury lawyer from our firm understands the full scope of these losses and will fight to make sure your compensation reflects the true cost of what this injury has taken from you.
Not every work injury happens in a single dramatic moment. Soft tissue injuries and repetitive strain conditions develop gradually over time as workers perform the same physical motions day after day, lift heavy loads without proper support, or work in positions that place sustained stress on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, and chronic back strain are common among warehouse workers, assembly line employees, office workers, and anyone whose job demands repetitive physical activity.
These injuries are often dismissed by employers and insurance companies as minor complaints or pre-existing conditions rather than legitimate work-related medical issues, and that dismissal can make it harder for injured workers to get the treatment and compensation they need. The reality is that repetitive strain injuries can become severely debilitating over time, requiring surgery, extended physical therapy, and permanent restrictions on the type of work you can perform. Our team knows how to document the connection between your job duties and your condition, and we fight back when insurance carriers try to minimize or deny these claims.
Some of the most harmful consequences of unsafe working conditions do not appear until long after the exposure that caused them. Occupational illnesses from toxic exposure to hazardous chemicals, asbestos, silica dust, welding fumes, solvents, and other dangerous substances can lead to serious respiratory diseases, cancers, organ damage, and neurological conditions that may take months or years to develop. Workers in construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, agriculture, and cleaning industries face particularly elevated risks when employers fail to provide adequate ventilation, protective equipment, or the hazard training that OSHA regulations require.[2]
Because occupational illnesses develop over time rather than from a single incident, proving the connection between your work environment and your diagnosis can be more complex than a typical injury claim. Insurance companies frequently challenge these claims by arguing that the illness was caused by factors outside the workplace or that the employee failed to report the condition within the required filing deadlines. An experienced Austin workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm can help you build the medical and employment documentation needed to establish that your illness is work-related and pursue the benefits and compensation you are entitled to under the law.
The moments after a workplace accident can be overwhelming, and it is hard to think clearly when you are in pain, worried about your job, and unsure of what comes next. Taking certain steps in the hours and days following your injury may help protect both your health and your ability to seek compensation later. The following suggestions are general guidelines only, and your specific situation may require different actions depending on the circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injuries.
Every workplace accident is different, and you should always prioritize your health and safety above everything else. If you have questions about your specific situation or want to understand the legal options available to you, Jim Adler, The Tough, Smart Lawyer®, and our team are here to help with a free consultation.* Call us today, and let an Austin workplace injury attorney from our firm start working to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Choosing the right legal team after a workplace injury is one of the most important decisions you will make during your recovery. You need attorneys who understand the complexities of work injury claims, who have the resources to take on large employers and insurance companies, and who genuinely care about what you and your family are going through. At Jim Adler & Associates, we have built our reputation on fighting for injured Texans who deserve better than what the insurance company wants to offer, and our Austin workplace injury lawyer team is ready to put that experience to work for you.
Work injury claims in Austin involve local employers, regional insurance carriers, and courts that operate with their own procedures and expectations. Our attorneys understand the industries that drive Austin’s economy, from the construction projects reshaping the skyline to the warehouses, manufacturing plants, and technology campuses that employ thousands of workers across the region. That local knowledge helps us identify the specific safety failures and regulatory violations that are most common in Austin workplaces, and it allows us to build stronger cases by connecting your injury to the conditions and practices that our team sees firsthand in this community.
Jim Adler & Associates has been fighting for injured Texans since 1973, and that legacy of more than 50 years gives our team a depth of experience that few firms in the state can match. We have handled thousands of work injury cases across every major industry, and our track record includes multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for workers who suffered catastrophic injuries on the job. Every case is different and past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but our history demonstrates that we have the skill, the preparation, and the determination to pursue maximum compensation for the people we represent.
When you call our firm, you will not be passed off to a call center or left wondering what is happening with your case. You work directly with a dedicated attorney and a legal team that keeps you informed at every stage of the process, answers your questions promptly, and treats you like a person rather than just another file number. We understand that a work injury affects your whole family, and we take the time to listen to your concerns, explain your options in plain language, and make sure you feel supported throughout what can be a long and stressful journey toward recovery.
Insurance companies pay attention to which law firms are willing to fight and which ones will take whatever settlement is offered without pushing back. The Hammer has earned a reputation for aggressive advocacy that puts real pressure on insurers and employers who try to shortchange injured workers. We do not accept lowball offers, we do not back down from difficult cases, and we are fully prepared to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to get you and your family the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys negotiate from a position of strength because the other side knows we mean business.
