Workplace Accidents
Mobile, AL workplace accident attorney focused on injury victims' needs. Contact us.
If you or a loved one was injured at work in Alabama, you may have serious questions about what to do next. Should you file a personal injury claim or workers' compensation claim? Is the employer responsible or someone else?
State and federal laws have been created to protect the rights of employees injured in on-the-job accidents. It's important to understand your rights if you were injured or a loved one was hurt or died in an accident.
At Dean Waite & Associates, LLC, we take Alabama workplace accidents very seriously. That's because we understand what's at stake after such accidents. Injury victims deserve top-notch medical treatment. They deserve the time they need to fully recover before returning to work. And injured workers should not have to worry about whether they can afford such things.
Were you injured at work or did you lose a loved one in an accident? Contact Mobile, AL workplace accident lawyer Dean Waite and schedule a free case evaluation. Call (866) 434-5840 right now.
What are common workplace accidents?
Many different types of workplace accidents occur every single day in Alabama. Many injuries are minor, but some are severe and can even result in fatal workplace accidents. Some of the most common workplace injuries involve the following:
If you sustained an injury on the job while doing different kinds of work, we might be able to help you with your accident claim.
How can Dean Waite help me with my Alabama workplace accident claim?
Don't simply rely on your employer or state or federal investigators to handle your workplace accident. It's important to make sure you have someone on your side looking out for your best interests. Workplace accident victims in Mobile and throughout Alabama can trust Dean Waite to handle their claim.
Workplace accident investigations can be confusing if you've never been injured on the job before. Gathering evidence can often be a difficult and painstaking process. Some lawyers avoid such complicated cases. Attorney Waite thrives on them. He knows how to analyze accident reports, consult with experts and find the facts to build a strong legal case.
You didn't do anything wrong. You shouldn't have to suffer because you got hurt at work. Contact our law firm and find out how Dean Waite can help you. We can meet with you in our Mobile, Ala. office, your home, your hospital room or wherever's convenient for you.
Dean Waite & Associates, LLC - working tirelessly for workers throughout Alabama.
FAQs about Workplace Accidents
- What are common causes of workplace accidents?
- What are common workplace accident injuries?
- Who will compensate me for my Alabama workplace injury?
- Am I guaranteed workers compensation in Alabama if I'm hurt at work?
- Can I choose my own doctor to treat my workplace injury?
- Who decides when I have to return to work after my injury?
- Why do I need a lawyer if I'm eligible for workers compensation?
What are common causes of workplace accidents?
Workplace accidents happen for many different reasons. However, there are many similarities between some of the most common workplace accidents. According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the leading causes of workplace accidents include:
- Overexertion - Working physically hard can result in serious workplace accidents. Lifting, pushing, pulling and twisting are common reasons why workers sustain injuries.
- Slip and fall accidents - Falling down at work, especially on wet or slippery surfaces, often causes serious injuries.
- Struck by an object - Equipment, machinery and other moving objects sometimes hit workers, causing injuries.
- Falls from a height - Scaffolding, roofs and other high workplaces can be dangerous, especially when workers fall from them.
- Exertion and bodily reactions - These include workplace injuries caused by bending, crawling, standing, stepping or kneeling.
- Violent attacks - Workers often sustain serious injuries due to violent attacks including assault at the workplace.
What are common workplace accident injuries?
Workplace injuries vary widely depending on the type of work. Some of the most common workplace injuries we deal with at our law firm include:
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Who will compensate me for my Alabama workplace injury?
Workers compensation covers most workplace injuries in Alabama. Most employers are required to carry workers comp insurance, which benefits both the employer and employee. The employee receives benefits if injured on the job (with some exceptions), even if it's the employee's fault. In turn, the law protects the employer by limiting liability. The employer in most cases cannot be sued by the employee for pain and suffering and other damages.
However, you might be able to obtain compensation outside of a workers comp claim for your injury depending on the nature of the accident.
For example, if your employer violated state or federal workplace safety regulations, you might be able to file a workplace injury lawsuit to obtain compensation. You might also need to take further legal action if your workplace accident was caused by someone other than your employer. In such cases, you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the third party.
Other factors include the severity of the injury and how long you will be unable to work due to your injury.
Am I guaranteed workers compensation in Alabama if I'm hurt at work?
Not necessarily. Most Alabama workplace accidents are covered by workers compensation, but there are many exemptions and reasons why certain workplace injuries are not covered by workers comp in Alabama.
Under Alabama's Workers' Compensation Law, an employer with fewer than five employees is not required to carry workers comp insurance. A claim also may be denied if the employee was intoxicated or the injured worker failed to notify his or her employer of the injury within five days.
