It is very likely that everyone in Texas has either had an on the job injury, or has a close family member or friend who has. Unlike many types of injuries, there are not a lot of resources to learn how to navigate a workers' compensation claim. Texas is the only state that allows employers to decide if they want to subscribe to the workers' compensation system or become what is generally referred to as a non-subscriber. These two types of claims are handled very differently. Therefore, the first thing to confirm after a work injury is if your employer is a subscriber or a non-subscriber to the system. We have written this guide to assist injured workers in handling a workers compensation claim. We explain the types of benefits and hearings that can arise as a result of an injury at work. Abraham Lincoln is credited as saying, "He who represents himself has a fool for a client." We would never advise a person to represent them self. But everyone needs to understand what is happening in their claim, and this guide provides the terminology and information you will need to navigate the process.