Irving Workplace Injury Lawyers

Knowledgeable Irving Workplace Injury Lawyers Help Those Hurt on the Job

In 2020, Irving’s population was nearly 257,000 people. Irving ranked 12th in population among Texas cities and 90th in the United States that year – and the city has only grown since.

Since its founding in 1903, Irving has been a hub of business and manufacturing. Irving’s first businesses included two cotton gins, a blacksmith shop, and a general store. By the early 1960s, the city’s workers included employees of multiple manufacturing plants, as well as workers in transportation, retail, financial, education, and health care businesses. 

Today, Irving remains a popular and growing place to live and work. No job is free of injury risk, however. If you’re injured on the job in Irving, speak to an experienced Irving workers’ compensation attorney today. 

Irving’s Biggest Employers and Industries

Irving is home to over 10,000 unique businesses, from multinational corporations to thriving small businesses. Irving’s biggest employers include:

• Citigroup
• Vistra Energy
• Allstate Insurance
• Verizon Communications
• Microsoft
• Irving Mall
• YRC Freight
• Baylor Scott & White Health
• DFW International Airport
• Accenture

Irving is also known as the headquarters of many household-name businesses in the US, including Envoy Air (former American Eagle), Kimberly-Clark, La Quinta Inns, Michaels Stores, 7-Eleven, McKesson Corporation, Nexstar Media Group, Caterpillar, and Chuck E. Cheese.

Key industries in Irving include financial services, telecommunications, consumer goods, and energy. Several logistics and transportation employers, as well as manufacturers, also call Irving home.

Most Dangerous Industries and Jobs in Texas

In 2023, 564 Texas workers suffered fatal work-related injuries, according to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). Topping the list of the most dangerous industries in Texas were:

• Construction: 124 fatal injuries
• Transportation and Warehousing: 119 fatal injuries
• Manufacturing: 32 fatal injuries

Three people died in work-related injuries in oil and gas extraction in Texas in 2023. Eleven workers suffered fatal injuries in healthcare and education-related jobs. 

Irving grows through the efforts of construction workers. Houses, businesses, roads, and other features of Irving’s landscape are built by those in the construction industry. These workers face a higher than average risk of serious injury on the job.

Transportation and warehousing also play a key role in Irving’s economy. Workers in these fields, which include those at DFW International Airport and nearby warehouses, faced a significant risk of death and serious injury on the job in recent years. 

Manufacturing continues to play a large role in Irving’s economy. In 2023, 32 manufacturing workers lost their lives on the job in Irving. 

Common Causes of Workplace Injuries

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) all track the causes of serious workplace injuries and deaths in Texas. These agencies consistently find that some situations cause more serious injuries and deaths than others. 

These top causes of workplace injury include:

• Transportation incidents. Car accidents, workers pinned between a vehicle and another object, and other incidents related to transportation caused 246 workplace deaths in Texas in 2023 – more than any other single category. 
• Slips, trips, and falls. Falls are one of OSHA’s most commonly-seen causes of construction-site deaths. Falls are also a common cause of injury in other workplaces. In 2023, 92 people suffered fatal injuries from a fall related to their jobs. Falls from a height can be particularly dangerous. 
• Contact incidents. “Contact incidents” include any situation where a person’s body comes into contact with something that causes harm. These include injuries from machinery and tools, items falling on a worker, and more. In 2023, 86 contact incidents caused deadly injuries in Texas workplaces.
• Exposure to harmful substances and environments. Exposure to extreme temperatures, toxic chemicals, and similar dangers can and does cause serious injuries to Texas workers. In 2023, 57 workers suffered fatal injuries from such exposures. 

The Texas Department of Insurance released numbers in 2023 for two more categories of common injuries: explosions and fires and violent acts. Explosions and fires, a common source of burn injuries, claimed eleven lives in 2023. Violent acts in Texas workplaces were responsible for 71 deaths that year. 

