You should feel safe while you’re at work. No matter what industry you work in, you should be kept as safe as possible while you’re on the job. When that doesn’t happen, accidents can happen, and workers can get hurt. If you get injured while you’re on the job, you might think your only option is workers’ compensation, but that’s not true.
You might be eligible to file a work injury claim under personal injury law. Our Danville work injury lawyer from Stapp Law, LLC can help you determine how the law fits into what happened to you. You’re likely wondering what constitutes a work injury claim. Let’s take a look.
Work Injury Vs. Workers’ Compensation
Many injured workers may not realize that they have more options than just workers’ compensation claims when they’re hurt on the job. In some cases, they could file a work injury claim to hold their employer or the negligent employer accountable for what happened to them.
That being said, what’s the difference? There is one key difference that determines whether you should file a work injury claim or a workers’ compensation claim, and that’s fault.
When you were at fault, you share the majority of the fault, or you could be considered at fault for the injury you sustained at work, then you will want to file for workers’ compensation. This is because workers’ comp claims don’t look into who caused the injury—only that it happened at work.
When you weren’t at fault for what happened, that’s when a work injury claim could be more beneficial to you. Through this claim, you’ll prove your employer, a third party, or another party were responsible for the damages you sustained at work. That way, you can hold them accountable for what they’ve done to you.
You may still be unsure of what kind of claim to file—that’s okay. That’s what our Danville work injury lawyer is here for. We can answer all your questions and determine if a work injury claim is the right decision for you. From there, we’ll work to prove the other party was negligent and caused your work injuries.
Common Types of Work Injuries
Now that you understand the difference between workers’ comp and work injuries and have decided that your claim likely falls under a work injury, you might be wondering about more specifics. Knowing the more specific details of the injuries you might be suffering from when filing a workplace injury claim can help you feel more confident in your decision and your case.
Here are some of the most common types of injuries that happen on-the-job, as they were mentioned in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 2020 report about violated standards leading to injuries:
- Overexertion
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Fractures
- Falls
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Respiratory injuries
- Electrical or heat-related injuries
- Eye and face injuries
- Amputations
These aren’t the only types of injuries that can occur in the workplace, but they are some of the most common. They also don’t happen in just one industry. Here are some of the most common industries these injuries happen in:
- Construction
- Warehouses
- Manufacturing
- Farming
- Healthcare
- First responders
- Oil and gas industry
- Refineries
While these are the more dangerous industries where workers are likely to get hurt on the job, that doesn’t mean that your tamer occupation is immune to workplace injuries. You could still suffer from a work injury if you have a desk job or work in the service industry.
If you’re unsure whether or not how you were hurt ties into workplace injuries, then you could use the help of our Danville work injury lawyer. We’ll be able to look at your situation and answer all your questions. We have experience representing the victims of on-the-job injuries and know just how to handle your claim.
Reporting Your Work Injury
When you suffer from an occupational injury, one of the most important steps, aside from seeking medical attention, is reporting that injury. There are a few places you’ll need to report this injury so that you get the most beneficial outcome possible.
No matter what level of severity you think your injury is, it’s important to report that injury to your employer if they weren’t around to witness it and make the report themselves. You’ll want to directly make a report with them and gather any witnesses to state what they saw happen for the report.
You’ll want this report to be as thorough as possible so it gives a full scope of what happened, what or who caused the accident that led to your injuries, and the next actions taken. If the injuries are mild or severe, you’ll want to seek medical attention right away.
Other than your workplace, you’ll also need to report the incident to OSHA. Your employer is required to notify OSHA when an employee is injured on the job and it requires hospitalization, amputation, the loss of an eye. With all of these scenarios, your employer has 24 hours to report them to OSHA.
When an employee is killed on the job, they also are required to report this incident to OSHA. Instead of 24 hours, though, they instead have only 8 hours to report the fatality.
Even though your employer is required to report the incident, it can be helpful to call the OSHA office to ensure this incident was reported within the proper time limits. After reporting, it’s in your best interests to hire a work injury attorney. We’ll be able to support you in your claim and ensure you get justice for what happened to you.
Stapp Law, LLC Will Support You After a Work Injury
When you’ve been hurt at work, you could be unsure where to turn to next. It can be difficult to make legal decisions when you’re focusing on your physical and emotional healing, but that’s why hiring a Danville work injury lawyer is so essential.
At Stapp Law, LLC, we’re prepared to handle the legal side of things for you so that you can focus on healing. Reach out to our office today so we can schedule a free consultation and get started working for you.
