Denton County Workplace Injury Attorneys

Injured at Work? Talk to an Experienced Denton County Workplace Injury Lawyer Today

Denton County, Texas, is growing fast. In early 2023, Denton County’s population topped one million. The county includes four of Texas’s fastest-growing cities: Celina, Haslet, Argyle, and Northlake.

Federal statistics estimate that over half a million people in Denton County have full- or part-time jobs. This number accounts for 72 percent of the population between the ages of 16 and 65.

Life in Denton County is bustling. As businesses take on more work, the risk of injuries also increases. If you’ve been injured on the job in Denton County, speak to an experienced attorney who knows how to handle workplace injury claims. The team at Chandler Ross can help. 

Denton County’s Biggest Employers and Industries

Over 6,300 companies call Denton home, according to the Denton Economic Development Partnership. More than 40,000 workers live in the city of Denton, while thousands more live in other fast-growing Denton County areas. 

Major employers and industries in Denton County include:

• Peterbilt Motors Company
• Jostens
• Southwire/United Copper Industries
• Acme Brick
• ESAB/Victor Technologies
• Sally Beauty
• University of North Texas

These companies are headquartered in Denton, rely on Denton as a major manufacturing hub, or both. 

The intersection of Interstates 35E and 35W, as well as its proximity to the DFW International Airport, attracts employers and business traffic. The busier Denton County becomes, the more likely it is that negligence will lead to a serious injury. 

Most Dangerous Jobs and Industries in Texas

Manufacturing and logistics also rank among the most dangerous industries in Texas and the United States. In 2023, 32 people suffered fatal injuries while working in Texas manufacturing. Logistics, including transportation and warehousing, recorded 119 fatal on-the-job injuries in Texas in 2023.

Manufacturing and Logistics are Denton County’s two largest industry sectors. Major manufacturers include:

• Peterbilt
• Safran Electrical & Power
• Tetra Pak
• ESAB Welding & Cutting
• Flowers Baking Company
• Mayday Manufacturing
• Morrison Milling Company
• Jostens

Key logistics employers include Aldi Distribution Center, Fastenal, and Target Food Distribution Center. Any workplace can be a source of death or serious injury, however. Texas recorded three workplace deaths among employees of “colleges, universities, and professional schools” in 2023, for example. Every job has risks and every injured worker and family deserve personalized legal assistance. 

Common Causes of Workplace Injuries

Federal and state organizations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) all track the causes of workplace injuries and deaths. In 2023, the TDI identified several common causes of workplace injuries, including:

• Transportation incidents. Car accidents and similar incidents caused 246 Texas workplace deaths and hundreds of injuries in 2023.
• Slips, trips, and falls. Falls caused 92 on-the-job deaths in Texas in 2023. Falls from a height can be especially dangerous, but any fall can cause serious injuries.
• Exposure to harmful substances and environments was the cause of death in 57 workplace accidents in Texas in 2023. Exposure can include toxic chemicals, extreme heat or cold, or other harms. 
• Contact incidents. These incidents typically involve a worker being struck or pinned by or between objects. Falling loads, moving doors or equipment, and similar hazards can lead to a dangerous contact incident. These incidents caused 86 Texas workplace deaths in 2023. 

Explosions and fires (11 deaths) and acts of violence (71 deaths) also made the TDI’s list of common causes of workplace death and injury in 2023. 

Workers’ Compensation Basics in Texas

Workers’ compensation covers employees who are injured on the job. Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance. Texas employers are required to carry this insurance – or to self-insure – to protect their employees if a work-related injury occurs. The Texas Department of Insurance also offers free safety training classes and other materials for employers and workers.

First Steps

Get medical help as soon as possible. In an emergency, call 911 or have someone else make the call. Your employer may have a list of physicians who treat workers’ compensation injuries. 

Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. You must report your injury within 30 days to protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits. You’ll also need to send a completed DWC Form-041 to the state department of workers’ compensation within one year. If you haven’t sent this form, speak to an attorney who can help you.  

What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?

