When a machinery accident causes an injury, who is to blame? What if that accident happens in your workplace? A Monmouth County workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm can help you figure out who should be held accountable and how to secure the most compensation that you can.
What Can Cause a Machinery Accident?
There are a few things that can cause or contribute to a machinery accident. Sometimes a combination of these factors can lead to injury:
- Poor maintenance
- Bad build quality or materials
- Defective components
- Lack of directions or warning labels
- Defective wiring or power switches
- Lack of employee training
- An employer who does not provide the proper PPE
As you can see, sometimes the manufacturer of a piece of machinery could be blamed when it harms somebody. Sometimes it’s an employer who does not take safety precautions who would be blamed. In some cases, both could share fault. This is why these kinds of claims can get complicated.
What Kinds of Injuries Can a Machinery Accident Cause?
Depending on the type of equipment in use and the kind of malfunction, a machinery accident can cause many types of serious injuries. Victims could end up with:
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cuts and deep lacerations
- Amputated limbs or appendages
- Broken bones
- Concussions and head injuries
- Burns
- Electric shocks
Some of these injuries could keep you out of work for a long time. Others could stay with you for life.
Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation After a Machinery Accident?
Your first avenue for compensation is your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. You should report your injury to your boss or supervisor as soon as it happens. This allows them to report the incident to their insurance provider.
No one had to be negligent in this case. You just have to show that the accident happened at work. As long as you get treatment right away and you were not doing anything that could cause the claim to be denied, like using drugs at work, you should receive benefits.
Could There Be Multiple Liable Parties to Sue For Damages?
Workers’ compensation may not be your only option though. If the machinery accident occurred because this equipment was defective, then that needs to be addressed. That means suing the manufacturer for damages. If you can show that there was a problem with the way the equipment was made or designed, that can serve as the basis of your claim. A manufacturer can also be held accountable if they do not provide the proper instructions or warnings with their products.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you were hurt in a machinery accident, don’t try to pursue compensation on your own. Contact Falcon Law Firm and schedule a free consultation with our team first. We can tell you more about how we have helped people like you sue for damages and win.
