Every year, millions of workers are injured on the job, costing employers and insurance companies billions of dollars. Of course, employers are required to provide a reasonably safe workplace through proper training, posted warnings, compliance with safety regulations, and the supply of safe equipment. Nevertheless, workplace injuries occur due to many types of negligence. They may be caused by simple on-the-job mistakes by the worker or result from workplace hazards such as toxic chemical exposure or improperly maintained equipment.
In Pennsylvania, workers are covered by workers’ compensation from the first day of work through the duration of their employment. Under workers’ compensation, an injured worker can be awarded benefits for lost wages and medical expenses without having to file a lawsuit to prove that the injuries were the fault of the employer. This also means that the worker cannot bring a personal injury claim against his or her employer.
An unfortunate byproduct of the rising cost of workers’ compensation insurance is that a number of companies act illegally, pressuring injured employees to hide their workplace injuries and avoid filing a claim. Sometimes employees who make a workers’ compensation claim are harassed, discriminated against or fired. Such practices are illegal and should not be tolerated. The Pennsylvania workplace injury attorneys of Munley, Munley, & Cartwright, P.C., will defend your rights against those illegal practices.
Although workers covered under workers’ compensation cannot file a personal injury claim against their employer, they can file a third-party claim if the injury was caused by someone other than themselves, a co-worker, or their employer. Examples of third-party claims include:
- Industrial accidents caused by defective products manufactured by someone other than the worker’s employer
- Injuries caused by unsafe premises (if owned or operated by someone other than the worker’s employer)
- Injuries caused by a worker from a different company on the worker’s job site
If you are injured at work, you should consider having your case evaluated by an attorney to make sure that you are receiving all of the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to obtain and to see if you have a viable claim against a third party.
While accidents can happen in any workplace, certain jobs are inherently more dangerous than others. The construction industry has some of the highest worker injury rates of any occupation. Construction sites can be busy, confusing places with workers of various vocations interacting with each other. The nature of construction site accidents requires early legal intervention and investigation because of the frequency in which the accident scene changes.
If you have suffered a workplace injury, contact the lawyers at Munley, Munley, & Cartwright, P.C., for experienced and knowledgeable representation. We can negotiate with the insurance companies and guide you through the legal process. Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience. If you have been injured in a workplace accident, please contact our lawyers for a free consultation by phone at 1-800-318-LAW1 or online.