You should never have to choose between getting legal help and paying your bills while you are out of work with a serious injury. At Jim Adler & Associates, your initial consultation is completely free, and we handle work injury cases on a contingency fee basis.* That means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.* Our firm takes on the financial risk of investigating your case, hiring experts, and fighting the insurance company so that you never have to worry about upfront legal costs adding to your financial hardship. Our team is also available around the clock, because workplace accidents do not happen on a convenient schedule and your questions should not have to wait until business hours for an answer.
After a workplace accident, you need a legal team that knows how to take on employers and their insurance companies and win. Jim Adler & Associates steps in to secure evidence, handle insurance communications, and build your case while you focus on recovery. We fight powerful insurance carriers with thorough preparation and aggressive representation, not empty promises. Our team is available to speak with you in both English and Spanish.
After a serious workplace accident, you probably have a lot of questions about what comes next and how to protect your family’s future. The answers below address some of the concerns we hear most often from injured workers in Austin and across Central Texas. These responses are intended as general information only and should not be taken as legal advice for your specific situation. If you have questions that are not covered here, our team is always available to speak with you directly during a free consultation.*
The most important thing you can do after a workplace injury is to prioritize your health and safety by seeking medical attention as soon as possible, even if your injuries do not seem severe at first. Some serious conditions, including internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage, may not produce obvious symptoms right away, and prompt medical documentation creates an official record that connects your injuries directly to the workplace incident. This documentation can become critical evidence if the insurance company later disputes the cause or severity of your condition.
You should also report the injury to your supervisor as soon as you are able, ideally in writing so there is a clear record of when and how the accident occurred. Under Texas Labor Code Section 409.001, injured workers must notify their employer within 30 days of the accident to protect their right to file a workers’ compensation claim.[5] Beyond reporting, try to document as much as you can about the accident scene, including photographs, the names of any witnesses, and the specific equipment or conditions involved. Contacting an experienced attorney before speaking with the insurance company can also help you avoid early mistakes that could reduce your compensation down the road.
Whether you can sue your employer depends on whether they carry workers’ compensation insurance. If your employer participates in the Texas workers’ compensation system, you are generally limited to filing a claim through the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation and cannot sue your employer directly for negligence.[3] The trade-off is that you do not have to prove fault to receive benefits, but the compensation available through workers’ compensation is more limited than what a personal injury lawsuit might provide.
If your employer is a non-subscriber that has opted out of the workers’ compensation system, the legal landscape shifts significantly in your favor. Under Texas Labor Code Chapter 406, non-subscribing employers lose key legal defenses, including the ability to blame you for your own negligence or to argue that you assumed the risks of the job.[6] You may file a personal injury lawsuit directly against your employer and pursue the full range of damages, including compensation for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and potentially exemplary damages if the employer’s conduct was especially reckless. Regardless of your employer’s coverage status, you may also have a separate third-party claim against any outside company, contractor, or equipment manufacturer whose negligence contributed to your injury.
If your employer is a non-subscriber, you actually have broader legal options than workers who are covered by the workers’ compensation system. Non-subscribing employers in Texas give up several powerful legal defenses when they choose not to carry coverage, which means you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them and pursue compensation that goes well beyond the limited benefits available through workers’ compensation. This includes full recovery of your lost wages rather than a partial replacement, compensation for your physical pain and emotional suffering, and damages for the long-term impact the injury has had on your earning capacity and your quality of life.
The key difference is that you will need to prove your employer was negligent, meaning they failed to provide a reasonably safe working environment or violated safety regulations that contributed to your accident. An Austin workplace injury lawyer from our firm can investigate the circumstances of your injury, identify the specific safety failures or regulatory violations involved, and build the case needed to hold your employer accountable. Many non-subscriber cases result in larger recoveries than workers’ compensation claims because the full range of damages is available, and employers who chose not to carry insurance face greater legal exposure when their negligence causes harm.
Texas Labor Code Section 451.001 prohibits employers from terminating, demoting, disciplining, or retaliating against an employee for filing a claim, reporting an injury, or participating in the workers’ compensation process in any way.[4] If your employer takes adverse action against you because you exercised your legal rights, you may have grounds for a separate retaliation claim that carries its own damages and penalties.
