Wilmington Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Fight Hard for Victims of Workplace Accidents
Obtaining Full Compensation for Injured Workers
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported 5,190 workplace fatalities and over 600,000 injuries across the United States in 2016. OSHA identifies the most common workplace accidents as the “Fatal Four,” which include falls, getting struck by objects, getting caught in/between objects, and electrocution.
Workers that are killed or injured on the job are entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits. But benefits can be initially denied, which results in financial hardship for the victim and their family.
The Wilmington workplace injury lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC are dedicated to helping injured workers claim the maximum amount of Workers’ Compensation benefits available.
Types of Workplace Accidents
There are many types of accidents that can happen in the workplace, but OSHA’s Fatal Four list classifies the top four serious and deadly accidents that are reported each year.
Falls: Every worker in every industry across the United States faces a risk of falling at work. Construction workers are at the most risk of injury and death in falls from scaffolding, ladders, and high elevations. But even an office worker is at risk for serious injury due to a fall.
Simply climbing up a four-foot ladder to reach an item on a shelf, or tripping over a cord or package can lead to broken bones, cuts, lacerations, and even spinal, back, or head injuries. Uneven surfaces, torn or loose carpet edges, computer cords, and poor lighting in stairways can lead to a fall accident that can cause a significant injury, and in the worst cases, death.
Struck-By Accidents: This type of accident happens frequently in the construction and manufacturing industries, but can also occur in warehouses, retail outlets, and grocery stores. Construction workers, farmers, truck drivers, iron workers, carpenters, commercial fishermen, and loggers face the highest risk for serious and fatal injuries when they are struck by moving objects.
Cranes, forklifts, scaffolding, heavy equipment, dump trucks and front loaders, power tools, and work vehicles put workers at risk of being struck-by objects that become loose or unstable. Heavy boxes or materials that fall off shelves or forklifts can seriously injure or kill a worker.
Caught In/Between Accidents: This type of accident occurs when a worker gets caught in/between two objects. Heavy boxes that fall from an elevation and trap a worker between them and the floor or a wall; heavy machinery that pulls a worker into the mechanisms; and workers that get pinned between equipment are all examples of caught between accidents.
These types of accidents can result in crushing injuries, limb amputations, head, face, or back injuries, and broken or crushed bones. Workers involved in these types of accidents face a high risk of fatal injuries.
Electrocution: Most people associate electrical accidents with electricians, but many electrocutions happen to non-electrical workers. Workers can suffer devastating and fatal injuries when they come into contact with live wires and open circuits.
Most electricians are aware of electrical hazards and can prevent most accidents; but workers unfamiliar with electricity face the most serious risks. Office workers attempting to fix electrical machinery, restaurant employees that try to fix short circuits or fuses, and construction workers that make contact with live wires are just some examples of electrocution.
Injuries from this type of accident can result in severe burns and death.
Compensation for Workplace Accidents
A worker may assume that their own mistake or carelessness caused the accident that led to their injury, but Workers’ Compensation benefits are provided to victims injured on the job, regardless of who was at fault. Workers that are injured due to the carelessness or negligence of their employer can sometimes claim compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, but there are legal protections afforded through Workers’ Compensation that limit claims.
An experienced and skilled Wilmington Workers’ Compensation lawyer can ensure that injured workers receive the maximum amount of compensation that is available. Workers’ Compensation laws vary from state to state, and navigating through them and adhering to tight deadlines can be overwhelming.
Even claims that are initially denied can be appealed, and a qualified Workers’ Compensation lawyer will ensure that their client’s legal rights are protected.
Wilmington Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC Provide Counsel and Representation to Workers Injured in Workplace Accidents
If you have been injured in a workplace accident, the Wilmington Workers’ Compensation lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC can help you claim the compensation you are entitled to receive. Call us at 302-888-1211 or contact us online to schedule a consultation today. From our offices in Wilmington, Delaware, we serve clients throughout Wilmington, Dover, Newark, and Middletown, Delaware, as well as across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.