Dallas Workplace Injury Attorneys

Experienced Dallas & North Texas Workplace Injury Lawyers Fight for Those Hurt On the Job

Dallas County’s population grew by nearly one percent in 2023 alone, making it one of the US’s fastest-growing areas. Many of those moving to Dallas County have jobs in the city of Dallas. Residents of other fast-growing nearby cities and counties, such as Denton County, often work in Dallas as well. 

Dallas currently ranks as one of the US’s top ten most populous cities. Approximately 218,000 people work in the City of Dallas. Many live in Dallas itself, but others commute from nearby communities within the DFW Metroplex.

With so much going on in Dallas, work-related injuries can occur as well. Many injuries are preventable. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one to a job-related injury or illness, speak to an experienced Dallas workplace injury lawyer today. The team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can help. 

Major Employers and Industries in Dallas

Dallas’s major industries span a range of topics, from finance and insurance to technical services and manufacturing. Top industries in Dallas include:

• Health care and social assistance,
• Professional, scientific, and technical services,
• Retail trade,
• Hospitality and food services, 
• Transportation and warehousing, and
• Manufacturing. 

Finance and insurance, construction, and similar services round out Dallas’s busy, diverse economy.

Major employers in Dallas include the Dallas Independent School District, Southwest Airlines, AT&T, Texas Instruments, and several medical centers, including UT Southwestern Medical Center, Parkland Health & Hospital System, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, and Children’s Health. Dallas is home to the corporate headquarters of many nationally-known companies, including AT&T, Comerica, Southwest Airlines, Atmos Energy, Texas Instruments, and Frontier Communications.

Most Dangerous Jobs and Industries in Texas

Construction and transportation/retail trade continue to top the list of the most dangerous occupations in Texas. In 2023, 124 Texas workers lost their lives in construction-related accidents. Transportation and retail trade recorded 174 workplace deaths, with logistics – transportation and warehousing – accounting for 119 of those deaths.

Some industries pose more risks than others. However, no industry is free from risk. In 2023, 18 workers suffered fatal injuries while working in finance, insurance, and real estate-related jobs. Fourteen people working in education and health services suffered fatal injuries at work. Five people died in jobs related to professional, scientific, and technical services, Dallas’s single biggest industry sector.

Thousands more Texas workers suffer non-fatal injuries at work each year as well. Dealing with these injuries can be difficult. An experienced Dallas work-related injury lawyer can help. 

Common Causes of Workplace Injuries

The story of every workplace injury is unique. Yet many injuries fall into common categories. Data from sources like the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is essential in helping Dallas workers understand the most common risks – and take necessary steps to protect themselves or to seek help if injured.

In Texas, the most common causes of workplace injuries and deaths included:

• Transportation incidents. Car accidents and similar cases resulted in 246 deaths and hundreds of injuries to Texas workers in 2023.
• Slips, trips, and falls led to 92 work-related deaths in Texas in 2023. Any fall can cause injuries, but falls from a height are more likely to cause serious or fatal harm.
• Contact incidents caused 86 Texas workplace deaths in 2023. These include cases of workers being trapped or pinned by machinery, hit by moving objects, and more. 
• Workplace violence caused 71 workplace deaths in Texas in 2023. Workplace violence may occur between workers, between a worker and a customer or client, or be inflicted by someone who comes to the workplace to cause harm. 
• Exposure to harmful substances and environments, like toxic chemicals or extreme temperatures, led to 57 work-related deaths in Texas in 2023.

Explosions and fires were also a top cause of workplace death and serious injury in 2023, leading to eleven deaths. 

Common Types of Workplace Injuries

Because every injury situation is unique, so is the harm it inflicts – and the ways that harm impacts your unique human life. Yet some injuries are more common in workplaces than others. Common types of injuries include:

• Brain and spinal cord injuries,
• Soft tissue damage, like sprains and herniated discs,
• Nerve damage,
• Broken bones,
• Internal organ damage or crush injuries,
• Thermal, chemical, electrical, or friction burns,
• Mental and emotional injuries, like post-traumatic stress symptoms.

