Who Is Liable For Workplace Electrical Burn Injuries?
If you have sustained an electrical burn, you know how painful and debilitating they can be. It’s common to accept some degree of risk when it comes to performing your job–especially in certain industries, such as construction–however, no employee gets paid enough to suffer the consequences of an electrical burn. Electrical burns are different from other kinds of burns in that the majority of the trauma does not occur to the exterior skin, but rather to the internal muscle tissue, flesh, ligaments, and even bone. This can cause irreparable harm and may permanently impair one’s ability to function. If you have suffered this kind of injury at work, it’s in your best interests to reach out to a skilled Fulton County personal injury lawyer for help.
Workers’ Compensation for Electrical Burns
If you have suffered an electrical burn while performing your job duties, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits from your employer. Workers’ compensation benefits provide coverage for medical care and treatment for your injury, as well as full or partial wage replacement while you recover. If you are an employee (as opposed to a freelancer or independent contractor) you are entitled to these benefits for injuries that occur at work. However, it is not always easy to get them. It is common for workers’ compensation claims to be denied when they are first submitted. There are some valid reasons for denying claims, such as if you are not an employee or if you were acting outside the scope of your employment when the injury occurred. Most of the time, though, coverage can be obtained.
Determining Liability for Workplace Electrical Burns
Your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits negates your ability to bring a personal injury lawsuit against your employer in most cases. However, liability is not relevant for the determination of workers’ compensation coverage. As long as you were working within the scope of your employment when the injury occurred, it is not relevant whether your employer (or you) were liable. In some cases, it is possible that a third party will also be liable. For instance, if a third-party contractor provided faulty equipment to your employer which caused you to suffer electrical burns, you may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits from your employer while also bringing a personal injury lawsuit against the third party. Because liability in these cases can be complicated, it’s a good idea to consult with a lawyer who can review the circumstances of your case to determine all potentially liable parties and how best to hold them accountable to get you the financial support that you need to recover.
Contact Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia
Serving Atlanta, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Cobb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Johns Creek, and Sandy Springs, Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers are here to make sure that you get the support and compensation that you are entitled to. If you have suffered a workplace injury, contact the experienced personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers at Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers to get the help that you need. Schedule your free consultation today.
Resource:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519514/
