When an employee goes to work, they expect their employer to provide a safe workplace for them and not to suffer a personal injury. If you are an injured employee looking to recover compensation, then contact the Fort Walton Beach workplace accident lawyers at Fasig | Brooks to learn more about your rights and how to obtain compensation from your personal injury claim.
What Causes Most Workplace Accidents?
In 2020, the leading cause of work-related injuries and illnesses involving missed time from work was exposure to harmful substances or environments, when not including COVID-19 cases, as those were coded differently. The next two most common causes of injury and illness that led to workers missing work were overexertion and slips, trips, and falls. These three causes constitute 75% of all non-fatal injuries and illnesses that caused accident victims to miss work. In 2019 there were 229,410 workplace injuries due to contact with objects and equipment that were so severe that they resulted in time away from work.
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Who Is Liable for a Workplace Injury?
The determination of liability will be based on who or what entity was negligent and thus should be held responsible. The employee, company, or the manufacturer of the equipment used at the workplace can be held liable for the personal injury.
- The employee: Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, violating company policy, or intentionally causing harm at the time of the accident can bar a person from receiving Worker’s Compensation benefits.
- A company: Either the general contractor or companies that were subcontracted can be held liable for your injury if they did not provide a safe workspace or created a hazardous condition.
- The manufacturer of tools and equipment: Manufacturers of forklifts, power tools, hand tools, and other construction equipment must ensure that they are safe to use.
The Fort Walton Beach workplace accident attorneys from Fasig | Brooks will investigate your claim to determine who should be held accountable for your injuries. We gather evidence from maintenance logs and records, security cameras, eyewitness testimony, and other sources to establish liability so that you can recover damages. The liable party is responsible for compensating you for your medical expenses, lost earnings, future lost earnings, out-of-pocket expenses, and your pain and suffering.
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Most Common Workplace Injuries
The following are the most common types of workplace injuries:
Muscle Strains
When a worker repeatedly performs the same motion every day, a muscle is under excessive pressure, or a muscle or body part is pulled beyond its normal range, the strain can result in muscle tears, subcutaneous bleeding, and bruising.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Any damage to the spinal cord can disrupt communication from the brain to the body temporarily or permanently. Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, loss of voluntary motion, and loss of control of the bladder and bowels.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries from falls and other workplace accidents are caused by the crushing or impact that presses internal organs against bones inside the body. Internal injuries can include bruises to the heart and the brain, and stomach bleeding.
Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury is permanent and extremely costly to treat or help the victim stay comfortable if their condition can’t be cured. Catastrophic injuries in the workplace include severed limbs that are cut by sharp tools or from being pinned or pinched, falls that lead to paralysis or coma, and injuries that lead to blindness, deafness and other sensory losses. Some catastrophic injuries are not permanent but last several months or years.
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Wrongful Death After a Fort Walton Beach Workplace Accident
The loved ones of a worker who died as a result of their injuries can file a claim against the decedent’s employer or their insurance company to recover funeral and burial costs and the medical bills the injured worker accrued before their untimely death. They can also receive compensation for loss of future earnings, loss of emotional support, and for the pain and suffering the decedent endured before their death.
Why do You Need a Fort Walton Beach Workplace Accident Lawyer?
In some cases, the employer denies the right to Workers’ Compensation benefits in Fort Walton Beach by claiming that there is no proof of the workplace injury despite medical records validating the personal injury. Your employer may also deny responsibility for faulty equipment, machinery, tools, or materials that contributed to your injury or sickness or by claiming that the workplace injury or illness was caused by the negligence of another employee.
Or your employer may argue that your negligence contributed to your workplace injury or that there was an assumption of risk that you should have known before accepting the job. These are just some of the most common defenses that employers try to use to block themselves from paying workers’ compensation benefits to employees in Fort Walton Beach.
When your employer refuses to provide a valid reason for denying your claim, you need to hire an attorney to help you build your appeal and recover compensation. Your employer may be subjected to federal penalties for violating the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, in addition to being sued in court. With years of experience helping injured workers in Fort Walton Beach recover damages, Fasig | Brooks will fight for you in your worker’s compensation claim. We will take all the steps that need to be taken and that your employer will comply with Florida state laws. Call (850) 777-7777 now to set up an appointment with any of the experienced Fort Walton Beach workplace injury attorneys.
On average, about 10 percent of Florida workers’ compensation claims are denied. This undoubtedly led to frustration and stress for many Floridians who were hoping for their medical bills, lost wages, or, in some cases, funeral expenses to be covered by their Worker’s Compensation benefits. If you’re one of the individuals who has had your claim denied, then a diligent Workers’ Compensation lawyer can help you with your case. Call now to schedule your free case review by an experienced, caring Fort Walton Beach worker’s compensation attorney at Fasig | Brooks.
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