Work Injury Attorney Amarillo: Protecting Your Rights & Securing Compensation

A sudden accident at work can change everything in a moment. Pain, lost income, mounting medical bills, and pressure from your employer or their insurance company can make it difficult to know what you should do next. If you were injured on the job in Amarillo, Texas, you don’t have to face the red tape alone.

Hernandez Law Group, P.C., helps Amarillo workers pursue the compensation they deserve, whether that means filing a workers’ compensation claim, challenging a denial, or exploring a lawsuit when an employer does not carry workers’ compensation. Our team is directed by Juan Hernandez, who is part of the 2% of lawyers board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Workplace Injuries in Amarillo: The Stats & Why You Need a Lawyer

Work injuries are common across Texas, especially in physically demanding roles. Private industry employers reported a large volume of nonfatal workplace injury and illness cases in the latest 2023 study by the Division of Workers Compensation. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an incident rate of 2.3 recordable cases per 100 full time employees in the private industry sector in 2024.

The Amarillo region’s economy is largely made up of industries where accidents and illnesses are more likely, such as energy, food processing, manufacturing, and health services. The Hernandez Law Group, P.C., represents the workers of Amarillo by leveling the playing field. We do this by:

• Making sure deadlines are met and paper documentation is complete
• Gathering medical evidence
• Collecting wage documentation
• Pushing back when an insurer tries to downplay or injury or denies treatment
• Identifying whether you have additional options beyond workers compensation, such as a third party claim

Texas Workers Compensation Laws: What Amarillo Workers Need to Know in 2026

Texas employers can choose whether to carry workers compensation insurance. Employers that do carry insurance are called subscribers and employers who do not provide workers compensation coverage are known as non-subscribers.

Non-subscribers must make it known to their employees that they do not have work insurance coverage. They have to do this by the following means:

• Posting a notice of no coverage in the workplace in English, Spanish, and any other language their employees may speak
• Placing the notice where employees can regularly see it
• Giving a written notice of no coverage to all new hires

Key Deadlines Can Make or Break Your Claim

For employees who do have an employer that provides workers compensation, the deadlines to file a claim are strict. They are as follows:

• Report your injury to your employer within 30 days of knowing when the condition or accident took place.
• File your employee claim with the Division of Workers Compensation within one year. This is done with DWC form 041. 

If your employer is a non-subscriber, you will need to pursue a work injury lawsuit instead. Texas has a statute of limitations for all work injury cases of 2 years since the date the accident/injury occurred.

What Benefits May Be Available Through Workers Compensation?

There are four types of workers’s compensation benefits:

• Income benefits: These benefits replace some of the money an employee has lost because of their work related injury or illness. These types of income benefits include:
  • Temporary income benefits
  • Impairment income benefits
  • Supplemental income benefits
  • Lifetime income benefits
• Medical benefits: These pay for reasonable and necessary medical care to treat your work-related injury or illness.
• Burial benefits: These benefits pay for some of an employee’s funeral expenses to the person/family member who paid those expenses.
• Death benefits: These benefits are designed to help families replace some of the money lost when an employee dies because of a work-related injury or illness.

Non Subscriber Claims Can Change the Legal Landscape

Employees are protected by Texas law when it comes to lawsuits against a non-subscriber employer. These employees lose some of the common law defenses that are often used by the employer’s legal team to lessen the amount of compensation owed, these include contributory negligence defense and assumption of risk. For a full breakdown of how Texas law handles Common Law Defenses and Burden of proof in non subscriber lawsuits, here is the Labor Code Chapter 406.

Common Work Injuries We Handle In Amarillo Industries

Work injuries can occur in any job but are especially common in jobs that are physically demanding, such as in construction, warehousing, trucking, and manufacturing. Our work injury attorneys are proud to represent cases involving:

• Traumatic Injuries:
  • Broken bones and crush injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries 
  • Neck injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
• Serious Work Accidents
  • Falls from ladders, scaffolds, roofs, and platforms
  • Heavy equipment accidents
  • Industrial work injuries
  • Chemical plant accidents
  • Construction accidents
• Occupational and Repetitive Injuries
  • Repetitive stress injuries
  • Work aggravated joint injuries
  • Exposure-related illnesses

If you are unsure of whether or not your accident or injury justifies a work injury claim, feel free to contact the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. Our work injury attorneys are available around the clock to discuss your case and provide you the legal guidance you need to have a successful road to recovery.

Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury in Amarillo

There are several steps you should take after a workplace injury in Amarillo. These steps are as follows:

1. Get medical help immediately
2. Report your injury to your employer
3. Document what happened
   1. When and where the accident occurred
   2. What you were doing at the time of the accident
   3. Name of any coworkers or witnesses who saw the accident
   4. Any equipment involved
   5. Take photos if you are able and it is safe to do so
4. File the proper workers compensation claim if your employer is a subscriber
5. Contact a trusted work injury attorney
6. Be careful when making recorded statements or paperwork (Always ask to have your lawyer present)

Denied Workers Compensation Claim? How We Fight For Amarillo Workers

A denial is not the end of the road for workplace accident victims. Many workers compensation disputes are resolved through the Texas Division of Workers Compensation dispute process. Common issues include:

• “Not Work Related” Determinations
• Disputes Over Medical Treatment Approvals
• Disability Status and Return to Work Disagreements
• Wage and Benefit Calculation Disputes

Texas provides a dispute path that includes a benefit review conference, a contested case hearing, and an appeals panel process. Make sure you have the experience of Hernandez Law Group, P.C. on your side. We can aid you in preparing evidence, meet your deadlines, and present your case effectively at every stage.

Real Results: Work Injury Settlements We’ve Won for Amarillo Clients

When you partner with an attorney, you want the confidence that your legal counsel knows how to fight and win your case. The Hernandez Law Group, P.C., has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. We have represented thousands of work injury cases and proudly serve the hardworking individuals of Amarillo, Texas. 

Our work injury attorneys offer:

• Personalized support
• Texas Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law
• Track record of proven results in Dallas courts
• Contingency-based fees (No-win, no-fee)

Free Consultation: Contact Our Amarillo Work Injury Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one was injured in a work injury accident, you can rely on the knowledgeable work injury attorneys at the Hernandez Law Group, P.C., to help. We offer free no-obligation consultation to go over the facts of your case and ensure that you are getting the best legal counsel possible to get the results you deserve. We have representatives available 24/7. Contact us today!

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