A back injury from lifting, a fall from a ladder, or a hand caught in machinery can leave you unable to work. For workers in Dallas and Fort Worth, the next questions are often urgent: Who will pay for treatment? Will you receive income while you recover? Can you bring a claim against the person or company responsible?
Common workplace injuries in Texas include strains, broken bones, head injuries, repetitive strain injuries, burns, and crushing injuries. Your legal options depend on more than the type of injury. They also depend on your employer’s workers’ compensation coverage and whether another party helped cause the accident.
Key Takeaways
– A workplace injury can result from a sudden accident or repeated physical strain.
– Most private Texas employers can choose whether to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
– Workers’ compensation benefits generally do not require proof of employer negligence.
– A negligence claim against an employer without workers’ compensation may be available, depending on the circumstances.
– A separate claim against a responsible third party may also be possible.
– Reporting an injury to your employer and filing a workers’ compensation claim are separate steps.
Workplace Injuries That Can Affect Dallas and Fort Worth Workers
Different jobs create different risks. A warehouse employee may hurt their back moving a load. A healthcare worker may develop shoulder pain from repeated lifting. A construction worker may suffer a serious injury after falling from an elevated surface.
The categories below explain injuries that can occur at work. They are not a statistical ranking of Texas workplace injuries.
1. Back Injuries, Sprains, and Strains
Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling can injure muscles, tendons, and other tissues. A sudden twist or repeated bending may also lead to back pain or a more serious condition.
Possible injuries include:
– Lower back strains
– Shoulder and neck strains
– Herniated discs
– Muscle and tendon injuries
Some injuries improve with treatment and modified duties. Others may cause lasting limits on lifting, standing, or sitting. Tell your medical provider how the symptoms began and which job tasks make them worse.
2. Broken Bones and Head Injuries From Falls
Wet floors, cluttered walkways, uneven surfaces, and unstable ladders can cause falls. Workers may also fall from scaffolding, loading docks, roofs, or platforms.
A fall can cause a wrist fracture, hip injury, concussion, or damage to the spine. The injury may not be fully clear at the scene, so medical evaluation matters.
If you can do so safely, photograph the condition that caused the fall. Keep a record of the location, witnesses, and any equipment involved.
3. Repetitive Strain Injuries
Some work injuries develop over time rather than during one accident. Repeated gripping, reaching, typing, or lifting may contribute to pain and loss of function.
Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and some shoulder conditions. Symptoms may begin as numbness, weakness, stiffness, or pain during certain tasks.
Texas workers’ compensation can cover qualifying work-related injuries that develop through repetitive activities. Medical records and a clear description of your duties can help show the connection between your condition and your work.
4. Crushing Injuries and Amputations
Moving equipment, falling materials, and machinery can cause severe injuries. A worker may be struck by a load, caught in a moving part, or pinned between equipment and a fixed object.
These accidents can result in:
– Crushed hands or feet
– Broken bones
– Internal injuries
– Traumatic amputations
– Head or spinal injuries
The cause may involve equipment condition, maintenance, training, or how work was performed. Preserving the equipment and related records may be important to an investigation.
5. Cuts and Machinery-Related Injuries
Powered tools and industrial machines can cause deep cuts, tendon damage, and other serious injuries. Missing guards, unexpected movement, or equipment failure may play a role.
A machinery accident does not automatically establish that a manufacturer is legally responsible. A product liability claim requires evidence of a defect or another recognized legal basis for liability.
Depending on the facts, an investigation may also examine the actions of a maintenance company, contractor, or employer.
6. Burns and Chemical Exposure Injuries
Flames, steam, hot surfaces, electricity, and chemicals can injure workers in many settings. These injuries can occur in kitchens, construction areas, manufacturing facilities, and other workplaces.
Some exposures cause immediate burns or breathing problems. Other health conditions may develop after repeated exposure over time.
Tell your medical provider what substance or equipment was involved, if you know. Preserve available product labels, safety information, and incident reports without putting yourself at further risk.
7. Injuries From Work-Related Vehicle Accidents
A collision while making deliveries, traveling between job sites, or performing another work task can cause neck, back, head, and other injuries.
Whether workers’ compensation applies depends on the circumstances of the travel. A claim against another driver may also be available if that driver caused the crash.
Do not assume that every crash involving an employee is covered, or that workers’ compensation is the only possible source of recovery.
What Legal Options May Be Available After a Texas Work Injury?
Texas’ workers’ compensation system makes employer coverage an important starting point. The Texas Workforce Commission explains the distinction between employers with coverage and nonsubscribers.
