Slip and fall at work settlements
Posted September 21st, 2020 by Anthony Carbone.
Categories: Uncategorized.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, slips, trips, and falls are responsible for over 25 percent of workplace injuries resulting in missed work. This makes slip and falls one of the most common work-related accidents. The result was over 800 fatalities recorded in 2018. Those who survive report mild to life-altering injuries.
If you sustain an injury while on the job in New Jersey, you could be eligible for slip and fall at work settlements. These benefits can be acquired through workers’ compensation, a state-mandated program designed to protect injured workers, or a personal injury claim against your employer.
Have you suffered a slip and fall accident at work? Contact the Law Office of Anthony Carbone to discuss your injuries with a Jersey City Personal Injury Attorney.
What Causes Slips and Falls at Work?
Many hazards exist in the workplace. Anything from a spilled drink to a torn carpet could cause a slip and fall. Overall, the most common causes of these accidents at the workplace include:
- Uneven or cracked flooring
- Spilled liquids on floors
- Unmarked construction zones
- Uneven, missing, or broken stairs
- Poor lighting in hallways and walkways
- Broken or missing handrails
- Wires, cords, or cabled lying across the floor
- Potholes on the floor
- Obstacles along hallways and walkways, such as packing crates
- Inadequate or lack of warning signs
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Almost all employers in New Jersey are expected to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The policy covers any damages suffered by an employee due to a work-related injury. Essentially, it pays for medical bills and lost wages related to the accident.
Workers’ compensation is regulated by some rules. To qualify for benefits, you must have sustained your injuries while performing a work-related duty. Accidents that happen off the clock or while commuting to work are not covered.
Your behavior also has to have been within company policy. For example, you would lose your eligibility if you got hurt while fighting with a coworker or during the commission of a crime.
Determining Fault
All slip and fall cases, including those that occur at the workplace, require the victim to determine fault. This is unless you reside in a no-fault state. If you don’t and are found to have caused your injuries, you will not receive compensation from the employer or their insurance company.
However, if the employer was at fault, you could be entitled to damages. Situations where your employer could be liable include where:
- They were aware that a dangerous condition existed in the workplace.
- The condition existed long enough for them to have noticed and rectified it.
- They failed to rectify the condition.
- They failed to provide sufficient warning.
How Can a Jersey City Personal Injury Attorney Help You?
Regardless of where you work, you face the risk of a slip and fall accident. A supply store attendant, for example, could slip on spilled marbles and break a shoulder. Fortunately, the state mandates that you get compensated for such work-related accidents.
A Jersey City Personal Injury Attorney can help ensure you receive damages for any medical bills and lost earnings related to your fall. If your employer denies your workers’ compensation claim, your attorney can file a personal injury claim on your behalf.
Contact attorney Carbone today to find out how you can pursue slip and fall at work settlements.
