Whether your work injuries take the form of trauma, repetitive stress, or mental stress, they can have a substantial effect on you and your loved ones’ lives. This may lead to lengthy periods of underemployment or unemployment, additional medical bills, and worries over a loss of earnings.
If you or a loved one is in this situation, a LaBelle work injury lawyer can help you explore the options you may have for pursuing compensation and moving forward with your life. Call The Landau Law Group at (866) 703-4878 to find out how we can help you.
What To Do After An Injury At Work
Following a work accident or injury, there are several steps we recommend that you take in order to protect your right to seek compensation from the liable party or parties through a private lawsuit.
Seek Medical Help
It is likely your workplace has procedures in place for when an injury occurs. However, a medical assessment should be your priority. Even if you feel well, get medical advice just in case there is an injury that has not yet become clear. The medical report will also provide evidence of your injuries and can support your case if you choose to pursue a claim in the future.
Follow Procedures
After an injury, follow workplace procedures according to existing policies. This might include filling out an accident report, notifying your employer, or taking other steps. We recommend that you avoid signing anything without consulting your lawyer first, however. This will ensure you understand what you are being asked to do and how it may affect your ability to recover compensation for your injuries.
Record Your Injuries/Symptoms
Photographic or video evidence of your injury can help support your claim. However, it can also be helpful to get images of the accident scene, especially if the images will demonstrate an obvious fault, like a broken step or a lack of safety warnings.
It is also a good idea to keep a record of any symptoms or limitations that you face following the accident. Doing this will help create a clearer picture of how your injuries have affected you and the day-to-day impact they have on your life.
If you want to protect your legal rights following a work accident, a work injury lawyer in Labelle, FL, can advise you. To find out more, call The Landau Law Group at (866) 703-4878.
Types and Causes of Work Injuries
Although employers are responsible for maintaining a safe workplace for their employees, they are not the only ones with a duty of care toward the victims of work injuries. Contractors, subcontractors, job site owners, and equipment manufacturers may also be liable for your losses.
Examples of work injuries that may have been caused by multiple parties include:
- Trips and falls or slip and falls because of poorly organized cables on a construction site
- Being injured by machinery due to badly maintained equipment
- Transportation injuries because the employer does not allow adequate breaks or failed to maintain the vehicle to a high enough standard
- Being exposed to hazardous substances without adequate protective gear
Potentially Recoverable Damages
A workers’ compensation claim can be more limited than a private lawsuit because you cannot recover compensation for noneconomic losses like pain and suffering through your workers’ comp.
Your lawyer can help you build a case against all liable parties that may include compensation for damages like:
- Medical bills
- Emergency transportation
- Prescription medication
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity, if you cannot work the same job or to the same extent following your injury
- Pain and suffering
These are not the only damages to which you may be entitled. Your lawyer can review the evidence surrounding your case and protect your right to seek compensation for your injuries, losses, and other expenses.
Holding the Responsible Party Accountable
Once we have gathered the evidence surrounding your case, our team will work to demonstrate the negligence of the liable party or parties and connect their actions or inactions to your injuries and subsequent losses. We can also assist you by:
- Managing communications between all parties
- Filing paperwork within the state’s deadlines
- Negotiating on your behalf in pursuit of a fair settlement
- Representing your interests in court, if necessary
If you or a loved one was injured at work, there are options available to you beyond a workers’ compensation claim. Our team can help you build a personal injury lawsuit that compensates you for your economic and noneconomic losses, and that holds all liable parties accountable for their actions.
The statute of limitations in Florida means you have four years to file a personal injury claim, and we do not want you to lose your right to pursue compensation. We recommend getting started right away. For further information, call The Landau Law Group at (866) 703-4878 to find out how we can help you during a free consultation.