S. Michael Graham

Since 1997 S. Michael Graham's law office has been devoted to zealously representing and protecting the legal rights of injured workers throughout the State of Texas. Mr. Graham became board by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of workers' compensation law in 2005. His office handles workers compensation cases from the administrative level all the way through trial by jury. Mr. Graham received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 and went on to receive his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1991. Mr. Graham is currently an active member of the Dallas Bar Association and the Texas Bar association.

• Free Consultation
  My office will give you an initial free phone consultation to evaluate your claim and advise you of your legal rights.
• Contingent Fees
  In claims involving negligence for personal injury, my office will not collect a fee up front. We will prosecute your claim and obtain a fee when the claim is settled or tried to a verdict.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  In workers' compensation claims, the lawyer's fee is paid out of the claimant's income benefits by the workers' compensation insurance. The attorney fee is not collected directly from the injured worker. Consult with attorney for more specific details on the fee arrangement.

Texas

Since 1993

Attorney

The Injured Workers' Lawyer since 1997!

Current

Attorney

Law Office Of Bruce Flint, PC

1994 - 1996

Attorney

Law Office of Joseph A. Bellino, PC

1993 - 1994

Assistant Attorney

Vowell & Atchley, PC

1991 - 1992

Criminal Law Clerk

Benton County Prosecutor's Office

1990 - 1991

University of Arkansas - Fayetteville

J.D. (1991) | Law

1989 - 1991

University of Texas - Austin

B.A. (1987)

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo

Avvo Top Contributor (2015 - 2018)

Dallas Bar Association

Member

1997 - Current

Texas Bar Association

Member

1993 - Current

Board Certified Workers' Compensation

Texas Board Of Legal Specialization

Q. if you fall at work, and hurt your back you apply for workmen comp, but can you still get paid and suffering

February 6, 2025

A: Whether you can collect "pain and suffering " damages depends whether or not your employer purchased a policy of workers' compensation that is filed with the Division of Workers' Compensation through the Texas Department of Insurance. If you have a wc claim through the Division, then there is no pain and suffering damages. However, if your employer has an ERISA policy or did not purchase any workers' comp at all, then you can sue for "pain and suffering." It's important to find out which type of policy or lack thereof, your employer had. Good Luck.

Q. I've been working with a company as an independent contractor for 3 years. But I believe I'm an employee.

January 8, 2025

A: Worker's compensation attorneys deal with job injuries and the medical and income benefits that arise out of the work accident. Your question would probably be better put to a Labor and Employment attorney. With that said, the question of employment status deals with the facts of your case. Just because the employer says you are an "independent contractor" doesn't always make it so. The IRS will sometimes challenge the status and require more taxes. In workers' comp cases, I often need to prove the injured worker is an employee as opposed to an independent contractor. The issue will involve whether the employer has the "right of control" over the person. For example, can the worker leave without penalty to go do other jobs, do they have regular scheduled hours, is there a written agreement stating that they are an "independent contractor" etc. ... Read More

Q. Hi. Coworker hit his head on the floor. Mgr didn’t offer to use wrkrs comp or explain anything but home:

January 2, 2025

A: It's unfortunate that management was not willing to assist your co-worker, but that's the world we live in. If you friend needs medical assistance they should ask the employer if they have a policy of workers' compensation first. In Texas, employers are not required to even buy workers' compensation. They may also have a different private policy called an occupational injury plan. Your friend can also file a DWC 41 which can be googled on line to get a workers' claim started.