If you’ve been injured in an industrial work accident, you’re likely facing a lot of uncertainty and stress. At Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C., our industrial workplace accident lawyer understands how overwhelming this time can be and is here to help.
Pursuing the compensation you need after an industrial accident can be daunting. But you don’t have to do it alone. The experienced legal team at Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. can handle all the details of your case so you can focus on healing from your injuries. Contact us today for a free case review and learn why injured workers throughout Pennsylvania trust us to advocate for their rights.
Industrial Accident Statistics
According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following injuries, illnesses, and fatalities occurred in the private industry in one recent year:
- Approximately 2.6 million recordable private industry work accident cases were reported.
- Nearly half of these cases involved injured workers taking days off.
- The median number of days away from work due to on-the-job accidents that year was 12.
- There were over 5,000 fatal work-related deaths nationwide that year.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), most workplace deaths nationwide in one recent year occurred in the construction industry. The transportation and warehousing industry had the highest injury and illness rate resulting in days away from work.
Data from the BLS indicates there were 162 fatal work injuries in Pennsylvania in a single year. Among these, transportation incidents accounted for 59 fatalities, while 30 were due to falls, 29 were due to hazardous contact with objects or equipment, and 24 were from exposure to harmful substances or environments.
Different Kinds of Industrial Accidents
Industrial workplaces are hazardous environments where various accidents can occur due to the nature of the tasks workers perform, the equipment they use, and the conditions in which they work.
Examples of the different types of industrial work accidents include the following:
- Falls from heights
- Slip-and-falls
- Struck-by-falling object accidents
- Struck-against-object accidents
- Entanglement accidents
- Machinery accidents
- Overexertion injuries
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Equipment failure accidents
- Electrical accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Exposure to hazardous substances
- Chemical and heat burns
- Crushing injuries
- Drowning accidents, particularly in maritime industries
- Trench collapses
- Scaffolding accidents
- Building or structure collapses
- Transportation accidents
- Hazardous exposure injuries
- Confined space accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Welding accidents
- Violence in the workplace
Common Causes of Industrial Workplace Accidents
Industrial worksites can be dangerous environments with many risks of injury. Some reasons industrial workplace accidents frequently occur include:
- Broken or outdated equipment
- Lack of safety regulations
- Bad lighting
- Overexertion
- Hazardous materials
- Inadequate personal protective equipment
Sources of Compensation in an Industrial Workplace Accident
There could be several avenues for seeking compensation if you’re injured on the job in an industrial accident. If you are an eligible employee, you could be entitled to workers’ comp benefits. These benefits could include medical coverage, partial wage replacement payments, and specific loss payments for the loss of the use of a body part.
But while Pennsylvania workers’ comp covers most on-the-job injuries, there are certain cases where it may not apply. In particular, workers’ compensation does not cover injuries that were intentional, caused while you were under the influence, or occurred while commuting to or from work. There are exceptions to these rules, though. For example, you may be covered if you get injured in your workplace parking lot or while running an errand for your employer on the way home.
Workers’ comp laws limit a worker’s ability to sue their employer or coworker directly for work injuries. However, there are cases where other parties involved in the accident may be responsible for compensating you. You could file a personal injury claim if someone other than your employer is liable for your work accident injury.
Determining options for compensation after a workplace accident can be challenging and often requires a thorough investigation of the incident. An experienced industrial workplace accident lawyer can review your case and help determine if you have the right to workers’ comp benefits or other legal options for your injuries.
How Can an Attorney Help After an Industrial Accident?
If you got hurt in an industrial work accident in Pennsylvania, an experienced workers’ comp attorney could help you pursue the compensation you need by:
- Collecting and preserving evidence for your case
- Consulting experts to understand the extent of your injuries
- Evaluating the full extent of your losses
- Guiding you through the workers’ comp claims process
- Preparing and filing claim paperwork on your behalf
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
- Ensuring you meet all relevant deadlines
Is There a Deadline for Filing My Industrial Accident Workers’ Comp Claim?
Pennsylvania has several critical deadlines for workers’ comp claims after an industrial accident. You must notify your employer of your injury within 21 days to receive benefits starting from the date of the injury. However, you have up to 120 days to report the injury to your employer. You could lose your right to workers’ comp benefits if you miss the deadline. If your benefits are denied, you then have three years to file a claim petition.
Contact an Industrial Accident Attorney in Harrisburg
Don’t let the confusing nature of an industrial injury claim keep you from pursuing the compensation you deserve. Reach out to Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. for help. Take the first step toward obtaining financial relief with a free initial consultation with our Harrisburg industrial workplace accident lawyer.
