Texas was built on the hard work of its laborers. To protect employees, Texas has laws in place giving workers certain rights in the event of harmful accidents and work-related injuries. Understanding these rights is critical for your well-being in the aftermath of an accident. An experienced work injury lawyer can explain and explore your legal options for pursuing a Laredo personal injury claim with you.
Injured Worker Rights in Texas
Texas workers have the right to expect a reasonably safe and hazard-free workplace. Employers have a legal obligation to ensure safe working environments that do not put workers at undue risk of harm. This responsibility involves checking for potential hazards, posting warning signs regarding known risks, properly training employees on safety protocols, and providing the appropriate personal protective equipment.
Employers in Texas are also required to abide by federal safety rules and regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has specific laws in place for different industries to protect the safety and health of workers. If an employer negligently fails to provide a safe workplace or violates an OSHA regulation, a worker who is injured as a result has the right to take legal action.
Common Types of Work Accidents and Injuries in Laredo
Texas is consistently one of the top states in the country in terms of the number of injured and killed workers each year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 564 workers in Texas died on the job in 2023.
Some of the most common workplace accidents in Laredo include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Transportation accidents
- Construction accidents
- Scaffolding accidents
- Oil rig accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Machinery and equipment contact
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Electrocutions
- Maritime accidents
- Violent acts
The injuries suffered in workplace accidents can include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries and concussions, lacerations, burn injuries, electric shocks, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, herniated disks, repetitive motion injuries, and soft-tissue injuries.
How to File a Work Injury Claim in Laredo
A work injury claim is a civil lawsuit that can be filed by an injured worker in Laredo in pursuit of financial compensation if the injury was caused by negligence or a wrongful act. In personal injury law, negligence means the failure to act or behave with a reasonable amount of care. If you or your Laredo accident attorney can prove negligence, you can qualify for compensation.
If an employer, coworker, contractor, customer, or another party was negligent and this resulted in your injury, you may have grounds to file a claim. A successful Laredo work injury case could lead to financial compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost wages, lost capacity to make a living, property damage, pain and suffering, and additional damages, depending on the case.
How a Work Injury Lawyer in Laredo Can Help
A work injury lawyer in Laredo can provide critical advice, assistance, and representation throughout the claims process. While you deal with your injuries and focus on healing, your lawyer can fight for maximum compensation through insurance settlement negotiations or a personal injury lawsuit.
Your Laredo work injury lawyer can investigate the workplace accident, explore your legal options, search for signs of negligence or fault, gather evidence, file a case on your behalf, make sure you meet deadlines and filing requirements, and pursue the full value of your claim using all available legal tools and resources.
To learn more about work injury claims in Laredo and how an attorney can help, contact Gonzalez Druker Law Firm for a free case evaluation.