If you were injured at work in Texas, you may assume that workers' compensation is your only option. But in many cases, a third party — someone other than your employer — may have caused or contributed to your injury, giving you the right to pursue a separate personal injury lawsuit. Understanding the difference between workers' compensation and third-party liability claims can make a significant difference in the total compensation you receive.

At Anderson Alexander PLLC, our South Texas personal injury attorneys regularly handle third-party liability claims for injured workers throughout Corpus Christi and the surrounding region. We help clients understand all available options and pursue maximum compensation.

How Texas Workers' Compensation Works

Texas is unique among U.S. states because workers' compensation is not mandatory for private employers. Many employers — particularly in the oil and gas and construction industries — have opted out of the state workers' compensation system. If your employer participates in workers' comp, that program typically provides your exclusive remedy against the employer, limiting your recovery to medical benefits and a portion of lost wages, with no compensation for pain and suffering.

However, workers' compensation only covers your employer's liability. If a third party was responsible for your injury, the workers' comp system does not bar you from suing that third party. This is where a third-party liability claim becomes critically important.

Who Can Be a Third Party in a Workplace Injury Case?

In South Texas, third parties frequently responsible for workplace injuries include equipment manufacturers (defective machinery, tools, or safety equipment), general contractors or property owners on construction or oil field sites, subcontractors whose negligence caused an accident, chemical suppliers who provided dangerous materials without adequate warnings, and drivers of vehicles who cause accidents involving workers on or near roadways.

Third-party liability claims allow you to recover damages that workers' compensation does not cover, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, full lost future earnings, and in some cases punitive damages. These claims are brought separately from workers' comp and can significantly increase your total recovery.

Talk to a South Texas Workplace Injury Attorney

If you were hurt on the job in Texas — whether in an oil field accident, a construction site injury, or a workplace incident in Corpus Christi or anywhere in South Texas — you may have a third-party liability claim in addition to any workers' compensation benefits. Anderson Alexander PLLC evaluates all potential claims to make sure you are not leaving money on the table.

Call Anderson Alexander PLLC today for a free consultation at (361) 452-1279. Our Super Lawyers rated attorneys serve injured workers throughout South Texas. Our office is at 101 N Shoreline Blvd Suite 420, Corpus Christi, TX 78401. No fee unless we win.