Workplace Injury Accidents
Because you spend much of your time at work, it’s not surprising to suffer an injury while on the job. However, many of these accidents occur because the person is working in dangerous conditions or safety measures aren’t being followed.
Many times, the working conditions aren’t being monitored or safety standards aren’t enforced. In many of these situations, worker’s compensation will pay for the cost of medical treatment. However, there may be times when that amount isn’t enough. Sometimes, the employer isn’t liable for the injury. It may have been caused by defective equipment or a third party. In these cases, your worker’s comp claim may be denied.
If this happens, you may be able to file an accident claim against a third party. This claim is used when someone other than your employer is responsible for the accident and injury. It can include a manufacturer, vendor, truck driver, coworker or another party.
What Qualifies as a Workplace Accident?
An accident is labeled as a workplace incident if it happens when the person is carrying out their job duties. They may or may not be onsite. They may be running errands or making deliveries for the company. Their job may require them to go offsite to take care of customers. In these situations, they are still working for their employer when the accident occurs even if they aren’t on their employer’s property.
For instance, a worker may be out delivering goods to a customer when another driver hits them. You might be able to file a claim against that driver. Perhaps you were working with a piece of equipment and it begins to malfunction, causing injury. If it’s discovered that the item was manufactured with defective parts or had other issues, you might file a claim against the manufacturer.
These claims can be complex and hard to win. The first task is establishing who is responsible for the injury, which may not be apparent immediately. An experienced attorney will conduct an investigation and request documentation to determine who is the liable party.
If you win your claim, you may have the right to compensation for medical care costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. Some of these injuries can be quite serious and even permanent. You may not be able to return to your job because of a disability caused by the injury. There can be long-term repercussions which lead to major financial difficulties, such as rehabilitation and vocational retraining. You may need to learn how to function again or get equipment to help you work with your disability. A settlement won’t take away the injury, but it can allow you to focus on recovery or adjustment without the financial strain that these situations cause.
If you or a loved one have been injured at work, you may be entitled to a settlement. Contact Weiser & Associates at 888-254-4697 or [email protected] to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We want to help you fight for your rights and see that justice is served.