Heavy equipment and machinery are commonly found at most job sites, including construction sites and manufacturing plants. Extensive training and policies are required when companies hire workers to operate the machinery due to the risks of severe injuries that are involved with machines with moving parts. One of the biggest risks to workers is that their clothing, hair, or body parts will become entangled in these moving parts, resulting in amputations or other serious injuries.
If you were injured in an entanglement accident at work, you may not necessarily be able to receive medical coverage and wage replacement through workers’ comp, as most private businesses in the state are not required to carry this type of insurance for their employees. A San Antonio entanglement injury lawyer can help you determine your legal options for seeking compensation to cover the expenses and emotional impacts of your injury. Our construction accident attorneys are ready to support your claim.
Workers’ comp is a type of insurance coverage that employers obtain on behalf of their employees to provide medical coverage and wage replacement benefits when an on-the-job injury occurs. Though it is not required for most San Antonio employers, some do carry it, and it can be a great resource when an entanglement injury occurs. However, it is not the only option. In many cases, a claim can be filed against another type of insurance policy held by someone responsible for the accident. This might include an employer who failed to provide training, safety warnings, and procedures, and other information that could have helped the worker avoid the injury, or even a coworker who was operating the equipment unsafely. Some cases might involve an improperly designed machine that lacked a guard or other mechanism for preventing entanglements.
An experienced San Antonio attorney can help injured workers determine who was responsible for their entanglement accident and the insurance resources that the liable party has that can be accessed to provide compensation for the claim.
Those who are injured in entanglement accidents may face significant financial, physical, and psychological impacts from their injury. A person can have thousands of dollars worth of medical bills, including the costs of surgery, hospitalization, medication, rehabilitation, and more. In addition, the injured person may not be able to work for a while after the injury, or may even be unable to continue earning an income in light of the severity of their injury. Of course, the monetary expenses of significant injuries are not only a matter of lost wages and expenses. These injuries are commonly accompanied by psychological impacts arising from pain and suffering and a diminished quality of life.
Texas personal injury laws allow claimants to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic impacts through a personal injury claim that is filed with the insurer that services a relevant insurance policy held by the at-fault party. If the insurer does not resolve the claim through a fair settlement, it can be filed as a personal injury lawsuit, generally within two years of the date of the injury.
Entanglement injuries are a major risk for those who work around heavy equipment and machines. When employers, manufacturers, and others fail to protect the workers who use this equipment, severe injuries can occur. If you were injured in an entanglement accident at work, our legal team is ready to answer the questions you have about your case. Contact us for a free case evaluation today.