Irving, Texas · Workers' Compensation
Seven Irving-area work-injury firms with real experience in Texas comp and non-subscriber claims — plus the deadlines that matter, what lawyers charge, and how to choose.
Texas does something no other state does: it lets private employers opt out of workers' compensation entirely. That one fact changes everything about your case. If your employer carries comp (a "subscriber"), you get medical care and income benefits without proving fault — but the benefits are capped and disputes are common. If your employer opted out (a "non-subscriber"), you cannot collect comp, but you can sue the employer for negligence, and the employer loses most of its usual legal defenses. The first thing a good Irving work-injury lawyer does is figure out which situation you are in.
Either way, the deadlines are tight. You generally must report a work injury to your employer within 30 days, and file a workers' comp claim with the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation within one year. Miss those and your claim can be barred. The firms below handle denied claims, disputed benefits, retaliation and wrongful-termination after an injury, and negligence suits against non-subscriber employers.
We built this list from Super Lawyers, Justia, Expertise, and FindLaw, and confirmed each firm has a real Irving-area work-injury practice — including a board-certified workers' comp specialist. Because Texas caps what comp attorneys can charge and most non-subscriber cases are contingency, fees are predictable. Call two or three and compare how each explains your options.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Irving-area workers comp practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Texas workers' compensation disputes
Serving Irving since 1997, S. Michael Graham is board certified in workers' compensation law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and represents injured workers statewide.
Why they made the list: A standout pick — board certification in workers' comp is rare and signals deep, vetted experience in exactly this niche.
Practice focus: Workplace injury and personal injury
An Irving firm handling work-related injuries and personal injury, offering free consultations and bilingual service for injured workers.
Why they made the list: A solid local, bilingual option, particularly for non-subscriber negligence claims handled on contingency.
Practice focus: Workers' comp and non-subscriber work injuries
Serving the Irving area, Hartley Law Firm handles workers' compensation claims and appeals as well as non-subscriber work-injury cases, with around-the-clock intake.
Why they made the list: A good fit when you are not sure whether your employer is a subscriber — the firm handles both tracks.
Practice focus: Workers' compensation and workplace injuries
This firm serves Irving clients injured at work, handling a range of injuries from repetitive-stress conditions to disputed and denied claims.
Why they made the list: Worth a call for denied or disputed comp claims, including repetitive-motion injuries that insurers often resist.
Practice focus: Workplace injury, denied claims, retaliation
MLF Legal assists workers injured in workplace accidents, including disputes over gross negligence, denied claims, lost wages, and post-injury wrongful termination.
Why they made the list: A reasonable choice if your injury came with retaliation or a firing, which can be a separate legal claim.
Practice focus: Non-subscriber and serious work-injury claims
A DFW injury firm serving Irving that represents workers in non-subscriber negligence cases and serious workplace-injury claims, with a record of substantial recoveries.
Why they made the list: A strong pick for a serious injury at a non-subscriber employer, where a negligence suit can recover full damages.
Practice focus: Work injury and personal injury
A large, well-known DFW personal-injury and work-injury firm with bilingual staff serving Irving clients.
Why they made the list: Made the list for capacity and bilingual service — useful when a case needs investigators and resources quickly.
Hurt on the job in Irving? Tell us what happened and we'll connect you with one of these work-injury firms — or a similar one — for a free consultation.
First find out if your employer is a subscriber. This is the threshold question in Texas. Subscriber means you file a comp claim; non-subscriber means you sue for negligence. A good lawyer answers this in the first call, because the entire strategy depends on it.
Report and file on time. Tell your employer about the injury within 30 days and file the comp claim within one year. Even if you have a lawyer, do not let these deadlines slip while you wait.
For non-subscriber injuries, look for trial experience. Non-subscriber cases are negligence lawsuits, not administrative claims. You want a firm that actually tries injury cases, because the employer's insurer will fight.
Ask how the fee works for your track. Texas caps comp-claim attorney fees at 25% of the income benefits recovered. Non-subscriber negligence cases are usually contingency, often around a third. Confirm which applies to you.
Don't let the insurer's doctor be the last word. Comp insurers often steer you to their preferred doctors and dispute the severity of your injury. A lawyer can push for proper treatment and a fair impairment rating.
What you pay depends on whether your case is a comp claim or a non-subscriber lawsuit:
Because comp fees are capped by statute and non-subscriber cases are contingency, you should not pay anything out of pocket to get started. Get the fee structure — and which track your case is on — in writing before you sign.
A typical disputed Texas work-injury case runs roughly like this:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most workers comp matters, gather:
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
For a Texas workers' compensation claim, attorney fees are capped by state law at 25% of the income or death benefits the lawyer recovers, and the fee must be approved by the state. If your employer is a non-subscriber, the case is a negligence lawsuit usually handled on contingency — commonly about 33% pre-suit and up to 40% if a lawsuit is filed. Either way, you generally pay nothing up front.
Texas is the only state that lets private employers opt out of workers' compensation. An employer that opts out is a "non-subscriber." If you are hurt working for a non-subscriber, you cannot file a comp claim, but you can sue the employer for negligence — and the employer loses most of its usual legal defenses, which can make these cases valuable. A lawyer will confirm your employer's status.
Generally you must report the injury to your employer within 30 days and file a workers' compensation claim with the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation within one year of the injury. For an occupational disease, the clock can start when you knew or should have known the condition was work-related. Missing these deadlines can bar your claim, so act early.
In a subscriber comp claim, your treatment is governed by the comp system and you may be limited to certain providers or networks. Comp insurers often steer you toward their preferred doctors. A lawyer can help you get appropriate care and challenge a lowball impairment rating. In a non-subscriber case, treatment works more like a standard injury claim.
Texas law prohibits firing or discriminating against an employee for filing a good-faith workers' comp claim. If you were terminated after a claim, you may have a separate retaliation or wrongful-termination claim on top of your injury case. Tell your lawyer if you were disciplined or fired after getting hurt.
Denials are common and are not the end of the road. Texas has a dispute process — a benefit review conference and, if needed, a contested case hearing — where you can challenge the denial. A workers' comp lawyer can present medical evidence and argue your case at these hearings, which is exactly where representation matters most.
A straightforward comp claim with accepted benefits can be quick. A disputed claim that goes through hearings, or a non-subscriber lawsuit, can take a year or more. Cases often resolve once your treatment stabilizes and the lasting impact of the injury is clear. Your lawyer should give you a realistic range.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.