Workplace Injuries in West Palm Beach

Protecting the Rights of Injured Workers

A worker in virtually any industry can be at risk of injury through accidents, particularly if there are safety violations or hazardous work conditions present. Repetitive motion, heavy lifting and physical labor can also cause a worker to suffer from an injury. If you or someone you know has been injured at work or in the course of employment, it is important for you to consider your legal options in filing a workers' compensation or personal injury claim. In order to do so, you should not hesitate to consult with a West Palm Beach injury attorney today.

Work-Related Injuries and Fatalities in the U.S.

In the private sector in 2011, there were more than 2.9 million cases of nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses, and there were a total of 4,693 work-related fatal injuries. (This data was taken from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.) An injury is considered to be work-related when it occurs through the employee's course of his or her job. A workplace injury can occur while an employee is working at his or her job site (such as an office or construction site), or while he or she is working out in the field (such as when the individual is driving in order to make product deliveries). In some cases, a worker might obtain a serious illness, such as when he or she is exposed to harmful chemicals at the workplace over long periods of time.

Workers' Compensation Claims and Third-Party Lawsuits

Workers' compensation is a type of insurance that makes certain benefits available to individuals who were injured due to their work-related duties. Under these benefits, the injured worker is entitled to medical treatment (provided for by the employer) and certain amounts of payment for lost wages. In the area of lost wages, injured workers can receive one of the following: temporary disability benefits (for total or partial disability), impairment benefits, permanent total disability benefits or death benefits (for family members of individuals who suffered from work-related deaths). If you received a work-related injury or illness, a strong lawyer could help you prove that you qualify for workers' compensation benefits so you can receive the appropriate amount of financial support.

While most work injuries are covered by workers' compensation, there are some situations in which an attorney may be able to assist you in filing a third-party lawsuit as well. This can apply in situations in which a third party was responsible for your workplace injuries, such as a visitor to the company, a vendor or the manufacturer of a defective product that the company used. In work-related car accidents, this can be the other driver that caused the collision. Accordingly, your attorney might be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit on your behalf against this person or entity, possibly in addition to seeking and recovering workers' compensation benefits.

Employers and third-party individuals and companies will often try to refute employees' claims of work-related injuries and illnesses. They might try to claim that the worker was injured through an activity that is not actually considered work-related, that the worker is faking the injury or that the worker carried a certain amount of fault in his or her injury (such as if workplace accident was caused by the employee's impairment by drugs or alcohol). By having the right legal counsel, you could have better chances of effectively proving the true cause and extent of your injury.

How Attorney Casey D. Shomo Can Assist You

Recovering benefits or financial damages after a work accident is important. It will offer you the financial assistance you need for medical expenses, any lost wages and other losses you might have experienced. The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, P.A. handles all types of workplace injury claims throughout West Palm Beach, Florida, including those that involve construction accidents, slip and fall accidents, exposure to toxins, repetitive motion injuries and much more. The firm also handles claims for maritime workers injured at sea or on shore. Contact us so we can begin guiding you through the claims or litigation process!