Starting a claim
The first seven days after a work injury
What to tell your employer, which doctor to see, and which papers to keep.
Adriana Reséndez6 min read
Corpus Christi · English and Spanish
A work injury is hard enough. The paperwork shouldn't be.
We're workers' compensation lawyers for people hurt on the job. We explain each step, in English or Spanish, before you have to take it.
1,180
claim forms filed310
hearings attended260
denial letters answered540
return-to-work plans drafted
Counted from our own files since we opened. They show the work we did, not what will happen in your case.
- No fee unless we recover benefits
- Two of our three lawyers speak Spanish
- The first call is free
Our fee is a share of the benefits we recover, and the agency that decides your claim sets or approves it. Case costs, such as medical records and doctor reports, are separate; we explain them in writing first, and you may owe them even if no benefits are recovered.
Guides
Read first, then decide
Written by our lawyers in plain language, in English and Spanish. There is nothing to sign up for.
Denied claimsWhat a denial letter is really asking
How to read the reason, count the days you have to answer, and gather what is missing.
Lowell Drummond5 min read
How it worksHow a claim moves, step by step
From the first call to a decision, and what we ask of you along the way.
Ismael Sepúlveda4 min read
Our work
Four kinds of trouble we help with
Each has its own page, with the questions people ask and the first things to do.
Denied or cut off
A denial or a stop in your checks isn't final. We read the reason and answer it.
Read moreLost wages, lasting injury
Weekly checks while you cannot work, and a fair rating if the injury stays.
Read moreSomeone else was at fault
A separate claim against a driver, contractor or equipment maker, beside your benefits.
Read more
Before you sign the injury report
A two-minute walk through the form your employer hands you, and the questions to ask before you sign.
Before you sign the injury report
Questions
Week-one questions
Do I pay you to start?
No. We're paid only if we recover benefits, as a share the agency approves. Case costs are separate, and we explain them in writing first.
Will I lose my job if I file?
In most places the law protects workers from being fired for filing. If you think it's happening to you, tell us right away.
My employer says it was not work-related.
That is often the first reason for a denial. Medical notes, witnesses and a clear timeline usually answer it. Bring what you have.
Can I choose my own doctor?
Often the insurer has a list, and the rules differ by state. Ask us before your first visit if you can.
Do you speak Spanish?
Adriana Reséndez and Ismael Sepúlveda do. Ask for either when you call. Every page of this site is in Spanish too.
Start with a call or a note
Call, or send a few lines. We read every message, and we will tell you what to do next, even if it is not hiring us.
Please don't send confidential details through the form.