Accidents at work are a regrettable but unavoidable risk in any job, regardless of the industry. While thousands of people go to work five days a week without incident, injuries can occur at any time, causing physical pain, mental suffering, and financial hardship for many of those who are affected. However, if those adverse injuries arise as a result of the negligence of your employer, you may be able to file a case against the company.
If you have been injured as a result of your employer's failure to follow conventional health and safety procedures, you may be able to recover damages from the company. And if you live in Alameda, California, or the greater San Francisco Bay Area, The Law Offices of Joseph W. Campbell can assist you in pursuing compensation for your losses. Our legal staff has years of expertise assisting clients in the development of convincing cases for a variety of accident-related injuries.
Workplace accidents are defined as any bodily injury sustained by an employee while on the clock at their place of employment. However, while the injured victim may be totally accountable for some of these situations, there are also instances in which the employer is found to be legally culpable.
It is the obligation of your employer to decrease the likelihood of workplace accidents. Many well-equipped business managers do this through risk assessments, safety training, the procurement of protective equipment, and the construction of a large work place with a minimum of tripping risks, among other measures.
However, if an employer fails to take any of these necessary safeguards, it could result in one or more of the following common workplace accidents and injuries:
Muscle strains from repetitive, labor-intensive activity Broken bones, lacerations, or head injuries from falling objects Inhalation of toxic fumes Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as electricity, fire, and toxic gases
Limbs become entangled in motorized gear.
Industries with a high incidence of workplace accidents
Accidents in the workplace occur in any sector and profession, regardless of the physical demands of your job. A corporation that does not allow you to stand up and stretch during the course of your job may be held liable for long-term ergonomic damage, even if you spend your whole weekday at a desk.
There are, however, some workplaces where accidents and injuries are more common than others, such as the ones listed below:
Industrial warehouses, building sites, and other fields with heavy, motorized machinery are examples of places where this is applicable.
You might think of workplace accidents as infrequent occurrences rather than incidents that can occur on any given day. However, this is not the case. Workplace injury incidences, on the other hand, are extremely common, particularly in a large state like California.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 460,000 employees in California reported on-the-job injuries in 2014, with an additional 344 fatal incidents that year. Because of these incidents, which occurred in a variety of businesses and in a variety of methods, employees in all job sectors suffered financial losses as a result of missed work and unneeded medical bills.
The high number of workplace fatalities and injuries is not limited to California alone. In 2017, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported 2.8 million work-related illnesses and injuries, which resulted in a total of 900,000 days of unexpected time away from work and salaries forfeited by employees. The next year, a total of 5,250 employees were killed in workplace accidents, according to reports.
Several factors contributed to the millions of workplace accidents that occurred across the country, as we previously stated. These factors included various dangers and safety oversights. Although it may be impossible to prevent all accidents, the following variables contributed to the creation of excessively risky work settings, which resulted in a large number of injuries.
There are several factors that contribute to slips, trips, and falls: wet floors or misplaced equipment and furniture; a lack of information and safety signage to alert personnel of potentially hazardous products or equipment; a failure to enforce existing safety and wellness policies.
A lack of fire extinguishers or personal protective equipment, as well as inaccessible safety equipment; a lack of safety supervision or inadequate training; a lack of breaks, resulting in severe ergonomic strain for office personnel; and a lack of safety supervision or inadequate training.
As a result of the high frequency with which workplace accidents occur, it is critical to understand how to deal with them both during the incident and in the days after. Not only will this assist you and your coworkers in receiving the medical treatment you require in order to avoid a catastrophic illness or injury, but it will also assist you in obtaining legal recompense for your injuries and illnesses.
In the event that medical attention or police assistance is required, call 911.
Immediate action following an injury can help to avert serious long-term health consequences. If you or a coworker's injuries are severe enough that you or they require medical attention, call for an ambulance as soon as possible.
The need for hospitalization is not the sole reason to seek for assistance after an accident. If you feel the incident and resulting injuries were caused by the negligence of your employer, you should call your local police department to submit a third-party accident complaint with the department. Your attorney will benefit from having a documented statement from a neutral party, such as the police, to use as evidence during the trial.
Having thorough photographs of the accident scene, just as you would have with a police report, will help to strengthen your court case. It is important to take these photographs as soon as possible so that you can document any potential dangers that may have contributed to the injuries before your employer can implement the appropriate health and safety improvements.
Many people who suffer workplace injuries go through a stressful period. Many insurance companies will take advantage of this stress by offering victims settlement payouts that are smaller than what they would earn in court, expecting that they will accept so that they may go on with their lives as quickly as possible after being involved in an accident.
Be wary of any settlement offer you receive before consulting with an attorney about your legal options. Before agreeing to anything, consult with a skilled work accident attorney to confirm that a settlement money is the best course of action in your particular situation.
If you've suffered a physical, emotional, or financial injury at work and believe it was caused by the negligence of your employer, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. And if you're ready to get started on constructing a compensation claim in court, get in touch with The Law Offices of Joseph W. Campbell right away.
Over the years that we have been serving the residents of Alameda, CA, our legal team has witnessed a wide range of workplace accidents. With that knowledge, we can assist you in locating critical witnesses, putting your police testimonies and photographic evidence to good use, and putting together a compelling court case.
The Law Offices of Joseph W. Campbell in Alameda, California, may be reached at (510) 865-5409 to begin working on your case immediately.