Academy Sports + Outdoors Workers’ Compensation Claims in Houston

Given that its corporate headquarters is located in Harris County, Academy Sports + Outdoors has a pretty sizable presence in and around the Houston metro area. Unfortunately, if you have lived in Texas for a while, it should also come as no surprise to hear that this company is one of many that chooses to be a “non-subscriber.”  In other words, they take advantage of Texas’ unique status as the only state not to require workers’ compensation coverage for any type of employer.

If you have been hurt while working for this company, the process of recovering financially for your injuries and ensuing losses may look different from the process people in other states might follow. Fortunately, you have help available from knowledgeable workplace injury lawyers who know how to handle Academy Sports + Outdoors workers’ compensation claims in Houston.

How Do Workplace Injuries Happen at Academy Sports + Outdoors?

While working in a retail environment is not as dangerous as working somewhere like a factory or an oil rig, that does not mean injuries never happen in places like Academy Sports + Outdoors. Nor does it mean those injuries cannot have serious consequences for the workers who suffer them. In fact, there are numerous injuries that commonly affect these types of workers, including:

• Knee injuries, such as ligament and meniscal tears
• Back injuries and rotator cuff tears
• Traumatic brain damage
• Electrocution
• Hernias
• Eye damage
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Lung damage from inhaling harmful substances

These types of injuries, and more, can result from all kinds of accidents, from seemingly innocuous slips and falls or accidents while lifting heavy objects, to motor vehicle collisions and even assaults committed by angry customers. Rather than filing a workers’ compensation claim, a worker who gets hurts at a Houston-area Academy Sports + Outdoors store will need to pursue financial compensation in a different way.

Holding a “Non-Subscriber” Liable for Damages

As a “non-subscriber,” Academy Sports + Outdoors does not automatically assume liability for certain losses suffered by employees who get hurt on the job. This contrasts to how a company with workers’ compensation coverage would be required to do so by law. By not getting workers’ comp coverage, non-subscribers open themselves up to direct civil liability for on-the-job accidents, since they do not have the legal immunity that workers’ comp insurance would have provided them for those types of cases.

This means a worker injured while performing work-related duties for Academy Sports + Outdoors can potentially file suit directly against the company over the harm they sustained. That would require them to prove their injuries stemmed directly from their employer’s negligence. Through a successful lawsuit, it may be possible to recover not just for economic damages like medical bills and lost work income, but also long-term loss of earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, and various forms of psychological trauma.

Learn How a Houston Attorney Could Help With an Academy Sports + Outdoors Workers’ Compensation Claim

You do not need to worry about being left without any recovery options after a work-related accident. The fact that Academy Sports + Outdoors does not maintain workers’ comp insurance could actually allow you to recover more compensation than a traditional workers’ comp claim would have gotten you. However, filing a “non-subscriber” lawsuit can also be much more complex than pursuing a workers’ comp claim, particularly if you try to do it alone.

Guidance from Schechter, Shaffer & Harris can be vital to achieving a successful case outcome and getting paid what you need for your work-related injury. Call today to discuss your options regarding Academy Sports + Outdoors workers’ compensation claims in Houston.