Work Injuries That Fall Outside the Scope of Workers’ Compensation

Getting seriously hurt on the job is a nightmare scenario for most American workers. Nobody wants to face the repercussions of an injury that could conceivably keep them off of the job, whether temporarily or over a long period of time. Neither do they want to go through the hassle of filing a claim for workers’ compensation for their medical expenses or lost wages. But accidents or injuries happen, and it is important that those who are entitled to workers’ compensation not only know the rights and benefits that workers’ compensation provides, but also what additional benefits may be available that fall outside of the scope of workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is a form of no fault insurance that provides injured workers with the ability to file a claim for compensation from their employers and their employers’ insurers to pay for their medical expenses, some of their lost wages and other expenses, all without having to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. But for those work injuries that fall outside the scope of workers’ compensation, an experienced attorney will be your most valuable resource for making sure that you get all of the reimbursement and compensation to which you are entitled. If you’ve been injured on the job, call the workers’ compensation attorneys at Vanasse Law today.

There are specific injuries and acts of negligence that provide injured workers with additional opportunities for seeking compensation beyond workers’ compensation benefits. These include:

• Illnesses or injuries caused by exposure to toxic substances on the job. These can include materials like asbestos, harmful chemicals, radioactive materials and other items. Rather than falling under the umbrella of workers’ compensation, these types of injuries would fall into the category of toxic torts.
• Injuries caused by failures or defects caused by products that have been designed or manufactured in a faulty way, without the manufacturer having provided warnings against the dangers posed by using the equipment.
• Injuries that are a result of intentional acts on the part of the employer. If the injuries result from intentional acts of fellow workers or third parties that are present on the worksite, those individuals or the companies for whom they work may be held liable.
• Injuries that are a result of negligence on the part of a third party. This may include contractors or their employees who are working onsite, equipment manufacturers, those responsible for providing maintenance for equipment that is used on the job site, and others.

If you have been injured on the job and your injury requires medical attention, time away from the job, rehabilitation, or long-term or permanent disability, then you need to protect your rights to file for workers’ compensation as well as any compensation that you may be entitled to beyond what is provided by workers’ compensation. For experienced legal counsel, contact the Lancaster law firm of Vanasse Law to learn more about your rights.