If you’re injured at work, there are various ways you can obtain compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Firstly, you can claim workers’ compensation, providing you’re eligible to do so. Secondly, you may be able to make a personal injury claim against your employer if their negligence has caused the incident.
If you work in an office, for example, and you slip on your way to your desk, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation, regardless of who is actually at fault. However, if you work in a factory setting and your employer refuses to provide appropriate safety equipment, you may be able to make a personal injury claim against them, if you can show that their failure to provide the right equipment caused your injuries.
However, what happens when your workplace injuries occur off-site? Fortunately, there’s a good chance that you’ll still be able to obtain compensation.
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Off-Site Injuries
According to the eligibility criteria for workers’ compensation, employees need to show that the injury occurred ‘as a result of their employment activities’. Therefore, if your job duties involve traveling off-site and you happen to be injured while working, you could still be eligible to claim workers’ comp.
Similarly, if you sustain work-related injuries off-site and your employer’s negligence caused or contributed to the incident, you can still take legal action against them. If your employer has failed to maintain company vehicles and this leads to an accident, for example, they should be held liable and you should be compensated for the injuries you’ve experienced, the cost of medical treatment, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
Third-Party Liability
When you sustain injuries in the course of your work, you retain the right to claim workers’ comp and/or make a claim against your employer, based on their negligence. However, there might be situations in which a third-party is liable for the harm you’ve suffered.
If you’re driving a company vehicle off-site to visit a client’s premises and another vehicle hits you, for example, you may be able to take legal action against the driver of the vehicle. Alternatively, if you’re using equipment to carry out your duties and a manufacturing fault results in you being hurt, you could claim product liability compensation from the manufacturer.
Claiming Compensation for Work-Related Injuries
As you can see, workplace injury compensation isn’t as straightforward as it first seems. Establishing your eligibility to obtain workers’ comp, determining liability and taking action against the person or company responsible can be a complex process.
To ensure you get the compensation you deserve for an injury that wasn’t your fault, it’s well worth seeking legal advice. By consulting personal injury attorneys, such as mottazsiskinjurylaw.com, you can get the specialist help you need. Whether you’ve been denied workers’ comp, you’re not sure if you’re eligible to make a claim, or you don’t know what your rights are, a personal injury lawyer will be able to provide all the help you need.
What’s more – being represented by a lawyer throughout your claim can increase your chances of obtaining a fair settlement, so you might be able to access more compensation than you realize. To find out how much you could be entitled to, talk to a personal injury lawyer today.