In today’s modern work environment, it is expected and enforced by law that the workspace is safe and nonhazardous for customers as well as employees. Employees who suffer from injuries sustained at work that impedes their ability to carry out daily activities are eligible for worker’s compensation. This compensation system is designed to ensure that the injured employee does not lose their income and livelihood and can pay for medical bills while recuperating from the injury and consequently files a lawsuit against the company.
That being said, worker’s compensation does not require the victims to show fault, however, it is still wise to involve a lawyer in the process because most applications get denied. The denial is usually because the injury did not fall into any of the categories covered by the compensation scheme.
Injury Sustained on Employer Property or Event.
If an employee is injured while on company premises, or while working at a function or event organized by the employer, he has grounds to claim compensation. The workspace could have been non-ergonomic. The setting could be so poor it was accident-prone. It could also be a slip and fall. Whatever the case may be, the fact that it happened on company premises and could have been avoided is a good enough reason to ask for compensation. Although a no-fault case, having a personal injury lawyer ensures that the victim’s claims are not tossed out easily.
Injury Sustained from Exposure to Dangerous Working Conditions.
Companies like chemical plants, biological labs, and certain research facilities are expected to ensure that their workers are well protected and fitted with protective gear when working. If they sustain any injuries in the line of work, the company is expected to compensate them for the time and income they will likely lose while recuperating.
Injury Sustained Using Employer’s Equipment.
An employee who is injured while using company equipment or machinery is qualified compensation. There are many reasons why they are liable. If the machine or equipment was faulty and was not replaced, any injury it causes makes the employer liable. If it suddenly malfunctioned, compensation applies too as it is expected that company machinery is subject to regular maintenance.
Further Damage to Pre-Existing Injuries or Health Conditions.
An employee with a pre-existing health condition should not be subject to situations or conditions that will further exacerbate their health problems. Physical injuries often have mental and emotional consequences on the victim. The debilitating pain may render the person unable to function normally. This puts their livelihood at risk. The workspace should be ergonomically designed to limit injury as much as possible and certain job descriptions should only be assigned to persons who are certified to be fit and able. If such an unfortunate mix-up occurs, the injured employee is qualified for worker’s compensation.
Conclusion.
There are other types of work-related injuries employees can seek compensation for but these are the main ones. Understanding how the worker compensation system functions are important for employees whose job descriptions put them at risk for on-the-job injuries. Where they are uninformed, a good worker’s compensation lawyer should be contacted.
