Texas is the only state where an employer may simply decline to carry workers' compensation. That single fact splits every work injury in this state into two very different situations. If your employer opted out, you can sue it directly for negligence, and it loses the defenses that normally protect employers. If it carries coverage, your path to full damages usually runs through someone other than your employer. The Law Offices of Brent A. Devere handles work injury claims in Austin and across Central Texas.