What to Know About Workers’ Compensation in Texas

Workers’ compensation provides benefits to Texas employees who experience work-related injuries. Death benefits are also available for the family when an employee’s injuries prove fatal. 

Texas employers are generally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance or to self-insure. The Texas Department of Insurance oversees workers’ compensation cases.

First Steps After a Work-Related Injury

First, get medical help as soon as you can. Call 911 or have someone call for you if it’s an emergency. 

Tell your employer about your injury as soon as possible. Your employer may have a list of doctors approved to provide medical care under their workers’ compensation policy. See a doctor on this list as soon as you can. 

Make sure you tell your employer about your injury within 30 days. If you wait longer, you may lose access to workers’ compensation benefits. You will also need to send a completed DWC Form-041 to the state within one year after your injuries. An attorney can help you fill out and file this form if you haven’t done so already. 

Texas Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation provides four different types of benefits. Each type of benefit focuses on different needs that an injured employee or their family may have. Workers’ compensation benefits in Texas include medical, income, death, and burial benefits. 

• Medical benefits address the costs of medical treatment for a work-related injury or illness. See a doctor as soon as possible, so your medical records can clarify which of your injuries are work-related and which are not. Workers’ compensation will only cover work-related injuries. 
• Income benefits cover a portion of the income you lose if your injuries prevent you from working – either short-term or permanently. Different types of income benefits apply, depending on how long you’re out of work and how much any permanent injuries limit your ability to work. These benefits can be complex, so speak to an experienced Irving workplace injury lawyer if you have questions. 
• Death and burial benefits both help families handle the costs of losing a loved one to a fatal workplace injury. Death benefits help replace some of the wages lost when a family breadwinner dies. Burial benefits help cover the costs of a cremation, burial, and/or funeral.

Navigating workers’ compensation in Texas can get confusing. It’s especially tough if you’re dealing with a serious injury or grieving the sudden loss of a loved one. A dedicated Irving workers’ compensation lawyer can help. 

The Top Four Reasons Texas Workers’ Comp Claims Get Denied

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance. When you file a claim, an insurance company handles it. 

Insurance companies set rules for the claims they handle. These rules can be complex and confusing. Miss a detail, and the insurance company may delay, undervalue, or deny your claim. You lose essential support just when you need it most. 

Why do Texas workers’ compensation insurers deny claims? There are four common reasons. 

1. You’re not an employee. Workers’ compensation only covers employees, not independent contractors. If your boss classifies you as a contractor when you should be an employee, you could be denied benefits you should have received.
2. You missed a step. If you don’t notify your employer or turn in the necessary paperwork, your claim may be denied. 
3. You got medical treatment from an out-of-network physician. Some workers’ compensation insurers require you to see a doctor they approve for medical care. If you see a doctor who is not on their list, the insurer might refuse to pay any bills from that visit – sticking you and your family with the costs. 
4. Your impairment rating is too low. Some benefits only apply if your impairment rating is 15 percent or higher. Getting the correct impairment rating is essential. You may need help finding a doctor who can assess your needs fairly. 

Insurance companies may find other reasons to deny or delay your claim. An experienced lawyer can work on your behalf to ensure you receive full, fair compensation as quickly as possible.

Speak to an Experienced Irving Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

You can handle your own workers’ compensation claim – but you shouldn’t have to. Dealing with a serious injury is a full-time job. It deserves your full attention. Helping your family through the grief of losing a loved one deserves your full attention as well.

If a work-related injury or illness has turned your world upside-down, speak to an experienced Irving workers’ compensation attorney today. Your lawyer can:

• Investigate your case and determine who is at fault for the injuries.
• Preserve important evidence in your case.
• Push back against insurance company tactics to delay, undervalue, or deny your claim.
• Deal with paperwork and deadlines, you can focus on healing.
• Fight for the full, fair compensation you deserve. 

Reach out to the team at Chandler Ross PLLC to learn more. We’re here to answer your questions. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a dedicated attorney today.