In severe cases, a worker can suffer multiple injury types at once. The effect of these injuries on one another, and on your overall health, can impact how you heal and what you’re able to do. An attorney can help you explain the full story so you get the full, fair benefits you deserve.

Workers’ Compensation Basics in Texas

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance. Its job is to cover medical bills and other losses when an employee is injured on the job. In exchange for workers’ compensation coverage, a worker gives up the right to sue their employer – even if the employer’s negligence led to the injuries. 

First Steps

If you’re injured at work, notify your employer as soon as possible. In an emergency, call 911 or have someone at your workplace make the call. 

To protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits, you must tell your employer about your injury within 30 days. There’s also a form, called DWC Form-041, that you must send to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) within one year of your injury. If you haven’t sent the form or the TDI claims they don’t have it, talk to an attorney. Your lawyer can ensure your paperwork is handled properly. 

What Workers’ Compensation Covers

Workers’ compensation covers certain types and amounts of losses connected to a workplace injury. In Texas, benefits cover four main categories: medical, income, death, and burial benefits. 

Medical benefits address the costs of having your injury treated. These benefits may cover doctor’s visits, hospital care, and more. They only apply to injuries you suffered at work or work-related illnesses, however. The sooner you see a doctor after an injury, the easier it is to demonstrate that the injury resulted from your work, not from something you did on your time off.

Income benefits replace some of the wages you may lose as a result of your injuries. These benefits are split into four categories:

• Temporary income benefits (TIBs) help supplement your family’s income if your injury keeps you out of work for more than seven days.
• Impairment income benefits (IIBs) apply if your injury or illness permanently impairs some part or function of your body, limiting your ability to work.
• Supplemental income benefits (SIBs) apply to workers with certain impairment ratings and in certain income situations.
• Lifetime income benefits (LIBs) apply when an injury is so serious it causes severe lifetime problems with working. 

Death and burial benefits help families meet the costs of lost income and funeral expenses when a workplace injury claims the life of a spouse or parent. Navigating these benefits can get confusing. For instance, calculating your impairment rating for IIBs, SIBs, or LIBs can get tough. An attorney can cut through the confusion and help you secure the benefits that match your actual needs. 

How Working With a Knowledgeable Dallas Workplace Injury Lawyer Helps You and Your Family

Because workers’ compensation is a form of insurance, getting your benefits means dealing with an insurance company. If you’ve had to deal with insurance companies before, you know the process can be complicated. You may also know that insurance companies look for ways to pay as little as possible. 

Common reasons workers’ compensation claims get denied in Texas include:

• Your employer says you’re not an employee. Independent contractors don’t qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Texas. If your employer classified you as a contractor incorrectly, a lawyer can help you fight back. Notifying your employer within 30 days and turning in the necessary forms is a must. An attorney can help you ensure you meet these deadlines, so you don’t miss out on benefits. 
• Your doctor doesn’t think you’re impaired. Many workers’ compensation physicians aren’t familiar with your medical history, or the details of your job. They may believe you can do your job, but you find you can’t. A lawyer can help you establish your actual needs and receive necessary benefits. 

Don’t try to deal with insurance company delay or denial tactics alone. Talk to a dedicated Dallas workplace injury lawyer. Your attorney provides the strong, experienced advocacy you need to fight back against insurance company tactics – and get the compensation you need.

Contact Our Dallas Work Injury Attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Today

To learn more, speak to the team at Chandler Ross PLLC today. When you schedule a consultation, you’ll speak to one of our knowledgeable lawyers. There’s no cost for your initial consultation, and you don’t have to hire us unless you’re comfortable with our ability to do the job for you. You don’t have to fight for benefits alone. We will work together to get you through this tough recovery. Reach out to us today at (940) 800-2500.