Montgomery Work Injury Lawyers

Common Types of Workplace Accidents in Montgomery

No matter your profession, the industry you work in, or your typical work environment, you face some type of risk at work. For example, despite working in a calm office building, you face occupational diseases like carpal tunnel syndrome or issues of workplace violence. Or, you may work in an industry that is well-known for its dangers, such as construction.

Our Montgomery work injury attorneys represent workers in third-party claims following:

Workplace Motor Vehicle Accidents

Most industries and jobs place workers in and around various types of transportation, including cars and trucks, delivery vans, commercial trucks, construction vehicles and equipment, trains, and more. Montgomery is known as a distribution hub and has extensive railroad tracks and connections. As a worker in or around any of these modes of transportation, you are at risk for incurring injuries in a collision. If you incur injuries a vehicle accident, do not hesitate to call a work injury lawyer and discuss your right to compensation.

Dangerous Machinery Accidents

You may work with or around machines or large pieces of equipment. Like many other Montgomery residents, you may work for Hyundai Motor Manufacturing. You and your co-workers should be trained to handle this machinery safely, including when and how to maintain and repair the machines. If someone working on or around the machines lacks the necessary training or is careless, you are at risk for entanglement, crush injuries, amputations, and other serious injuries.

Construction Accidents

Whether you work in homebuilding or on larger-scale commercial properties, you face all types of risks at a construction site. You work around moving vehicles, deal with power tools and equipment, handle potentially hazardous materials, lift heavy loads, work at heights, and complete other work in a strenuous and potentially dangerous environment. If someone else on the worksite is not as careful as they should be, you can be hurt.

Farm Accidents

The farming industry is alive and well around Montgomery, AL. Despite technological advances, farming is still a physically demanding career. When you work on a farm, you are around vehicles, large farm equipment, dangerous machines, and other hazards. If you are hurt while working on a farm, it is essential you speak with our Montgomery work injury lawyers. In this industry, you may not be covered by workers’ compensation insurance, which makes it even more important that you speak with a lawyer about your right to file a lawsuit for a work-related injury.

Industrial Accidents

We routinely handle accidents that occur in industrial settings in and around Montgomery. Unfortunately, industrial accidents can often be significant, such as explosions and hazardous material exposure, and lead to disfigurements, disabilities, and fatalities. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an industrial incident, never hesitate to call us to discuss potential avenues toward compensation.

Types of Work Injuries

At Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C., we represent workers suffering from all types and severities of work-related injuries and occupational diseases. Some of the most common work injuries and medical conditions we see include:

• Lacerations, abrasions, and contusions
• Ligament sprains
• Muscle or tendon strains
• Bone fractures
• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Concussions and moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Neck and back injuries, such as herniated discs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage and paralysis
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Hand-arm vibration syndrome
• Gunshot wounds
• Hearing and vision loss

Whatever the type or degree of your condition following a workplace accident, you should speak with a work injury lawyer about your rights. Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits and/or compensation through a third-party liability claim. During either of these claims, the type of injury you are suffering from and the degree to which it makes you unable to work are important factors in how much compensation you may receive. Our lawyers are experienced in working with medical providers to prove your injuries and level of disability, which in turn enables us to fight for the compensation you deserve.

What to Do After an Accident at Work in Montgomery

If you are injured in a work-related incident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Regardless of the level of care you need, always put your health and safety first.

After you have obtained any necessary medical care, inform your employer of the accident and your injuries. If it was a significant incident at work involving multiple people, your employer might know about your injuries already. However, it is best to still tell your supervisor or manager in person, and then follow up in writing. If you wish to pursue workers’ compensation benefits or third-party liability compensation, your employer needs to be aware of the accident and the harm it caused you as soon as possible.

Who May Be Liable For Your Work-Related Accident?

When you are injured at work, it is important to talk with our Montgomery work injury lawyers about who was directly responsible for your injuries, and who is liable for compensating you for these injuries.

Employer Liability

When a co-worker, supervisor, manager, or another party who is employed by the same business causes the accident and your injuries, then your employer is liable. Depending on the circumstances, your employer may cover your injuries through workers’ compensation insurance or another insurance policy. If you are eligible for workers’ comp benefits, you may not sue your employer for your injuries. However, if workers’ comp doesn’t cover you, you may be able to file a lawsuit against your employer and seek compensation with a work injury lawyer.

Third-Party Liability

People from outside your company can cause a number of workplace accidents. You may be injured because of a subcontractor or an employer of another business working on the same site. You may be injured because of a vendor or service provider to your employer. You could sustain injuries due to a manufacturer or retailer that sold your company defective equipment or materials. Another scenario that is becoming more common is for disgruntled individuals to commit violence at your workplace. All of these parties are employed by someone other than your employer, which gives rise to a third-party liability claim. Whether or not you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against this third-party and pursue compensation for your physical, psychological, and financial injuries.

Third-Party Liability Differs From Workers’ Compensation

When discussing your rights and options after being hurt at work, it is essential that you understand the differences between a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party claim.

Workers’ compensation is an insurance policy that, when purchased by an employer, covers the medical expenses and partial wages for workers who are injured while on the job or who are diagnosed with an occupational disease. A workers’ compensation claim is not a lawsuit. It is an insurance claim, which is an administrative process you will handle with your employer and their workers’ comp insurance claim administrator.

A third-party claim is a personal injury lawsuit against the party that is responsible for the work-related accident and your injuries. During a third-party claim, you file a lawsuit against one or more defendants. A work injury lawyer should represent you in court so that you can take full advantage of the discovery process, prepare for trial, and when possible, negotiate a settlement.

Filing a Third-Party Liability Claim

If you speak with our Montgomery work injury lawyers and it appears you have a valid third-party liability claim, then you need to discuss the process of filing and pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. An important question to ask is how long you have to sue for work-related injuries.

In Alabama, most claims resulting from negligence, like personal injury and third-party claims, must be filed within two years from the date of the injury. If you were injured in a serious accident, then the deadline to file is two years from the date of that accident.

If you were diagnosed with a work-related medical condition, you have two years from the date of your diagnosis to file. However, this may be a more complex calculation. If you wish to pursue a lawsuit against your employer or a third party in relation to an occupational disease, talk with a lawyer right away about how long you have to file.

Compensation After Being Injured at Work

When there is evidence that a third party from outside of your employer caused you harm, Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. is here to pursue fair compensation for your injuries. We will fight hard for you to be fully compensated for your:

• Medical costs
• Loss of earning potential
• Physical pain
• Mental anguish
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of Quality of Life

Let Our Montgomery Work Injury Lawyers Help

Following a work-related injury, it can be difficult to see and consider all of your options. Your anger, frustration, pain, and grief are all reasons why you should reach out to Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. to speak with an experienced, skilled, and objective work injury attorney. We have years of experience handling workers’ compensation and third-party claims after Montgomery workplace accidents. We will fight hard for you to be fairly compensated for your injuries, enabling you and your family to move forward in life without unexpected financial burdens holding you back.

Contact us today at (205) 933-1500 to schedule a free, initial evaluation of your case.