Pep Boys Workers’ Compensation Claims in Houston

You have certain expectations when you work for a large company with locations around the state and country. You expect to earn fair wages and benefits, and to have safe working conditions. If an injury occurs at your workplace or because of your job duties, you expect that the company will take care of you. However, like many companies in Texas, your local Pep Boys may be a non-subscriber, which means you might not have access to traditional workers’ compensation benefits, making this process more complicated.

A seasoned work injury attorney has extensive experience with Pep Boys workers’ compensation claims in Houston. They could work hard to ensure you receive your rightful benefits.

Types of Injuries Sustained by Pep Boys Workers

Pep Boys is a motor vehicle aftermarket service and retail chain. The company sells retail tires and other automotive parts, and provides car and truck repair and maintenance services. Pep Boys employs a large number of workers to perform a wide variety of jobs.

Some employees work in the front room as sales floor associates and cashiers, while others work as automotive technicians performing repairs and maintenance. But there are others who rarely set foot inside the retail stores, such as those who are primarily on the road as commercial truck drivers. A number of employees work behind the scenes in corporate offices, or in warehouses stocking shelves or managing freight and inventory.

With so many different jobs, there are countless ways to get hurt. Pep Boys staff members most commonly sustain the following types of injuries:

• Repetitive motion injuries
• Back or neck injuries from repeatedly lifting heavy cargo
• Falls from ladders
• Falls due to uneven walking surfaces, merchandise, or other debris in the walkways, or on slippery floors from grease, oil, and cleaning supplies
• Motor vehicle accidents for commercial drivers
• Injuries to mechanics performing automotive repairs
• Injuries from heavy machinery
• Chronic illnesses due to exposure to toxic fumes and other substances

Experienced Houston attorneys understand how to investigate all sorts of workers’ compensation injuries at a Pep Boys location. With their skills, they can often uncover what happened and look for avenues of compensation.

Collecting Non-Subscriber Compensation After a Pep Boys Workplace Injury

In Texas, private employers can become non-subscribers by opting out of the traditional workers’ compensation system. These non-subscriber companies still must provide a reimbursement system to cover their employees who suffer workplace illnesses or injuries. However, as non-subscribers, the companies have more flexibility in the types and extent of benefits they pay.

Working for a non-subscriber company also has some advantages for injured workers. Traditional workers’ compensation insurance plans are limited in scope and do not offer coverage for pain and suffering and other non-economic losses. In addition, workers’ compensation plans are exclusive, meaning that an injured employee cannot generally sue their employer in a civil claim. If a non-subscriber employer causes an employee to sustain an injury through negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, the injured worker can sue for damages.

A Houston attorney could explain how non-subscriber claim work after a Pep Boys employee gets injured on the job.

Talk to a Houston Attorney About Pep Boys Workers’ Compensation Benefits

If you suffer an on-the-job injury or illness, you deserve to have the costs of medical treatment offset by your employer. However, collecting that compensation is not always straightforward. Pep Boys workers’ compensation claims in Houston can be more complicated because that company may have its own system of workplace insurance.

Schechter, Shaffer & Harris is well-versed in handling both traditional workers’ compensation claims and those involving non-subscribers, like Pep Boys. A diligent personal injury lawyer could help you follow the correct procedures to collect your rightful compensation, so contact one today.