Given Texas’ long history of going it alone, it may come as no surprise that Texas is the first state to allow employers to opt out of providing workers’ compensation benefits and become a non-subscriber employer. If an employee of one of these companies is injured, he must prove that his employer’s negligence was the cause of his workplace injury in order to receive compensation for his injuries. Here, we discuss how employers gained the right to opt out of the workers’ compensation system in Texas.
How the Texas Non-Subscriber Law Was Passed
To understand how the non-subscriber laws evolved, it is important to begin with the creation of Texas’ workers’ compensation laws. In the early 1900’s, working conditions were poor and unsafe. As a result, many workers in industries like construction, manufacturing, meat processing, and more suffered serious injuries or were killed on the job. Their only way to obtain compensation was to file lawsuits for negligence against their employers.
When employers complained about the flood of lawsuits against them, Texas enacted its first workers’ compensation law in 1913 as a way to limit employers’ liability. While it was a voluntary program at first, it later become mandatory for employers to offer worker compensation benefits. This was not an issue until the late 1980s when workers’ comp insurance premiums increased dramatically.
As a result of the high cost of workers’ comp insurance, employers again asked the Texas legislature to take action. In 1993, the law was reformed. As part of the new workers’ compensation law, employers were given the right to opt out of providing workers’ compensation benefits. They then became non-subscriber employers.
Benefits of Working for a Non-Subscriber Employer
There is no question that working for an employer who provides workers’ compensation benefits can make a work injury claim less complicated. You would have a right to payments regardless of who was at fault for causing your injuries. However, there are also benefits in filing a non-subscriber workplace injury claim instead. A few of the positives of doing this include:
More compensation.
In a non-subscriber case, you are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, full wage losses, and your pain and suffering. In a workers’ comp claim, you are entitled to medical expenses, but only receive a portion of your lost wages and are not entitled to any pain and suffering damages.
Barred defenses.
While your non-subscriber employer is allowed to raise some defenses in a workplace injury case, your employer is barred from raising some important defenses, such as your comparative negligence as a reason for not paying your full claim. If your employer was at least one percent negligent in causing your injuries, your employer would be responsible for paying for 100 percent of your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. These barred defenses make it easier for an injured worker to prove negligence in a non-subscriber case.
Choice of doctor.
In a workers’ comp case, your employer has a right to choose the doctor who treats you. In a non-subscriber workplace injury case, you have more freedom to select your own doctor.
Have You Been Injured At Your Texas Job And Your Employer Doesn't Provide Workers' Compensation?
If you've been injured on the job and your employer is non-subscriber you need to speak with an experienced work injury lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our our Dallas or Austin office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.
We help injured victims throughout Texas including Arlington, North Richland, Grapevine, Bedford, Hurst, Euless, Irving and all points in between.
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