Texas Workers' Compensation
It can be important to talk to a licensed lawyer early about a Texas workers' compensation claim
Texas workers' compensation claims can become more difficult after important decisions have already been made and after certain facts have developed.
Doctor reports, recorded statements, return-to-work choices, hearing deadlines, and disputed issues are just some of the things that can affect a claim.
Talking to a lawyer early may help an injured worker understand:
- What the insurance company is fighting or may fight later;
- Which benefits may be at risk;
- What benefits may be owed;
- What stage the claim has reached; and
- Whether the firm may be able to take over the legal work.
Level the playing field with a licensed Texas lawyer
Insurance companies providing Texas workers' compensation often have their own adjusters, use medical reviewers and other professionals to help them with claims, and hire their own lawyers for hearings.
An injured worker likely does not have similar assistance at the start of their case. It is also likely that an injured worker is learning about the Texas workers' compensation system for the first time as their case unfolds.
A lawyer experienced with handling Texas workers' compensation claims will understand the importance of medical records, injured worker statements, witness statements, notices, hearings, testimony, legal arguments, the need to exhaust administrative remedies, and more.
Simply put, an experienced lawyer can help level the playing field for injured workers pursuing their benefits.
When a claim gets hard or is disputed
Talking with a lawyer who has experience with Texas workers' compensation may be important when:
- A claim has been denied
- Benefit checks have stopped or have been reduced
- The insurance company disputes part of the injury
- There is pressure to return to work
- The ability to work is being questioned
- There is a fight over an impairment rating or a maximum medical improvement date
- A Benefit Review Conference (BRC) or a Contested Case Hearing (CCH) has been set
- A decision is being appealed to the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel
- A request for judicial review has been filed with a Texas court
- The claim process no longer makes sense
Even when a claim is accepted, the insurance company may still fight over the injury, time off work, medical care, or the amount and length of benefit checks.
Texas workers' compensation claims can have many issues
Some of the possible issues that can come up in a Texas workers' compensation claim include:
- Whether the injury is work related
- The extent of the injury
- Time off work and lost pay
- Weekly pay amount
- Income benefits
- Medical treatment
- Maximum medical improvement date
- Impairment ratings
- Supplemental income benefits
- Lifetime income benefits
- Return-to-work issues
- Designated doctor reports
- Appeals and court review
The dispute process may include Benefit Review Conference(s), Contested Case Hearing(s), Appeal(s), and court review(s).
Texas workers' compensation claims we handle
Scruggs Law Firm helps injured workers with claims that include:
- Denied claims
- Extent-of-injury disputes
- Time off work and lost-pay disputes
- Stopped or reduced benefit checks
- Maximum medical improvement
- Impairment ratings
- Supplemental income benefits
- Lifetime income benefits
- Death income benefits
- And other workers' compensation issues
How Scruggs Law Firm Helps
Our work may include:
- Reviewing what has happened in the claim
- Finding issues being disputed
- Reviewing medical records, pay records, job records, claim records, witness statements, etc.
- Communicating with the insurance company and its agents
- Helping clients get ready for meetings, hearings, and testimony
- Building legal arguments
- Communicating with the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation officers and agents
- Attending and representing injured workers during in-person and virtual proceedings before the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation
- Attending and representing injured workers during in-person and virtual proceedings before Texas courts
- Presenting evidence
- Handling appeals
- Reviewing court-review options
- Keeping clients updated during the case
Our role goes beyond showing up at a hearing. We work to understand our clients' needs, and we strive to put on the best case possible for each of our clients.
Why injured workers choose Scruggs Law Firm
Scruggs Law Firm offers:
- More than 20 years of combined legal experience
- Lawyers who make use of modern legal tools for researching and managing Texas workers' compensation claims
- A focus on representing injured workers
- Experience with Texas workers' compensation disputes
- Experience with hearings, appeals, and court review
- Representation throughout the State of Texas
- Phone and video consultations
- Virtual representation before the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation as allowed
- In-person representation before the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation as necessary
- Virtual representation before Texas courts as allowed
- In-person representation before Texas courts as necessary
- Lawyers who stay involved
Scruggs Law Firm DOES NOT represent insurance companies.
Scruggs Law Firm only represents injured workers.