WORKPLACE SLIP & FALL AND CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
EXPERIENCED CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ATTORNEY HELPING WORKERS GET COVERAGE FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS AT THE WORKPLACE IN ORANGE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE INLAND EMPIRE
Slips, trips, and falls in the workplace are among the leading cause of workplace injuries in the country. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 697 workers died in falls to a lower level, 134 workers were killed in falls on the same level, and over 220,000 workers were injured in falls in 2016. In 2018, over 240,000 workers across the country were injured in work-related falls. Slip and falls lead to contusions, broken bones, muscle tears, traumatic brain injuries, and many other types of serious and debilitating injuries. Falls lead to permanent bodily damage, time away from work to recover, and temporary or permanent disability.
California workers’ compensation law firm Invictus Law provides you with a skilled and aggressive Orange County workers’ compensation attorney who will fight to get you benefits after a workplace slip and fall. If you’ve been hurt in a slip, trip, and fall at your office, factory, store, or another place of business, you have the right to be compensated for your injuries, regardless of what caused your fall. We can help.
What Causes Workplace Slip and Falls?
Slips, trips, and falls at work are extremely common causes of workplace injuries. Safety experts suggest that nearly all workplace falls could be avoided if everyone–employers, supervisors, employees–all followed proper safety protocols. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world, and someone is often negligent. Workers’ compensation is available for injured California workers, regardless of fault–even if the worker negligently caused their own fall.
Slip and falls may arise as a result of, for example:
- Uneven floors or stairs
- Cracked pavement or damaged floors
- Unsecured carpeting or other loose flooring
- Wet or slippery floors due to spills, cleaning, or weather
- Discarded equipment
- Insufficient lighting in hazardous areas
- Unsecured ladders, faulty or old ladders, or improper use of ladders
- Scaffold collapse
- Flooring collapse
- Falling, rolling, or flying objects causing a worker to jump out of the way or be struck
- Device malfunction or defect
If you’ve been hurt by any of the above in the workplace, you should be entitled to workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation will pay your medical bills and replace your wages lost as a result of your time spent recovering from your injuries.
When Can an Employee Be Denied Workers’ Comp?
Nearly any injury that happens at the workplace should be covered by workers’ compensation. California, in particular, is very favorable toward workers, and the workers’ compensation rules reflect that viewpoint. There are, however, limited circumstances under which a workers’ comp claim can be properly denied. Workers’ compensation will not cover injuries that occur due to the following:
- A worker’s deliberate violation of safety protocols, such as by consuming drugs or alcohol while on the job
- A worker’s performance of an illegal act
- A worker deliberately causes their own injury or deliberately creates a danger such as by starting a physical fight with another person
- The injury occurred outside of the workplace and when the worker was not performing job-related tasks
Third-Party Claims
Occasionally, a worker may be able to bring a claim outside of workers’ compensation for a workplace injury. If a third party unconnected to the worker’s employer causes a worker injury, the injured worker may be able to bring a claim against that third party. For example, if a contractor improperly loads a truck, or negligently manufactures or installs an elevator, or leaves their equipment discarded in the worker’s space, then that third party may share liability for the employee’s injuries. Consult with a seasoned workplace injury attorney to find out if you may have additional claims for damages beyond workers’ compensation.
GET HELP WITH WORKPLACE SLIP & FALL CLAIMS IN ORANGE COUNTY AND THE INLAND EMPIRE FROM AN EXPERIENCED CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ATTORNEY
For help getting the care and compensation you need after a slip and fall accident at work in Orange County or the Inland Empire, call Invictus Law, P.C., in Orange or Ontario at 949-287-5711 or 888-9-WORKLAW for a free consultation with a talented, passionate, and successful California workers’ compensation lawyer.
