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Heavy Equipment Injuries

Heavy Equipment Injuries and Workers' Comp

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.

Louisiana Workers' Compensation Claims

-20 Years of Professional Experience- 

Will My Injury Be Covered?

Workers’ compensation covers both mental and physical injuries and occupational diseases.
Under Louisiana law, an accident refers to anything that is unexpected, unforeseen and occurs suddenly or violently – producing an injury.
The injury:
  • may or may not produce a disabling condition
  • may allow you to still work
  • may take you out of work
Generally, your compensation will not be affected depending upon who was at fault for the accident.
An occupational disease or illness is covered if it is the direct result of exposure to hazardous or toxic materials in the workplace. If you work in Louisiana’s oil and gas or chemical and petrochemical industries, you are at a greater risk to develop serious health conditions.

Common injuries suffered on the job include, but are not limited to:

Louisiana Workers' Comp Benefits

Will My Injury Be Covered?

In Louisiana, most workers are covered under Workers’ Compensation Statutes on the first day that they begin employment. These benefits extend to all workers whether they are employed full-time, part-time or seasonally.
Additionally, employees who are minors are also covered to the same degree as if they were adults.
Primary Types of Benefits:

Indemnity/Lost Wages — weekly payments based upon your average weekly wage; you will receive 66% of your average weekly wage capped at a maximum rate

Medical and/or Death — covers all necessary and reasonable medical treatment, including doctors visits, diagnostic tests, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, etc.

Mileage Reimbursement — travel related expenses to and from health care provider, pharmacy, etc. Vocational Rehabilitation program designed to retrain you in an attempt to return you to work for your previous employer, or find new work.

Contact Louisiana Workers' Comp

Whether you have suffered an immediate injury or have endured a long-term disability or chronic illness, you deserve to have the support you need to recover. Our work injury attorneys will provide you with nothing less than compassionate understanding and exceptional legal counsel.
We’re eager to start advocating on your behalf.
CALL US (985) 893-6530
Wanko Workers' Comp Lawyers provides its service in New Orleans, Covington, Houma, Thibodaux, Mandeville and all across Louisiana
Covington Location
19295 N 3rd St Ste 1 
Covington, Louisiana 70433
New Orleans Location
1140 St. Charles Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Thibodaux Location
406 West 3rd Street, STE 105
Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301

Disclaimer: The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. The information on this website is for general information purposes only. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute an attorney client relationship. We are workers compensation attorneys serving the entire New Orleans area including Larose, Golden, Meadow, Thibodaux, Houma, Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Metairie, Belle Chasse, Elmwood, Boutte, Harahan, Destrehan, River Ridge, Raceland, Slidell, Kenner and all of Louisiana. We serve St. Tammany Parish, Livingston Parish, Orleans Parish, and Jefferson Parish.
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