What Qualifies as an Injury on Duty?

According to workers’ compensation law, injuries and illnesses are covered if they occur during the scope and course of one’s job duties. Examples of such injuries may include joint damage created due to repetitive motions (like operating a machine), or toxic exposure due to interacting with asbestos-containing materials. Employers should guard against these known risks with safety standards like joint braces and rotation work, or protective masks and decontamination procedures.

Failure to protect against known hazards may be considered negligence. Avoidable accidents and the injuries that result deserve full and fair compensation.

Scaffolding, Rooftop, and Rigging Falls

Pierce Skrabanek has a robust track record of representing some of the hardest-working individuals in the air, on land, and over seas — from roofers to oil rig operators to other maritime roles. When your workplace is inherently dangerous due to the nature of the job, there should be an excess of protections in place, not just the bare minimum. That includes protective gear, harnesses, and maintenance to clear the area of any unnecessary hazards.

Dangerous jobs don’t mean you should expect an injury, they mean you should expect abundant and redundant safety protocols.

There can be overlapping liability for injuries, including employers, property owners, and manufacturers. If you’ve been injured on the job, your priority is to heal and move forward as best as possible. Your attorney from Pierce Skrabanek will investigate your circumstances, gather and verify evidence, and build a case for a comprehensive settlement.

How Do I Claim Compensation for a Work-Related Injury?

In many cases, workers’ compensation may be able to cover damages for a workplace or industrial accident. This depends on several factors, including the individual employee’s contract, insurance policies, and state or county laws.

It is important that you consult with your own attorney before signing or agreeing to any offer from workers’ comp or your employer’s insurance company.

It is the job of insurance agents to save their company as much money as possible. That may lead them to lowball you with less compensation than you deserve. At Pierce Skrabanek, we have expert witnesses and decades of experience that indicate the true cost of your losses after an injury. We can help handle your workers’ comp claim, and pursue an additional lawsuit if it doesn’t cover your actual needs.

Your compensation should include full accounting for:

• All hospital and medical expenses, including follow-up care, medical devices, and pharmaceutical needs
• Your lost wages, lost earning capacity, and lost job-related benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions
• Compensation for your pain and suffering, from physical pain to emotional anguish caused to you and your family, including in cases of permanent scarring or disfigurement

If your case requires a trial, a judge or jury may award additional punitive or “punishment” damages in cases where the injury involved intentional acts or extremely negligent behavior. If you are the surviving family member of someone who lost their life due to a workplace injury, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim to seek justice for the deceased.

A skilled and experienced workplace accident lawyer can help an employee recover the full array of costs associated with a work injury. We can also help surviving family members find justice through the tragedy of a loved one lost. Contact Pierce Skrabanek at 832-690-7000 for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to evaluate your legal options.