Industrial Accidents

>When you head off to work in the morning, you probably do not have much concern about getting injured or needing an Philadelphia industrial accident attorney. After all, there are safety procedures you must follow. However, the number of workplace accidents and injuries continues to be at an all-time high, particularly for those working industrial jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an estimated 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries happened in 2020 alone. Unfortunately, another 4,764 people were killed in workplace accidents during the same year.

Most industrial accidents are preventable, although there are some that are caused by corporate wrongdoing, failures to follow safety standards, negligence, and industrial hazards. Construction, manufacturing, oil and gas drilling, and other industrial companies carry higher risks of serious injury and fatality accidents.

When people are seriously injured while working, they should be compensated for their losses. The Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Raynes & Lawn have litigated complex industrial accident claims against large corporations on behalf of injured victims for more than five decades. Our team of Philadelphia industrial accident lawyers is dedicated to fighting for the rights of our clients when workers are injured because of the harmful practices and safety violations of their employers.

Different Types of Industrial Injuries

The accidents that happen while at your job can lead to a range of injuries, some mild and others catastrophic:

• Burns (Chemical, electrical, and fire)
• Vision loss
• Hearing loss
• Broken bones
• Dislocated joints
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injuries
• Herniated discs
• Paralysis
• >Amputation
• Respiratory injuries and difficulties
• Nerve damage
• Repetitive strain injuries>
• Internal organ damage

What Are The Different Types of Industrial Accidents?

Regardless of the industry in which you work, there is always the potential for an accident to occur. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created standards and enforces regulations of companies in a variety of industries, accidents happen. Most of the time, accidents happen when individuals decide to take shortcuts, or when materials or equipment are improperly stored, handled, and disposed.

Here are several types of industrial accidents:

• Falling objects
• Overexertion and improper technique
• Chemical exposure and burns
• Getting caught in machinery
• Explosions
• Electrical accidents and electrocutions

Now for the details on some of these accidents.

Slips and Falls

One of the most common workplace injuries is a slip or a fall. In many warehouses and facilities, employees encounter risks, such as spilled liquids, viscous materials, or even ice from freezers and parking lots. In most industries, employees are either issued or required to wear nonslip shoes to prevent such accidents from happening.

Falling Objects

In warehouses and stock rooms, many boxes and crates are precariously stacked to make use of vertical space. When an object falls, even from a low height, it can be dangerous to those underneath. The weight and size of an object can make even a short fall devastating.

Overexertion and Improper Lifting Technique

When employees fail to lift objects properly or get injured because of incorrect form, it leads to an industrial accident. Sometimes, a single employee attempting a team lift may also result in sprains, strains, and broken bones.

Chemical Exposure and Burns

There are many industries in Pennsylvania that deal with chemicals and other hazardous materials, including chemical warehouses and hospitals. Burns and exposure to dangerous fumes may result from dropped or improperly stored materials. Disposal methods are also taken into account. Furthermore, when such chemicals are improperly transported, it could cause spillage.

Industrial Accident Claims

In most cases, employees cannot file lawsuits against their employers when they are injured at work. This is because of Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation laws. Most employers in Pennsylvania must carry workers’ compensation coverage to protect their employees when they are injured in workplace accidents. Injured workers do not have to prove that their employers were negligent to recover workers’ compensation benefits for their workplace accidents. However, they also generally cannot sue their employers unless an exception applies.

Two situations in which an employee might be allowed to sue an employer for negligence in an industrial accident claim include when the employer failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance or if the injured victim was an independent contractor instead of an employee.

In some cases, a third party at a worksite might be liable for an industrial accident. For example, if a subcontractor was hired to perform work at a site and caused your accident and injuries, you could file a third-party claim against the responsible subcontractor as well as a workers’ compensation claim with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. You might also be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of defective equipment that caused your injuries at work. our attorneys will carefully review your case to identify all of the potential sources of recovery to help you recover all of the compensation to which you should be entitled.

What Are The Potential Benefits & Damages of an Industrial Accident?

When you are injured on the job, it is your right to seek compensation. Raynes & Lawn has helped others in similar situations recover billions of dollars in damages. Here are some of the benefits and damages you could receive for your industrial accident case:

• Medical expenses
• Lost pay
• Disability and physical limitations
• Reduced quality of life
• Reduced earning capacity
• Out of pocket expenses
• Loss of consortium
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement and scars

The potential damages and benefits that might be available to you will depend on whether you are limited to the workers’ compensation system or if you also have grounds to file a third-party claim. If your injury left you with temporary or permanent disabilities that prevent you from returning to your job, you might also be entitled to recover disability benefits to replace a percentage of your former income. Should you pursue a negligence claim, you might also be eligible for non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, and others.

In other words, you could receive compensation for any past, present, and future medical care related to your industrial injury, including the travel time involved. Any time you are forced to miss work because of the injury, or if you are forced to go on disability for a prolonged period, you may be entitled to compensation.

To find out what you could potentially recover, get in touch with the Philadelphia industrial accident attorneys at Raynes & Lawn today. During the free consultation, a lawyer will sit down with you and talk about the case. At the end, we will be able to give you an estimate of the potential damages you may receive.

When Can I Sue For Negligence in an Industrial Accident?

In Pennsylvania, there are some things you can and cannot do when seeking compensation for your industrial accident. Because of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, your employer or co-workers cannot be sued for negligence over your injury. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. A member of the Workers’ Compensation council or a Philadelphia industrial accident lawyer can help you determine if the exception applies to your injury.

In order to sue for negligence in Pennsylvania, you must prove several things:

• Duty. The business or the defendant had an obligation that they failed or refrained from doing, such as providing the workers with nonslip shoes for an unsafe environment or missing maintenance on equipment that caused the injury. Generally, employers have a duty to see that no harm comes to their employees.
• Breach. The business or individual who had a particular duty to perform did not meet the standards. For example, an employee driving a forklift that struck another person was intoxicated on the job.
• Causation. There must be irrefutable proof that the breach or dereliction of duty caused the industrial accident leading to the injuries of the plaintiff.
• Damages. Everything for which compensation is desired—medical bills, pain and suffering, disability, lost wages—must be a direct consequence of the negligent actions and nothing else.

Talk To An Industrial Injury Attorney

Industrial accidents can be severe and result in serious injuries or fatalities. Many of these types of accidents can be prevented by taking specific safety steps. Unfortunately, some companies violate safety laws and place their employees at risk. If you or your loved one sustained serious injuries in an industrial accident, you should consult an industrial accidents lawyer at Raynes & Lawn as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation so that you can learn more about the legal remedies that might be available to you, call us today at 1-800-535-1797.

For the general public: This Blog/Website is made available by the law firm publisher, Raynes & Lawn for educational purposes. It provides general information and a general understanding of the law but does not provide specific legal advice. By using this site, commenting on posts, or sending inquiries through the site or contact email, you confirm that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Blog/Website publisher. The Blog/Website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

For attorneys: This Blog/Website is informational in nature and is not a substitute for legal research or a consultation on specific matters pertaining to your clients. Due to the dynamic nature of legal doctrines, what might be accurate one day may be inaccurate the next. As such, the contents of this blog must not be relied upon as a basis for arguments to a court or for your advice to clients without, again, further research or a consultation with our professionals.