Suffering from an Austin Workplace Burn Injury?

The state of Texas provides many guidelines to protect Austin workers from unsafe working environments. Texas law states that “under workers' compensation law, an injury or illness is covered, without regard to fault, if it was sustained in the course and scope of employment, i.e., while furthering or carrying on the employer's business.” In reality, however, some Austin employers are not adequately covered by workman’s compensation insurance and their employees may pay the price.

If you are unable to receive workman’s compensation after a burn injury at work in Austin, don’t give up hope: you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim to recover your damages. Contact a burn injury attorney as soon as possible to explore your options.

After a burn injury at work in Austin, the lives of burn victims and their families are irrevocably changed. The damages caused by a workplace burn injury can have lifelong effects.

Workers may suffer from physical damages such as:

• Severe scarring
• Muscle damage
• Lung damage
• Loss of mobility
• Cardiac arrest

Additionally, workers may incur financial damages such as:

• Cost of initial emergency treatment
• Extended stays in hospital burn units
• Costs of physical therapy
• Costs of multiple surgeries
• Lost wages

While physical and financial damages are often easier to identify, the emotional damages after a workplace burn injury can be just as devastating.

Burn victims and their families may experience:

• Emotional trauma of severe scarring/disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Grief after losing a loved one

Victims of workplace burn injuries deserve compensation for all of their damages, no matter how severe. However, without an experienced Austin burn injury lawyer, you may not receive a financial settlement that covers the full cost of your damages.

After a workplace burn injury, there are two ways in which workers can see financial compensation for their injuries:

1. You can file a workman’s compensation claim to receive direct financial compensation from your employer.

   1. You are eligible to file a workman’s compensation claim if your burn injuries were “sustained in the course and scope of employment.” Under Texas law, injured workers must file an injury report within thirty days of the injury and must file formal paperwork for a workman’s compensation claim within one year from the date of the injury.

2. If you have been unable to receive workman’s compensation or the circumstances of your burn injuries make you ineligible, you can file a personal injury claim. Workers are eligible to file a personal injury claim if:

   • Your burn injuries were caused by the negligence of a supervisor, manager, or contractor engaged by your employer (not your direct employer)
   • Your burn injuries were caused by a malfunctioning or defective product used in the course of your employment
   • Your employer does not subscribe to worker’s compensation insurance (otherwise known as a “nonsubscriber”). Texas law does not require employers to subscribe to workman’s compensation insurance, so you may be unable to file a workman’s compensation claim.

If you decide to file a personal injury claim, you will need the assistance of a qualified Austin burn injury lawyer to represent your best interests in financial settlement negotiations.

Are you or a loved one suffering from an Austin workplace burn injury? If so, you should contact the team of burn injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw to learn more about your options.

If you are interested in scheduling your no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation and case review with the top Texas attorneys at Carabin Shaw, call our office toll-free today at 512-832-1101 or fill out our online form.