If Your Employer Carries Workers’ Compensation
For a covered work-related injury, workers’ compensation may provide medical benefits and income benefits. You generally do not have to prove that your employer was negligent.
In exchange, covered employers generally receive protection from ordinary negligence lawsuits brought by injured employees. Exceptions and coverage questions require a review of the facts.
Workers’ compensation does not pay damages for pain and suffering. Income benefits also follow legal eligibility rules and limits.
If Your Employer Does Not Carry Workers’ Compensation
An employer without Texas workers’ compensation coverage is often called a nonsubscriber.
If your employer is a nonsubscriber, you may be able to bring a negligence claim. An injury alone does not prove liability. You must prove that your employer was negligent and that this negligence caused your injury.Â
Nonsubscribers also lose certain defenses that would otherwise be available. An employer’s separate injury benefit plan should not automatically be treated as Texas workers’ compensation insurance.
If Another Person or Company Helped Cause the Injury
A third-party claim is a separate claim against someone other than your employer who may be legally responsible.
Depending on the circumstances, potential third parties could include:
– A driver who caused a work-related collision
– A manufacturer of defective equipment
– A contractor whose negligent work caused the injury
– A property owner responsible for a dangerous condition
Another company’s presence at the worksite does not automatically make it liable. Its duties, conduct, and any applicable legal protections must be examined.
A third-party recovery may also create repayment obligations to a workers’ compensation insurer. Receiving benefits and pursuing a separate claim does not necessarily mean you can keep both payments without adjustment.
What to Do After a Workplace Injury in Dallas or Fort Worth
Your health comes first. After addressing urgent medical needs, take steps to document what happened.
- Report the injury promptly. Describe when, where, and how it happened. Keep a copy of any written report.
- Tell your medical provider it happened at work. For symptoms that developed gradually, explain your duties and when you noticed the problem.
- Ask about workers’ compensation coverage. Request the insurer’s information and any applicable treatment instructions.
- Preserve evidence safely. Save photos, witness details, messages, and incident records.
- Track work restrictions and lost income. Keep medical notes, pay records, and information about missed work.
- Review documents before signing. A release or other agreement may affect your rights.
The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation’s injured employee FAQ also explains how treatment networks, claims, and benefit disputes work.
Important Texas Workplace Injury Deadlines
Workers’ compensation deadlines differ from personal injury lawsuit deadlines.
| Action | General deadline |
| Notify your employer about a work injury | Generally within 30 days of the injury, or within 30 days of learning that the injury or illness was work-related. |
| File a workers’ compensation claim with DWC | Generally within one year of the injury. Different timing rules may apply to occupational diseases. |
| File a Texas personal injury lawsuit | Generally within two years, subject to exceptions and claim-specific rules |
DWC confirms the reporting and filing requirements in its injured employee FAQ. Its claim form instructions address injuries and occupational diseases, including when a worker knew or should have known the condition was work-related.
Reporting an injury to your supervisor is not the same as filing your claim with DWC. Do not wait until a deadline approaches to find out which rules apply.
Talk With Frenkel & Frenkel About a North Texas Work Injury
You do not have to know who was responsible before asking questions about your legal options. Frenkel & Frenkel handles workplace and industrial injury matters and can review whether a personal injury claim may be available.
Learn more about the firm’s Dallas industrial accident representation, or request a free consultation.
Call (214) 333-3333 in Dallas or (817) 333-3333 in Fort Worth.
No attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Responsibility for case costs and expenses is explained in the written fee agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue my employer for a workplace injury in Texas?
Possibly. If your employer carries workers’ compensation, an ordinary negligence lawsuit is generally barred for a covered injury. If your employer is a nonsubscriber, a negligence claim may be available. The facts and any applicable exceptions matter.
Can I have a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party claim?
Yes, depending on the circumstances. A claim against a legally responsible third party may proceed alongside workers’ compensation benefits. Repayment rights and other rules can affect the amount you ultimately receive.
Can repetitive strain injuries qualify for workers’ compensation?
They may qualify when the evidence establishes a covered work-related injury. Medical records, job duties, and the timing of symptoms can be important.
What if my employer says it has an injury benefit plan?
Ask whether the coverage is Texas workers’ compensation insurance. A separate employer benefit plan is not necessarily the same coverage and may have different terms.
Do I need to prove fault to receive workers’ compensation?
Generally, you do not need to prove employer negligence for a covered injury. You still must meet the system’s requirements, and disputes about coverage or the cause of an injury can arise.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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Created on 11-02-26