Long Beach Factory Worker Accidents Lawyer

Factories are essential parts of the California economy, and many people living in Long Beach and the surrounding areas work in factories and manufacturing centers. While factory work is crucial, it is also inherently dangerous. Many factory workers suffer severe injuries, often with life-changing effects. If you or a loved one works in a factory and suffers an injury, you will probably have many questions concerning your legal rights and your ability to claim compensation for your losses.

Legal Representation for Long Beach Factory Worker Accidents

An experienced Long Beach factory worker accident lawyer is an essential resource after this incident. Your legal team can help you determine your best available options for recovery, which are likely to include a claim to the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). In addition, depending on how your workplace accident happened, you could also have grounds for a personal injury claim against whoever caused the accident.

Pratt Law Corporation is a team of experienced Long Beach factory worker accident lawyers who can provide the detail-oriented and personalized legal counsel you will need after a factory accident in Long Beach, CA. Our firm has successfully assisted many past clients with complex workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims. We can apply this experience to assist with your recovery from a factory accident.

Why Do I Need a Long Beach Factory Workers Accident Lawyer?

It’s natural to wonder whether you need legal representation after a factory accident in Long Beach. If the situation seems clear and your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, you might assume you can simply recover compensation for your losses through a workers’ compensation claim. However, it is vital to consult an attorney about your legal options. Depending on how the accident occurred, it’s possible to have additional options for compensation outside of the workers’ compensation system. Additionally, your attorney can help you with the claim process and significantly increase your chances of securing workers’ compensation benefits as quickly as possible.

Many factory accidents happen without warning, but some result from negligence or an employer’s failure to follow applicable safety regulations. Every industry has specific rules regarding workplace safety, and every employer has a legal duty to ensure a safe workplace at all times. Therefore, when a safety issue arises, the employer must address it as soon as they become aware of it.

Your Long Beach factory worker accident attorney can help you determine whether any other party bears liability for your damages. If so, you could not only file a workers’ compensation claim to obtain compensation for medical expenses and lost income but also file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your injuries to recover remaining damages that workers’ compensation cannot cover.

Common Causes of Factory Worker Accidents

Factories require the use of large, complex machines and heavy equipment. In addition, depending on the type of operations inside the factory, workers may also need to use specialized fabrication equipment and vehicles. Some of the most commonly reported causes of factory worker accidents in Long Beach, CA, include:

• Falls. Many factories are multi-storied buildings that have many elevations where work takes place. Falls can easily result in devastating injuries, including traumatic brain damage, spinal injuries, and broken bones.
• Electrocutions. Many factories require the use of complex power systems. As a result, contact with live electrical currents can cause devastating and potentially fatal electrocution injuries.
• Injuries from falling objects. Falling tools, materials, equipment, and other items can easily cause head injuries and other injuries to workers struck by these items.
• Burns. Many factories require work near very hot surfaces or with materials manipulated at very high temperatures. Burns are extremely painful and likely to cause permanent disfigurement and disabilities.
• Crushing injuries. Many types of factory equipment present a risk of causing crushing injuries. When a worker’s limb becomes trapped inside a machine or between heavy objects, the resulting crushing injuries can be very difficult to treat, often resulting in permanent damage.
• Vehicle injuries. Large factories often require workers to use forklifts and other vehicles to complete operations. These vehicles present many of the same risks as typical motor vehicle accidents, including run over incidents.
• Heavy equipment injuries. Employers who manage factories must ensure that their equipment is functional and that employees are trained on the proper use of this equipment. Certain types of equipment can inflict severe or even fatal injuries when they fall into disrepair or are misused.

These are just a few examples of how factory workers might suffer severe injuries at work. When these incidents occur, it is essential to know what to do next. Injured workers should report their injuries to their supervisors immediately and seek prompt medical care.

It’s important to note that the cause of your workplace accident does not necessarily impact your ability to file a workers’ compensation claim in California. It’s possible to file a claim even if you directly caused your own injury due to negligence. However, in the event that another party is directly responsible for causing your injury, you may have grounds for civil action beyond your workers’ compensation claim.

Can I Sue My Employer for Personal Injury Accidents at Work?

Many injured workers wonder whether they have grounds for legal action against their employers after sustaining workplace injuries. California state law requires all employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, even with a single employee. This coverage ensures injured workers can receive medical expense coverage and disability benefits while recovering from their injuries. This coverage also protects employers from liability for an injured employee’s civil damages. If you were injured at work and your employer has workers’ compensation, you probably cannot file a personal injury claim against your employer.

