Workplace accidents in the Dallas–Fort Worth area can leave employees facing injuries, lost wages, and complex legal questions. Many Texans are unsure whether they can file a personal injury lawsuit or must seek benefits through a workers’ compensation claim. There are specific rules and taking the wrong path can delay your access to benefits or compensation.
Understanding the differences can help ensure that you take the right steps to get full, fair and timely compensation for all your losses. You want a trusted DFW workplace accident lawyer to guide you through the process.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Texas
It’s important to understand that, while Texas does have workers’ compensation laws and a system to provide benefits to injured workers, Texas takes a different approach than other states. While all other states required certain employers to provide workers compensation benefits to their employees, Texas allows employers to choose whether or not to participate in the state’s work comp program. Employers who do not subscribe are considered to be self-insured. As a practical matter, however, more than 75% of all employers subscribe to the state’s workers compensation system.
If your employer participates in the Texas workers’ compensation program, work comp will be considered your exclusive remedy for any work-related injury or illness. That means that you cannot file a personal injury lawsuit to recover for those losses. However, the workers’ compensation system applies only to injuries caused by the wrongful acts of your employer or a co-worker. If your injuries result from the negligence of an unrelated third party, you can sue that party in a personal injury claim in court. In fact, you can simultaneously file a claim for work comp benefits and a lawsuit for injuries caused by a third party.
Texas workers’ compensation provides a wide range of benefits for employees injured on the job, including compensation for lost wages and payment or reimbursement of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, including rehabilitation or physical therapy. The amount of compensation is generally set by law, calculated based on your earnings over a specific period of time. As an injured worker, your damages will be limited, but you can typically expect to start receiving benefits within a few weeks. As an employer, you won’t have to worry that a sympathetic jury will return an unnecessarily large damage award.
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you must promptly report your injuries to your employer and comply with filing deadlines. There is no requirement, though, that you prove your employer was negligent. All you need to show is that you were injured and that your injury occurred during the course of your employment.
Understanding Personal Injury Claims After a Work Accident
There are generally two circumstances where you may file a personal injury lawsuit after a work-related injury:
- If your employer has opted not to subscribe to the Texas workers’ compensation system
- If the workplace accident was caused by a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer, the driver of a non-work-related vehicle, or a negligent person on nearby property
In a personal injury lawsuit, damages won’t be limited as they would be in a work comp claim. A person seeking compensation can recover for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, property loss or damage, and loss of companionship or consortium.
However, the civil litigation process can take months or years before a case is resolved. As an injured worker, you won’t see any compensation until the case is complete. Furthermore, in a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll be required to prove in court that the defendant acted negligently.
Key Differences Between Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury
| Aspect | Workers’ Comp | Personal Injury |
| Who Can File a Claim | All employees injured at work | Only employees who were victims of third-party negligence or employed by a nonsubscriber |
| Evidence of Fault | No requirement that you show negligence | Must prove negligence by a preponderance of the evidence |
| Damages | Medical bills, lost wages, death benefits | Medical, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship or consortium |
| Limits | Benefits calculated based on prior earnings, with ceiling for payments | No limit placed on jury award, though court can reduce at its discretion |
| Filing | Notify employer, who then initiates the process | File a civil lawsuit |
| Advantage | Quicker access to benefits if approved, no need to show negligence | Higher potential compensation |
Importance of Legal Guidance in Workers’ Compensation
A DFW workplace accident lawyer plays a vital role in evaluating your case, advising on the most effective legal path, and ensuring all filings comply with Texas law.
Professional guidance protects your rights, ensures deadlines are met, and increases the likelihood of full recovery. Whether you end up submitting a Texas workers’ compensation claim or filing a personal injury lawsuit, experienced legal counsel can simplify the process and provide peace of mind during a stressful time.
Read Also: Legal Challenges of Non-Subscriber Texas Workplace Injuries: Protecting Your Rights
Let a DFW Workplace Accident Lawyer Protect Your Rights
At our Dallas–Fort Worth law offices, we help injured workers navigate both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve.
Our experienced DFW workplace accident lawyers know how to maximize recovery, whether through a workers’ compensation claim, employer coverage, a civil lawsuit, or a third-party claim.
For a free consultation, contact us online or call our Texas offices. Our phones are answered 24/7—because protecting your rights can’t wait. Se habla español.
Bailey & Galyen–Solving Your Legal Puzzle®
FAQs
Can I file a personal injury claim if I receive workers’ comp?
Yes, if a third party caused your injury, you may pursue a separate personal injury claim while collecting workers’ comp benefits.
How do I know if a third party is liable?
A DFW workplace accident lawyer can investigate potential third-party negligence to determine whether there is liability.
What damages can I recover?
Workers’ comp provides benefits for lost income, reasonable and necessary medical expenses, and wrongful death in a workplace accident. In a personal injury lawsuit, you can also seek compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship or consortium, and any property loss or damage.
How quickly must I report a work accident?
Texas law requires prompt reporting to your employer—usually within 30 days—to preserve workers’ compensation rights.