Can I choose my own doctor to treat my workplace injury?
Except in the case of an emergency, you will need to go to your employer or the employer's insurance carrier's chosen primary care provider.
If the doctor chosen by your employer tries to claim that you're not hurt or that your injury is not as serious as you claim, don't simply accept the doctor's diagnosis. Contact our law firm immediately. We can fight for your ability to choose your own doctor.
Don't take chances with your health. If you want a second opinion about your medical condition, we will do everything we can to help you achieve that goal. Contact Dean Waite & Associates, LLC in Mobile, Ala. today.
Who decides when I have to return to work after my injury?
The doctor treating you for your workplace injury has a lot of influence over when you have to return to work. That's why it's critical that you agree with the doctor's diagnosis of your medical condition. Some doctors chosen by employers might be influenced by an employer's wishes - which often involve having injured workers return to work as soon as possible.
Don't rush your recovery. If you feel hurt, demand a second medical opinion. And if your employer refuses to grant your request, contact our law firm. We thoroughly understand Alabama's workplace accident laws and will rigorously fight for your rights.
Why do I need a lawyer if I'm eligible for workers compensation?
Injured workers who receive workers comp in Alabama often don't think they need an attorney to handle their claim. Don't be so sure. In most cases, we can help you and your family in a wide range of ways you might not have considered.
Workers' comp often only covers a fraction of the expenses associated with your workplace injury. Along with lost income and medical expenses, you might need to make modifications to your home due to a permanent workplace injury.
Another factor to consider is whether your employer failed to provide a safe work environment or created an unsafe work environment through negligence or reckless behavior. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) takes a tough stance against workplace safety violations. Employees can legally report unsafe working conditions to OSHA, which will then launch an investigator.
We can help you deal with OSHA and might even conduct our own investigation into your accident. That way, we can help you decide if you have grounds to file a workplace accident lawsuit.
Alabama construction accidents often result in serious injuries or even fatalities. Without warning, you or a loved one can sustain an injury while working at a construction site in Mobile or another city in Alabama. Construction accidents happen for many reasons. However, four specific causes, known as the "fatal four," account for more than half of all construction fatalities nationwide. The fatal four causes of construction accidents are:
- Falls from a height - Falls from scaffolding, roofs and other high places often result in serious or fatal injuries.
- Struck by an object - Cranes, backhoes, forklifts and other heavy machinery sometimes strike construction workers, causing serious injuries or fatalities. Falling objects and unstable walls can also collapse onto workers.
- Electrocution - Electricians aren't the only construction workers who face the risk of being electrocuted. Construction workers who come into contact with exposed electrical wires and power lines face life-threatening risks.
- Caught in between machinery - Inexperienced construction workers or distracted workers sometimes accidentally crush fellow co-workers while operating large construction equipment.
Construction accidents also involve some of the following issues and conditions:
- Explosions - Explosive or hazardous materials at construction sites sometimes explode, causing serious injuries.
- Fires - Burn injuries caused by construction accident fires often can be prevented if construction companies properly store flammable materials.
- Unsafe working conditions - Improperly maintained equipment, defective equipment, lack of inspections and improperly assembled equipment such as scaffolding are just some examples of factors that result in unsafe working conditions at construction sites.
- Inexperienced workers - Untrained workers often cause construction accidents. It's critical that employers hire skilled construction workers or take the time to properly train employees working in hazardous conditions.
Factories, warehouses, drilling rigs and other large industrial sites can be dangerous workplaces. Without the proper safety measures or training, workers can sustain a serious injury that prevents them from being able to work for weeks or months or perhaps even for the rest of their lives. In certain instances, fatal industrial accidents also sometimes occur in Alabama.
Common causes of industrial accidents vary widely and include but are not limited to the following:
- Explosions - Industrial sites often contain volatile chemicals or other materials that can explode, resulting in serious injuries.
- Exposure to hazardous materials - Whether the exposure occurs over several hours or several years, hazardous materials pose serious health risks to people working around them.
- Repetitive motion injuries - Workers performing the same task hundreds or thousands of times sometimes develop painful medical conditions which make it difficult to work or perform routine tasks. Common example includes carpal tunnel syndrome, a disabling condition that affects the victim's hands, wrists and arms.
- Unsafe working conditions - Companies have a responsibility to create a safe workplace environment. This includes properly training workers, posting warning signs about hazardous materials and making sure work areas are free of obstacles and other hazards that could potentially cause an injury.
- Reckless behavior - Coworkers and employers who put other workers at risk through negligent or reckless behavior must be held accountable for their actions.