Burn Injuries and Texas Workers' Compensation Law

This case illustrates the potential hazards of working in the oil and gas industry in West Texas. The report is that one person was seriously injured in an explosion and fire involving storage tanks and a truck in oil field operations. In Texas, and employer is not required to carry Worker’s Compensation insurance in most cases, but it is extremely common due to the heavy risks involved for oil and gas employers to carry such insurance.

 

This case involves a burn, while the report is not specific as to how severe the Burns work, Texas Worker’s Compensation law provides for coverage for burn injuries. This can come in several forms. Obviously, the first and foremost is for medical care the employee may require. The employee would be able to receive lifetime medical care for any reasonable and necessary treatment for the burn injuries. Often times insurance carriers will deny care as not medically necessary and it may be required to fight there’s three hearings or if your process to ensure proper treatment.

 

This case involves a burn, while the report is not specific as to how severe the Burns work, Texas Worker’s Compensation law provides for coverage for burn injuries. This can come in several forms. Obviously, the first and foremost is for medical care the employee may require. The employee would be able to receive lifetime medical care for any reasonable and necessary treatment for the burn injuries. Often times insurance carriers will deny care as not medically necessary and it may be required to fight there’s three hearings or if your process to ensure proper treatment.

 

In addition to weekly temporary income benefits for being disabled as the result of a burn, the employee may be required to attend a medical examination to determine the extent of permanent damage from the Burns. Such a permanent damage may involve loss of nerve function, loss of strength, scarring, and even loss of range of motion. The employee would receive three weeks of Worker’s Compensation benefits for every percentage of impairment is signed by a doctor. There is an appeal process including hearings for cases where the employee disagrees with the impairment rating percentage assigned. An attorney may assist with this process.

 

Finally, the Texas Worker’s Compensation act provides for lifetime income benefits where are the injuries involving a burn are severe and cover a significant percentage of the body.