There are some potential exceptions to this rule. For example, if your employer is legally required to have workers’ compensation insurance,but they do not, they would be liable for a personal injury claim. They would also face civil liability if they intentionally caused your injury somehow. In other cases, it is possible to have grounds for a personal injury claim against a third party while still being eligible to claim benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

Should I Hire an Injury Lawyer for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Navigating the workers’ compensation claim process is much easier when an experienced Long Beach factory worker accident lawyer is assisting you. Your legal team can significantly streamline the process of securing compensation from the California DWC. An attorney can help their client complete their workers’ compensation claim forms and gather the supporting documentation they may need to submit with their claim. Additionally, if the DWC raises any concerns about a workers’ compensation claim, the claimant will have readily available guidance from their Long Beach factory worker accident attorney.

An experienced attorney will also be an essential asset if you believe you have grounds for further legal action beyond a workers’ compensation claim. Your legal team will help you identify the party responsible for your damages, assist you with calculating your claimable damages, and guide you through the civil claim process to maximize your compensation. Ultimately, you have a much better chance of securing the fullest recovery possible with legal representation on your side.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Factory Worker Accident

Your factory accident injury may implicate your employer, a product manufacturer, or a third party as liable for your damages. If you have grounds for a personal injury claim, the first step toward recovery is identifying the party responsible for your damages. Next, you must prove the defendant was negligent in some way that directly caused your claimed damages. It is also necessary to provide a complete list of all your claimable damages and proof that those damages directly resulting from the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause.

Your Long Beach factory worker accident lawyer will help you compile the evidence and witness testimony you will require for your personal injury claim. This may include security camera footage from your workplace, testimony from coworkers who saw the accident occur, copies of your employee handbook and company policies, and the medical reports from the physicians who treated your injuries.

An attorney can help you explore every available compensation channel in your claim. Suppose your claim involves very complex or technical matters. In that case, your attorney may consult expert witnesses who can help you clarify the issues surrounding your accident and establish liability for your damages. You can rely on your legal team to provide ongoing guidance as you navigate the various details your personal injury case is likely to entail.

Most personal injury claims filed in California are settled outside of court. A swift settlement process suits the interests of both defendants and plaintiffs. As long as both parties are willing to negotiate, the plaintiff can secure compensation for their losses much more quickly than they might expect.

Damages and Compensation for Injured Workers

Any factory accident can easily cause life-changing injuries. The workers’ compensation system can provide some immediate relief in the form of medical expense coverage and disability benefits while the victim is unable to work. The number of benefits they receive and the length of time these payments continue depend on the seriousness of their injury. When a factory worker suffers a catastrophic injury that prevents them from returning to work in the future, they may qualify for permanent disability benefits.

When an injured factory worker has valid grounds for a personal injury claim against another party, they can secure much more than workers’ compensation can provide. Some of the damages that may come into play in a personal injury claim for a factory accident include:

• Long-term medical expenses. Workers’ compensation may cover the cost of emergency treatment and other short-term medical costs. A personal injury claim can help the plaintiff recover any other medical expenses that workers’ compensation cannot cover, such as the cost of in-home medical care the victim will require in the future.
• Compensation for lost income. Workers’ compensation typically awards about two-thirds of the claimant’s average weekly wages for each week the victim cannot work. A personal injury claim can allow them to secure more compensation than what the DWC can offer. In addition, a personal injury claim can secure the income that workers’ compensation does not cover and lost earning potential if the victim cannot resume working in the future or return to the same job due to their injury.
• Pain and suffering compensation. California personal injury law allows a plaintiff to recover compensation for physical pain and psychological trauma caused by a defendant’s negligence. Your Long Beach factory worker accident lawyer can help you determine a reasonable amount to include in your personal injury claim based on the severity of your injury and the long-term medical complications you are likely to experience.

It’s common for injured factory workers to discover their claims are worth much more than they initially anticipated once they obtain legal representation from experienced attorneys.

The right attorney can make a tremendous difference in the overall quality of your recovery following a factory accident. Instead of navigating a complex workers’ compensation claim and building a personal injury claim entirely on your own while managing the aftermath of your injury, you can rely on your legal team to help you with your workers’ compensation claim and to guide you through the preliminary stages of a civil claim.

Pratt Law Corporation offers extensive experience with workplace injury claims to our clients in the Long Beach, CA, area. We understand the stress and uncertainty that follow a workplace injury, and factory accident injuries tend to be particularly serious. Our team can answer your most pressing legal questions and help you determine the best approach to recovering your damages. If you are struggling with a factory accident injury and are unsure what to do next, we can help. Contact Pratt Law Corporation today and schedule your consultation with our team for the legal advice you need during this challenging time.