Workers are always at a risk of getting injured. However, if you work around heavy machinery, the risk doubles. When it comes to machinery, anything can go wrong and it’s pretty much out of your hands. This is where workers are entitled to a workers’ comp claim in Houston.
Many workers have to be around cranes, loaders, compactors, mixers, forklifts, haul trucks, and more. This machinery helps the workers in getting the job done easily in impossible conditions like dealing with heavy loads, high heat, heights, etc. However, there should be certain expertise in using it because inadequate use can also cause an accident or in another case if it malfunctions.
The injuries an individual might sustain in an accident with heavy equipment might be harsh and even deadly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 800 fatalities and around 18,000 injuries are caused by heavy equipment every year.
Common Accidents Involving Heavy Equipment:
When you’re at the mercy of heavy equipment, any injury you sustain can be devastating. Here are a few common accidents that workers experience working around heavy equipment:
- Getting stuck under a piece of heavy equipment
- Vehicle run over or backed over
- Facing a fall off a heavy piece of equipment
- Getting hit by falling debris or heavy equipment
- Falling or slipping into unguarded equipment
- Get rolled over by heavy equipment accidents
- Crushing accidents
- Getting caught between two pieces of equipment
Common Injuries Sustained in Heavy Equipment Accidents:
As horrible as the accidents involving heavy equipment sound, the injuries are even horrifying. In some cases, the injuries can be disabling or fatal. Following is a list of injuries that workers sustain in such accidents:
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Crushed limbs and digits
- Crushed or broken bones
- Spinal cord damage
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Bleeding
- Nerve damage
- Internal hemorrhaging
- Electrical burns
- Limb amputation
- Electrocution
- Wrongful Death
These are all extremes of the injuries that can happen to a worker working around heavy equipment. However, the extent of how serious these injuries are depends on what equipment was involved in the accident. The worker must be cautious in using the equipment. But sometimes the equipment can be faulty causing an accident as it malfunctions. So, it is the responsibility of the employer to keep a check on the maintenance of the equipment and ensure its use by the workers.
Things to Do If You Sustain Injury in a Heavy Equipment Accident and Need a Workers’ Comp Claim in Houston:
In case the worker does get into an accident, they will be left with huge medical bills, emotional trauma, and lost wages. To compensate for this, the accident must be reported and the worker should seek financial compensation. So, right after getting medical help, the worker needs to report the incident to the employer.
They will most likely have a subscription to workers’ compensation. The worker must fill out all the necessary paperwork required for a workers’ comp claim in Houston. This will help in covering the expenses that were caused due to this accident.
However, once the process starts you might want to contact and consult a workplace accident attorney who can guide you through the process and help you get the compensation you deserve. The lawyer will help you hold your employer accountable for your loss. You can directly sue them in court if they don’t have policy coverage for your injuries.
They will investigate the case properly and see if there’s any other party that needs to be held accountable for the accident. The attorney will introduce you to many other options of a lawsuit that can be filed in your case. If the equipment was faulty and malfunctioned, you can file a products liability lawsuit against that equipment’s manufacturer. They are responsible for making their products safe to be used at workplaces. If anyone gets in an accident because of their machinery, they can be held accountable.
Contact Us:
If you had an accident, no matter how big or small involving heavy equipment, you are eligible to file a workers’ comp claim in Houston. If your company has a subscription to workers’ compensation benefits, you can file it today and hire an experienced attorney to take the process further.
Houston Injury Lawyers have a great deal of experience in dealing with all kinds of workplace accidents. You can get a free case review from our attorney and expert consultation on your case. Call or get in touch online.