McLane Food Service Workers’ Compensation Claims in Houston

Since its founding in 1894, McLane has become a major employer across Texas and particularly in the Houston area, where it currently has both a food distribution center and a global logistics hub. One thing that McLane unfortunately does not have, though, is workers’ compensation coverage for many of its part-time and full-time employees. This fact can make financial recovery after an on-the-job injury a complicated process for people who work for this company.

Even if you do not have standing to file a McLane Food Service workers’ compensation claim in Houston, you may still be able to demand financial compensation from your employer through a third-party lawsuit. As a work injury lawyer could further explain, McLane’s status as a “non-subscriber” means you can sue them directly for negligence leading to an on-the-job accident. This type of lawsuit could lead to even more money than you might be entitled to through an equivalent workers’ comp claim.

Why Does McLane Not Have Workers’ Comp Coverage?

While every other state has laws that require at least some employers to purchase workers’ compensation coverage—usually based on how many employees they have and sometimes on what industry they work in—Texas has no such laws. Instead, it allows companies who do not wish to provide this coverage to designate themselves as “non-subscribers.” McLane is one such company, which means that cooks who suffer grease burns, warehouse workers who get hit by falling products, and even office workers who get repetitive motion injuries cannot file workers’ comp claims afterward.

More specifically, this means that McLane does not automatically accept liability for the medical expenses of injured employees, nor does it agree to always cover a portion of lost wages for people who cannot return to work for a while. Importantly, it also means that McLane is not immune from traditional civil liability for work-related accidents. Rather than filing a workers’ compensation claim after being injured while working for McLane Food Services in Houston, an injured worker may need to file a personal injury lawsuit instead.

The Basics of a “Non-Subscriber” Lawsuit

Holding a “non-subscriber” company liable for a work-related injury works more or less the same as holding a careless driver liable for causing a car crash. If an injured worker can provide that McLane directly caused them harm by failing to fulfill a “duty of care” to keep that employer reasonably safe while performing work-related tasks, that worker can demand compensation from McLane. These damages can account for every economic and non-economic form of harm their “negligence” directly resulted in, including:

• All past and future medical expenses
• All lost work income and working capacity
• Personal property damage or loss
• Physical discomfort and pain
• Psychological and emotional anguish
• Lost enjoyment/quality of life

This is a much broader range of damages than a traditional workers’ comp claim would provide an injured McLane Food Service worker in Houston. Due to the need for evidence and proper document filing, it is wise to retain a lawyer in this pursuit.

Seek Help from a Houston Attorney with a McLane Food Service Workers’ Compensation Claim

Even if you do not have traditional workers’ comp coverage through McLane, you still have rights after getting hurt in an accident on the job. However, it is challenging to effectively use those rights, and having help from seasoned legal counsel can be vital to getting a favorable outcome from your claim.

Assistance is available with McLane Food Service workers’ compensation claims in Houston when you call Schechter, Shaffer & Harris. Call our team today to schedule a free consultation.