EDUCATION · TEXAS WORK INJURIES
Texas non-subscriber work injury claims, explained.
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Please note: this review is only for employees whose Texas employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance (a “non-subscriber”). LOAR does not handle workers’ comp claims. If your employer has workers’ comp, the Texas Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) helps injured workers for free at 866-393-6432.
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Texas is the only state where private employers can opt out of workers’ compensation entirely. If yours did — and you were seriously hurt — your case follows very different rules than most people expect.
The Basics
What “non-subscriber” means.
In every other state, workers’ compensation is mandatory for most employers. In Texas it is optional: private employers may “subscribe” to the workers’ comp system or opt out. An employer that opts out is called a non-subscriber. Hundreds of thousands of Texans work for non-subscribers, often without realizing it until they are hurt.
The difference matters enormously. Workers’ comp pays defined benefits without proving fault, but shields the employer from most lawsuits. A non-subscriber has no such shield: an injured worker can sue the employer directly for negligence and pursue the full measure of damages — medical care, lost earnings, pain, and impairment. LOAR handles these claims statewide from our Austin personal injury office, including work injuries on job sites across Central Texas.
The Leverage
Why non-subscribers lose their best defenses.
Texas law penalizes employers that opt out. In a negligence suit against a non-subscriber, the employer generally cannot rely on the defenses that dominate ordinary injury cases: it cannot blame the worker for being partly at fault, cannot argue the worker assumed a known risk, and cannot hide behind a co-worker’s negligence. If the employer’s own negligence — an unsafe practice, missing training, inadequate staffing or equipment — played any part, liability can follow.
Non-subscribers know this, which is why many operate private injury-benefit plans with quick settlement offers, tight internal deadlines, and arbitration clauses. Those plans serve the employer first. Understand what you are signing before you sign it.
Beyond the Employer
Third parties may share responsibility.
Serious workplace injuries often involve more than the employer: a general contractor controlling the site, a subcontractor creating the hazard, an equipment manufacturer, a maintenance company, or a negligent driver. These third-party claims exist whether or not workers’ comp applies, and they are easy to miss. A complete investigation looks at everyone whose choices contributed — and every insurance policy that may fund the recovery.
Non-Subscriber FAQ
Answers before you reach out.
How do I find out if my employer is a non-subscriber?
Employers must post notice of their workers’ comp status in the workplace, and the Texas Department of Insurance maintains coverage records. An attorney can confirm status quickly — it is one of the first questions LOAR answers in any Texas workplace case.
What defenses does a non-subscriber employer lose?
A Texas non-subscriber sued for negligence generally cannot argue that the worker was partly at fault, assumed the risk, or was injured by a co-worker’s negligence. If the employer’s negligence contributed at all, that is generally enough — a significant advantage for injured workers.
What if I signed my employer’s own injury benefit plan?
Many non-subscribers have private plans with their own procedures, deadlines, and arbitration clauses. Signing paperwork or accepting benefits can affect your rights, so have an attorney review documents before you sign anything beyond what is required for medical care.
By Amber Russell, Founder, LOAR PLLC · Reviewed and updated July 12, 2026. This page provides general legal information about Texas non-subscriber and workplace injury claims and is not legal advice. Contacting LOAR does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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