Find Your Work Injury Lawyer
Even job sites where companies prioritize safety have accidents from time to time. Also, while many worksites focus on physical safety, few put measures in place for protecting mental health. To add to this, the employer may not be aware of safety issues in the building, such as when a landlord has lied about the presence of asbestos. These and other factors can cause people to face injuries and illnesses at work that can necessitate the intervention of a work injury lawyer.
What Is a Work Injury?
Work injuries refer to physical and psychological harm someone may suffer at work or because of his or her job. These injuries can result from accidents, occupational hazards, or other ongoing problems. In some cases, these injuries prove fatal. Here are some of the most common examples of workplace injuries:
- Slipping on a patch of ice at the entrance to a building
- Becoming unconscious after being stuck in an elevator
- Falling from the roof at a construction site
- Getting into an accident while patrolling in the company vehicle
- Developing respiratory illnesses or cancer after breathing in harmful chemicals
- Struggling with PTSD after witnessing a shooting at work
When defining workplace injuries, some people separate work injuries from occupational illnesses, but the distinction is usually unnecessary. A work injury compensation lawyer that handles one type of case generally handles the other.
What Are the Main Types of Work Injuries?
There are four main types of workplace injuries that can lead to a workers’ compensation claim. This is only general information. You will need to work with an experienced attorney to help you clarify what injuries your state identifies as legitimate, how it defines each and what benefits you could receive.
Physical Injury
Most workers’ comp claims involve physical injuries, generally related to accidents on the job. Using the examples above, slipping on a patch of ice, getting into a car accident in a work vehicle or falling from great heights would fit into this category. Note that a physical injury does not have to be life-threatening for you to make a claim, and all injuries should be reported.
Psychiatric Injury
When most people think of mental health problems at work, experiencing traumatic events most often come to mind. People who work in fields where such events can be an everyday experience, such as first-responders, may suffer from this the most. However, workers in any industry may also suffer from burnout and other qualifying mental health issues.
Occupation Illness
Not to be confused with physical injuries, an occupational illness refers to diseases that you develop while working at a job. Using the examples above, this can include respiratory illnesses resulting from inhaling toxic substances. A common manifestation of this is when construction workers and even architects develop mesothelioma after years of coming into contact with asbestos.
Repetitive Motion Stress
Finally, workers can suffer from injuries related to completing a repetitive motion. People who work with their hands are often more likely to experience this than anyone else, including people who work in the office. For instance, typists and designers often suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. Similarly, factory workers on assembly lines face risks.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a benefit offered in some form in all U.S. states. It covers lost wages and medical bills when someone suffers from workplace injuries. Each state sets its own guidelines when it comes to workers’ compensation. These determine the following:
- Whether employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance or can opt out
- What employers can opt out of workers’ compensation, if possible
- What workers are covered by workers’ compensation
- How much money workers receive and for how long
- What process workers need to follow to file a claim
- What rights and privileges workers have while receiving benefits
In most cases, employers provide workers’ compensation benefits by carrying a form of social insurance. If any of the employers’ workers become injured on the job, then the insurance company covers the liabilities related to this.
While this sounds great on paper, many insurance companies and employers try to make it difficult for workers to get benefits. Problems can also arise in cases where workers are injured at companies that do not carry any social insurance.
How Do You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Before filing for workers’ compensation, it is important to speak with an attorney to see what your claim is worth. This can help you determine how best to proceed. Below is the general process you may follow. Note that the specifics do vary by state:
- Seek Medical Attention: Your first priority should always be your health, so seek medical attention as soon as possible, no matter how minor your injuries might seem.
- Report the Injury: Notify your employer at the earliest opportunity. Check in to do this yourself even if you think a co-worker who witnessed the incident already told your employer. Keep records to prove this.
- File a Workers’ Compensation Claim: File a formal workers’ compensation claim according the protocol of workplace and state laws.
- Follow Medical Advice: Many workers ruin their claims or make it difficult to get disability later on by not following the doctors’ orders. Take all the necessary medication and remain at home for as long as the doctor advises.
Do You Need a Work Injury Lawyer?
Workers often decide not to file for workers’ compensation because they fear retaliation from their employers. Employers do retaliate, but it is illegal for them to do so. In some states, employers face legal repercussions even if the worker is an undocumented immigrant. Your attorney can help you work through the pros and cons of filing a claim so you can decide what outcome may suit you and your family best, based on your local laws.
Work With An Experienced Local Lawyer
Unfortunately, finding a good workers’ compensation attorney can be difficult at times. This is because many attorneys do not like going up against big corporations and insurance companies. We match you with lawyers that have the experience and the willingness to tackle any entity you are up against. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!