Workers’ compensation in Texas provides four types of benefits: medical, income, death, and burial benefits.

• Medical benefits cover the costs of medical treatments for a work-related injury or occupational illness. Workers’ compensation doesn’t pay for non-work-related injuries, however. See a doctor as soon as possible, so your medical record is clear that your injury is work-related.
• Income benefits cover several types of income loss. Temporary income benefits (TIBs) start once you miss more than seven days of work. Impairment income benefits (IIBs) apply if your injury or illness affects your body as a whole. Supplemental income benefits (SIBs) may apply if your impairment rating is 15 percent or higher and your earnings don’t meet certain thresholds. Lifetime income benefits (LIBs) apply in cases of serious injury where you may be unable to work at all.

Death and burial benefits help families deal with the costs of losing a loved one. Death benefits replace some of the wages lost when a family member passes, while burial benefits help cover the costs of a funeral, cremation, and/or burial. Workers’ compensation benefits can get complex to calculate. For help, speak to an experienced attorney today. 

Common Reasons a Workers’ Compensation Claim is Denied

Workers’ compensation is handled by insurance companies. The rules for claims can be complex. Missing any of these details can be a reason your claim is delayed, undervalued, or denied – which can cost you essential support when you need it most.

Common reasons Texas workers’ compensation claims are denied include:

• You’re not an employee. Workers’ compensation only covers employees, not independent contractors. Make sure you are classified correctly. If you think your employer has incorrectly identified you as a contractor, talk to an attorney. 
• You didn’t notify your employer or turn in the necessary paperwork. Texas requires an injured worker to notify their employer within 30 days and submit the necessary paperwork within 1 year. If you miss either of these deadlines, you may be denied workers’ compensation benefits.
• You could have seen an in-network physician, but you didn’t. Some workers’ compensation insurance requires you to see a doctor from their list of approved physicians. If you saw an unapproved doctor when you could have seen an approved one, the insurer may refuse to pay the resulting medical costs. 
• Your impairment rating is too low. Certain benefits only apply when your impairment rating is 15 percent or higher. If a doctor assigns a rating that doesn’t match the impact of your injuries on your ability to work, you may lose access to needed benefits. 

Like other insurers, workers’ comp insurers try to protect their bottom line. They may delay your claim, deny it, or try other tactics to avoid paying the full amount you’re owed, or to avoid paying you at all. Having an experienced attorney on your side can level the playing field, giving you an advocate who can fight back.  

What If A Third Party Caused My Injuries?

Workers’ compensation applies even if your employer was at fault for your injury. In exchange for these benefits, you release the right to sue your employer for their negligence.

However, you keep the right to sue other parties for negligence if they caused your injuries. For example:

• A delivery driver is injured on their route when another car runs a red light, slamming into the delivery vehicle.
• A utility worker is attacked by a household’s dog while trying to repair a utility line.
• A construction worker is injured when a hidden defect causes a tool to explode in the worker’s hands.
• A salesperson slips and falls on a spill left on a client’s floor while visiting the client’s business.
• A nurse is attacked by a patient who doesn’t like the news they’ve just received. 

In cases like these, you may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim. Speak to an attorney with experience handling both types of cases.

Why You Deserve Experienced Legal Representation After a Workplace Injury in North Texas

Texas law allows an injured employee to file their own workers’ compensation and personal injury claims. When you’re struggling to deal with a serious injury, however, adding a case to your workload can be too much. 

A knowledgeable Denton County workplace injury lawyer can:

• Investigate your case and seek to hold the proper parties accountable.
• Preserve important evidence that supports your case for full, fair compensation.
• Spot and avoid insurance company tactics to deny or delay your claim, ensuring these companies play by the rules.
• Handle paperwork, deadlines, and other matters so your case proceeds smoothly – and so you don’t have to worry about these details. 
• Fight for the maximum compensation in the minimum amount of time.

To learn more, contact the team at Chandler Ross today. Our experienced Denton County job-related injury lawyers are here to answer your questions. Reach out to us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our dedicated attorneys.