Heavy Equipment Injuries

Heavy equipment injuries are among the most common causes of serious and catastrophic work accidents, particularly for those employees who work in construction, manufacturing and other heavy industry.

In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports being struck by equipment, or caught in or between equipment, are second only to fall injuries as the leading cause of serious and fatal work accidents.

These are complex claims that often result in serious or catastrophic work injuries as well as multiple liable parties, and are best handled by an experienced New Orleans work accident attorney from the outset of a claim.

Heavy Equipment Injuries and Work Accidents

Common causes of heavy equipment injuries include:

• Defective equipment or parts: When dangerous or defective parts or equipment can be shown to be a cause of an accident or contributing factor to an injury, an equipment seller or manufacturer may be found partially liable.
• Falls: Already the leading cause of work injury, falls from heavy equipment can result in serious injury, including the potential to be caught between pieces of heavy equipment or being run over.
• Removal of safety equipment: Removal of safeguards, alarms and other features designed to reduce injury risks are a common cause of machine-related injury.
• Inadequate training: Both victims and machine operators are made safer by proper training. Failure to provide training can result in increased injury risk.
• Improper lookout: Flagmen and other safeguards are designed to reduce injury risks to those working around large equipment. Operators often have limited visibility and failure to follow best practices can significantly increase injury risk.
• Dangerous operation: Large machines are only as safe as their operators. Dangerous operation is a frequent cause of injury involving large machines.

These claims are best investigated by an experienced work injury lawyer in New Orleans, Covington, or Raceland, as soon as possible after an incident occurs. Both thoroughly investigating all of the factors of causation, and a comprehensive determination of medical and rehabilitative needs, are required to make a comprehensive claim for damages.

Heavy Equipment Work Injury Claims

Common heavy equipment injuries include:

• Crush injuries
• Amputation injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Disability
• Death

Most employers are required by law to provide employees with workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits are designed to pay medical costs, lost wages, and other benefits to employees injured on the job, regardless of fault. In exchange, employers cannot be sued by an injured employee in most situations. However, other third-parties who are found to be partially responsible for accident or injury may be pursued for damages. When serious or catastrophic injury occurs, determining all of those responsible is a critical part of building a comprehensive claim for damages.

Workers’ compensation benefits include:

• Lifetime medical benefits for care related to the injury, including rehabilitation and transportation costs.
• Replacement of lost wages.
• Permanent partial or total disability benefits.

Workers’ compensation insurers work to limit the cost of claims as a routine business practice. Denying and delaying claims are commonplace, as is attempting to blame injuries on pre-existing conditions. In many cases, the full cost of a claim, including home care, rehabilitation and disability, may not be known for months or even years after a claim is filed. Premature return-to-work orders, challenging disability determinations, and other common tactics used by insurers, are more difficult to fight when victims and families wait until such challenges to seek help and advice from an experienced New Orleans work injury law firm.

If you have been injured, call day or night for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 985-893-6530.