What type of legal recourse can a person take after suffering an injury at work?
Ives Estates, FL—While most individuals assume the only way they can recover compensation for their injuries and lost wages after suffering an injury in a work-related accident is by filing a workers’ compensation claim, this isn’t always the case. While the workers’ compensation system was created to aid an injured worker in getting better by allowing them access to medical care and reimbursement for lost wages, it isn’t necessarily the only avenue they can take to obtain compensation.
The truth is, there may be multiple parties an injured worker can pursue for compensation depending on the circumstances surrounding their accident. Below are just a few.
- The injured worker’s employer. Under most circumstances, an injured worker is not entitled to file a lawsuit against their employer over their work-related injuries unless their employer was not carrying workers’ compensation insurance at the time of the incident. While workers’ compensation insurance generally shields employers from liability for work accidents, they can be sued if they waived coverage or neglected to purchase it even when it was required.
- Product manufacturer. If a defective product was to blame for the injuries a worker sustained, then the product’s manufacturer could potentially be sued. For example, if a manufacturer sold safety gear that contained a flaw in the design and it failed while being utilized by the worker, a products liability lawsuit may be brought against the company.
- Property owner. If an individual was hired to complete a job where hazards exist and the property owner failed to disclose those dangerous conditions, the injured worker may have a valid case against the property owner/operator.
If an injured worker would like to learn more about the different types of legal recourse they can take following the occurrence of a work accident, Ives Estates, FL workers’ compensation attorney Mario Trespalacios would be happy to review with them what they are.
What types of damages might a worker receive for their injuries?
The answer depends on how severe their injuries are and how they impact their personal and professional life. If another party is to blame for an individual’s work accident and a workers’ comp lawyer in Ives Estates has determined they have the grounds to take legal action, they might be entitled to recover the following damages in addition to receiving workers’ comp benefits:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Mental anguish
- Past and future medical expenses
To find out what a case is worth and how compensation can be recovered after a work accident in Ives Estates, FL, contact Mario Trespalacios P.A. at 305-261-5800.
Mario Trespalacios P.A. is located at:
9495 SW 72 Street, Suite B-275
Miami, FL 33173
Phone: 305-261-5800
Website: www.mtpalegal.com
