Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common ways people get hurt at work. Whether a worker tripped over an ill-placed electrical cord or slipped on a spill, it could cause some pretty serious injuries.
If you suffer a slip and fall injury at work, you may have a lot of questions. You may even wonder if you need to call a lawyer to help you recover the compensation and benefits you need.
At Jay Trucks, we understand the confusion a worker may have after suffering this type of accident on the job. Learn when you may benefit from hiring an attorney after a slip and fall at work.
Unsure if you have a valid case? You can contact our firm anytime, 24/7, to set up a free case review to discuss your legal options. This meeting is confidential, free and carries no obligation to use our services.
What Classifies as a Slip and Fall Injury?
The term, “slip and fall” is a term used by personal injury lawyers. However, this type of physical accident extends to mean many types of slipping, tripping or falling incidents, such as:
- Tripping on a torn carpet or poorly placed extension cord
- Falling over an object that fell or was left lying out
- Slipping on liquid that was spilled and not cleaned up
- Sliding on ice or just-waxed floors
- Stumbling on a crack in the sidewalk or pavement at work
- Falling on stairs due to missing or broken handrails
- Debris left sitting in walkways or poorly lit hallways
- Greasy spills in parking lots or or sidewalks
- Uneven or damaged flooring
While these accidents can happen anywhere, they are extremely common at work, even in an office environment.
Types of Injuries From Slip and Fall Injuries at Work
While many employers may downplay the severity of a slip and fall injury, they can often be severe and require significant medical treatment. Damages that are common in a slip and fall include:
- Soft tissue injuries/sprain and strains: While these injuries are less likely to be life-threatening, they can take weeks to months to fully heal. During that recovery time, workers may need ongoing physical therapy, pain medication and other treatment.
- Fractured bones: Broken bones, especially hip fractures, are an extremely common injury suffered by victims of a slip and fall. If the worker is older, a hip fracture could be life-threatening in certain situations. Compound fractures, such as to the wrist, also happen quite often and may require surgery.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Workers who hit their head when they fall could suffer a concussion, hematoma or TBI. These and other serious head injuries can quickly become life-threatening if left untreated. Workers who hit their head during a fall should always get immediate medical care to rule out any serious injury.
- Back Injuries: While some workers may only suffer a milder sprain and strain, others may sustain a serious spinal cord injury. Not only are these injuries painful, but they may require extensive and ongoing medical treatment, including physical therapy or surgery. The most severe spinal cord injuries could result in chronic pain or even paralysis.
- Pain and Suffering: In addition to the trauma and pain of the initial injury, some injured workers could develop a chronic pain syndrome. More seriously injured workers, such as those with spinal cord injuries, could also develop secondary complications.
Why Call a Lawyer After a Work Slip and Fall
If you get hurt in a slip and fall accident at work, you will need to file a workers’ comp claim to get your benefits started. However, even though you may be protected by workers’ compensation insurance, a claim may not always be straightforward.
Here are a few reasons you may consider seeking legal help after a slip and fall at work:
Proving the Accident and Your Injuries Are Work-Related
Proving a slip and fall injury is challenging under most circumstances. There is an assumption that these accidents only result in minor injuries. Also, there often may not be any witnesses to what happened. This could be especially true if you fell in less populated areas, such as a hallway, going down the stairs or in a parking lot. Employers who want to avoid higher insurance premiums may try to say your injury was not work-related.
Helping You Appeal a Denied Claim
If your workers’ comp claim has been denied, it is important to take immediate action to appeal it. While there are some valid reasons for claims being denied, you should never assume that is the case.
A qualified workers’ comp attorney understands what documentation is needed to support your appeal and the deadlines that apply.
Negotiating a Lump Sum Settlement on Your Behalf
Employees who suffer a slip and fall at work can seek workers’ comp benefits to cover their medical bills, lost wages, and more. Unlike a third-party lawsuit, the injured victim does not have to prove anyone was at fault to receive benefits. He or she only needs to prove that the injury was work-related.
That said, sometimes an injured worker may benefit more by taking a lump sum settlement in lieu of receiving weekly benefits. However, many workers may not even know this is an option. If they are aware of this option, they may not know how to ensure they get a fair settlement in this situation.
At Jay Trucks, we can determine if a settlement may better benefit your situation. We are also prepared to aggressively negotiate a workers’ comp settlement that is fair.
Is it Possible to Have a Workers’ Comp and Third-Party Lawsuit?
While rare, it may be possible for an injured worker to have two separate injury cases. If eligible, you could recover workers’ compensation benefits and also pursue additional compensation through a third-party lawsuit.
Examples of when this may be possible include:
- You work in an office, but the cleaning is maintained by a third-party. The third-party cleaner mops the floor but fails to put up a sign to warn workers the floor is wet. If you slip and fall on the floor, you could have both a workers’ comp claim and a lawsuit against that cleaning company.
- If you drive a delivery truck as an employee and someone hits your work vehicle, causing you to get injured, you could have both a workers’ comp claim and a lawsuit against that other driver’s insurance.
Injured in a Work-Related Slip and Fall? Contact Our Firm Today
At Jay Trucks, we are deeply committed to seeking maximum compensation for our clients. If you were injured in a work-related slip and fall, we encourage you to contact us for legal help. Even if you are unsure if you may have a valid claim, it costs you nothing to learn about your legal options.
Your initial case review is completely free, and there are no costs or fees to pay up front. Call our firm 24/7 to learn more and get started with your claim.
