When you are an employee injured on the job, it's important to understand that filing a workers compensation claim with your state is not always the only recourse you have for recovery of damages for your injuries. Many claimants focus solely on filing a successful workers comp claim to cover medical costs and loss wages. But there are many reasons why your employer or a supplier may even be at fault. Here are a few reasons why it's always important to speak with a workers compensation personal injury attorney whenever you find yourself injured on the job:
Employer Neglect: In many cases (like slip and falls) at a place of employment, the employer may be found responsible for the employee's injuries. In a construction site, for instance, one expects the work environment to be more hazardous than your typical work space. However, when conditions are unreasonably dangerous and when an employer is aware and able to mitigate that danger and doesn't, it's possible that they are responsible for damages in your case. If, for instance, a spill occurs on a construction site and the employer is made aware of it, but no one is dispatched to clean up the area, should an employee carrying construction supplies slip and fall causing injuries, they may have a slip and fall personal injury claim and be able to recover damages.
Subcontractor Neglect: If the workplace is one that is unnecessarily hazardous, and an employee is injured due to simple neglect on a site that is managed by a subcontractor, that subcontractor might be legally liable for resulting injuries. For instance, if an electrical engineering company is hired to manage the wiring for a commercial space by a larger construction entity and their engineer leaves live wiring in an open area for a time, during that time should a painter, for instance, enter the space and come in contact with that live wire and suffer shock and burns as a result, that engineering company may be held liable for the painter's injuries.
Products Liability: If an employee is injured on the job as a result of the use of a product, the manufacturer or another entity in the chain of distribution could be at fault for resulting injuries. Under products liability law, it is possible that the manufacturer or the distributor could be at fault if the product itself was defective or if the product design was found to be defective. Also, if the product was inherently dangerous and no adequate instructions or warnings were provided by the manufacturer, products liability law could determine that the manufacturer and/or its surrogates could be liable for injuries.
Determining possible damages and options for damage recovery in any personal injury case can be difficult, to say the least. When someone is injured on the job, it's all the more important to have the guidance of a skilled personal injury attorney who can help determine your options outside of standard state workers compensation.
Call the offices of Panio Law in Chicago if you are confused about your options and want the guidance of experienced workplace injury lawyers. We work hard for each of our clients to ensure they get the highest awards to which they are eligible. And we'll work hard for you. Call us at (708) 928-8680. We can help.