That said, it is important to understand that this protection does not make you immune from all employment decisions. Employers can still terminate employees for legitimate, non-retaliatory reasons such as company-wide layoffs or documented performance issues that existed before the injury. The critical question is whether your employer’s actions were motivated by your decision to file a claim or seek benefits. If you believe your employer has retaliated against you in any way after reporting a workplace injury, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible so your rights can be protected before the situation escalates further.
At Jim Adler & Associates, it costs you nothing upfront to hire our team and get an experienced attorney working on your case. We handle work injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.* Your initial consultation is completely free, and we take on the full financial risk of investigating your accident, hiring experts, and fighting the insurance company on your behalf. This arrangement exists because we believe that injured workers should never have to choose between getting legal help and paying their bills during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
If we successfully recover compensation for you, our fee is a percentage of the amount we obtain. We discuss the specific terms with you before you sign anything, so you always know exactly what to expect. There are no hidden costs, no hourly billing, and no financial surprises along the way. Our goal is to remove every barrier that might prevent an injured worker from getting the legal representation they need to fight back against powerful employers and insurance companies.
Even if you are currently receiving workers’ compensation benefits, having an attorney on your side can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim. Insurance carriers routinely dispute the extent of injuries, challenge whether recommended treatment is medically necessary, and look for opportunities to reduce or cut off benefits before an injured worker has fully recovered. A denial of benefits or a dispute over your medical care can leave you without the treatment you need at the worst possible time, and fighting back against these decisions on your own can be extremely difficult when you are already dealing with the physical and emotional toll of your injury.
An experienced attorney can also help you determine whether you are receiving the full amount of benefits you are entitled to under the workers’ compensation system, including temporary income benefits, impairment income benefits, and coverage for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment. Beyond workers’ compensation, your attorney can evaluate whether a third-party claim exists against an outside company, contractor, or equipment manufacturer whose negligence contributed to your accident. Third-party claims allow you to pursue additional compensation for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and other damages that are not available through the workers’ compensation system alone, and pursuing both avenues at the same time can significantly increase your total recovery.
With Jim Adler & Associates, you do not have to choose between local knowledge and the resources of a major firm. Our team serves injured workers throughout Austin and Central Texas, and our attorneys understand the local employers, industries, and court systems that affect how work injury cases are handled in this region. At the same time, our firm brings the infrastructure, financial resources, and legal firepower of a statewide practice with more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals who work together to build the strongest possible case for every client we represent.
Many smaller firms simply do not have the resources to go up against a large employer or a well-funded insurance carrier that is prepared to fight your claim at every stage. Taking on these cases requires the ability to hire expert witnesses, conduct thorough investigations, retain medical and vocational specialists, and sustain the financial demands of litigation that can last months or longer. Jim Adler & Associates has the proven track record, the dedicated staff, and the reputation that insurance companies take seriously when they are deciding whether to offer fair compensation or risk going to trial. The Texas Hammer® has been fighting for injured Texans for more than 50 years, and our team is ready to fight for you, too.
After a workplace accident in Austin, you need a team that knows how to take on employers and their insurance companies and fight for the compensation injured workers deserve. Jim Adler & Associates steps in to secure evidence, handle insurance communications, navigate the workers’ compensation process, and build your case while you focus on recovery. We fight powerful employers and well-funded insurance carriers with thorough preparation and aggressive representation, not empty promises. Our team is available to speak with you in both English and Spanish.
We offer a free case review so you can understand your options before you commit. No fee unless we win.* Work injury cases move fast, and early action protects your rights and may help secure critical evidence before it disappears. The Texas Hammer® is here for injured workers and their families across Austin and Central Texas. If a workplace accident has turned your life upside down, let our team carry the legal burden so you can focus on healing.
[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. https://www.bls.gov/iif/home.htm
[2] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/
[3] Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/index.html
[4] Texas Labor Code, Chapter 451, Section 451.001, “Discrimination Against Employees.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.451.htm
[5] Texas Labor Code, Chapter 409, Section 409.001, “Employee Notice of Injury.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.409.htm
[6] Texas Labor Code, Chapter 406, “Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.406.htm
[7] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Training Requirements and Resources.” https://www.osha.gov/training
Hurt in an accident? Tell us what happened. We’ll give you straight answers — fast, free, and with no strings attached.*
Address
2711 North Haskell Ave.
Suite 2500
Dallas, TX 75204
Address
1900 W Loop S
20th Floor
Houston, TX 77027
Address
12605 East Freeway
Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77015
Address
7330 San Pedro Ave
Suite 700
San Antonio, TX 78216
