The law in Texas is unique as compared to everywhere else in the county. Employers like Albertsons have the option to opt out of workers’ compensation insurance plans and take on the responsibility of protecting their employees directly. This means that an employer may be responsible for the events that affect their workers and must provide compensation in the event of a workplace injury. We refer to these businesses as non-subscribers.
Albertsons is a prominent example of an employer in the Houston area that is a non-subscriber. A personal injury lawyer could help you pursue Albertsons workers’ compensation claims in Houston when the company is refusing to provide fair compensation. We could evaluate the facts that led to an injury, determine if the employer was to blame, and demand full compensation via a settlement demand or litigation.
Albertsons is a major employer throughout Texas and they have workers in a variety of job roles. Stockers on shelves, warehouse workers, and truck drivers are all particularly vulnerable to workplace injuries. However, even those in less labor-intensive roles, such as pharmacists, cashiers, and florists, may endure injuries that come about simply from doing their jobs.
Any injury that requires medical attention and keeps a worker off the job for a substantial length of time may serve as the basis for Albertsons workers’ compensation claims in Houston. Common examples include:
People who endure these injuries deserve compensation in the form of medical care, wage reimbursement, and payments for lost quality of life. However, the fact that an incident occurred on the job makes obtaining these payments difficult. An attorney is prepared to explore how a person’s injury occurred and takes the steps needed to make a successful case.
Albertsons has made the decision to be a non-subscriber to the state’s workers’ compensation plan. This means that they have hired a third-party insurance company to administer ERISA plans to pay out claims for injuries that affect their workers. At the same time, it means that Albertsons does not enjoy immunity against lawsuits which allege that they were negligent in allowing an injury to occur.
One benefit that employers have under traditional workers’ compensation plans is that they are never to blame, legally, for common incidents of negligence that occur in the workplace. By contrast, injured workers who can show that a non-subscriber employer was negligent in allowing an injury to occur can seek out payments for their losses directly from that employer. These payments are in addition to any benefits that result from an ERISA claim.
For example, an Albertsons worker may suffer a broken leg after a fall from a ladder while stocking shelves. If that fall occurred because the ladder had a broken rung, Albertsons could be directly liable for the lost wages and emotional traumas that result from this incident if they were negligent in not replacing the equipment. A lawyer could manage the lawsuits that seek out compensation necessary after Albertsons workers’ compensation claims in Houston.
Albertsons has an obligation under the law to keep their workers safe. However, state law also allows them to be a non-subscriber from the state’s workers’ compensation program. While this is legal, it also means that Albertsons is directly liable for their negligent behavior that causes employees to endure injuries as a result of them doing their jobs.
If you have suffered an injury while working for Albertsons, reach out to Schechter, Shaffer & Harris. We could evaluate Albertsons’ potential liability for your losses. If it appears that your employer was negligent in allowing the event to occur, we could protect your rights and demand that they recoup your losses. Contact us now to schedule your appointment.
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