Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Work Injury Lawyers

Many Americans work in notoriously dangerous industries. Others work in industries that are generally considered to be low-risk from a safety standpoint. Yet, it is certainly possible for individuals to be hurt on the job, even if they work in the safest jobs in the safest industries in the U.S. As a result, it is critically important for all workers to understand their rights and options in the event that they suffer physical harm while they are engaged in work-related activities.

Depending upon the extent of a worker’s injuries, what caused their injurious circumstances in the first place, and how their injuries will impact their life moving forward, they may be empowered to pursue one or more types of compensation as a result of the harm they’ve suffered.

Personal Injury Damages

As an experienced personal injury lawyer can confirm, injured workers are often entitled to pursue personal injury damages due to the circumstances under which they were harmed in the first place.

Essentially, a personal injury lawsuit is likely to be successful if a worker was harmed due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentionally dangerous actions or inactions of another party. That party could be an individual, a government agency, a for-profit company, or even a non-profit enterprise. The only notable exception to this general rule comes into play if a worker is trying to sue their employer. If the worker is eligible for workers’ comp benefits and their employer pays for that worker’s coverage, the employer will be insulated from liability in civil court if the worker files a personal injury lawsuit.

Personal injury lawsuits are often filed in re: work-related motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, industrial equipment defects resulting in injury, and slip and fall cases, just to name a few. If you’re unsure of whether you’re in a position to file a work-related personal injury lawsuit, know that it never hurts to confidentially ask an attorney for some guidance.

Workers’ Compensation

Additionally, many workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of how they got hurt. Unlike the personal injury process, the workers’ compensation claims adjustment process is rarely concerned with the issue of fault. As long as the worker who is filing the claim is eligible for benefits and was hurt while engaged in work-related activities, they should receive benefits as a result of their harm.

Maintaining the Integrity of a Case

Regardless of the type(s) of compensation you are entitled to, it is vitally important to act in ways that will preserve the strength and integrity of your case, whenever possible. The two most helpful rules of thumb to follow in this regard are:

• Don’t post anything on social media that could be used to undermine the strength of your claim or another’s perception of how hurt you are
• Seek legal assistance when communicating with insurance providers, who are skilled in tactics that allow them to minimize liability whenever possible