If you were injured in an accident on the job, you are likely eligible to receive benefits for medical treatment and lost wages while you are unable to work. Many states have laws that require employers to pay into a workers’ compensation insurance fund, which can protect workers from financial losses after a workplace injury or accident. However, depending on your situation, you may want to take the issue into the realm of a personal injury claim.
A full-service general practice law firm can offer help to injured workers who need to file initial claims, as well as pursuing appeals for prior claims that have been denied by workers’ compensation boards. An attorney can also help injured workers protect their rights if they are being pressured to return to work before they are fully recovered.
Types of Accidents and Injuries
An attorney can help you file a claim or appeal a denied claim for qualifying workplace accidents and injuries, including these:
- Furnace and oven accidents
- Burns from explosions and fires
- Electrical shock injuries
- Electrical shock, electrocution
- Scaffold and ladder accidents
- Company car, truck, and other motor vehicle accidents
- Injuries from falling materials, products, or equipment
- Power tool injuries
- Forklift and other warehouse accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Overhead door accidents
- Hoist, crane, and conveyor accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Mining and refinery accidents
- Weld burns
- Fatal accident claims
- Mesothelioma and asbestosis
- Respiratory illness from exposure to toxic chemicals
- Repetitive stress injuries, rotator cuff injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome
- Traumatic brain injuries, head wounds
- Fractures, crush injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
If your accident or injury isn’t on the list, speak with a qualified and credentialed attorney, as he or she will likely be able to help with your particular legal matter.
Workers’ Rights Under the Law
Workers’ compensation insurance is not a welfare program. Workers are entitled to receive compensation for medical treatment and monetary benefits to cover past, current, and future medical expenses, lost earnings, and lost earning capacity.
However, the workers’ compensation system is intricate and involved, and legitimate claims are often denied. If you are just starting the process, have been denied, or are being told that your benefits are ending, talk to an attorney as soon as possible.
Plus, although workers’ compensation insurance can provide money and benefits to an injured employee, temporary and permanent disability payments are generally quite low and don’t compensate the worker for issues like pain and suffering. Workers’ compensation also does not provide for punitive damages, meaning an employer isn’t punished for poor safety controls or dangerous working conditions. That’s why it’s essential for injured workers to understand their rights, and may be better served by bringing a lawsuit for personal injury outside of the workers’ compensation system. An experienced, knowledgeable, and educated attorney can explain your available options.
If you need legal counsel, arrange a consultation with a qualified and credentialed attorney today. A lawyer will help you weigh your options and help you determine the best way to proceed. Remember, the right lawyer can make all the difference in achieving a favorable outcome.