A slip and fall accident is among the most common types of accidents that occur in the workplace. In fact, slip and fall injuries are the main cause of workers’ compensation claims and are the leading cause of occupational injury for workers aged 55 years and older.
The reason slip and fall accidents are the number one workplace hazard is that these accidents can happen in any type of work environment. Even the smallest, most unrecognizable hazards like cracks in the sidewalks or wet flooring can cause a variety of serious injuries that can put you out of work and out of income for months on end.
Some injuries are even serious enough to warrant long-term care, which comes with significant expenses.
Help After A Slip & Fall
Have you been injured after slipping or tripping on the job and are now unable to work? If so, you are likely wondering how to deal with the medical expenses associated with your injury and what you can do about other damages incurred as a result of your injury.
Our workers’ compensation lawyers discuss these and other issues related to slip and fall accidents below.
Common Causes Of Slip & Fall Accidents At Work
A slip accident can be caused by a variety of different contributing factors. However, there are certain hazards which lead to a slip accident more often than others.
The most common causes for slip and fall injuries include:
- Damaged carpeting or flooring
- Improperly maintained walkways, flooring, or sidewalks
- Walkways in work environment that are cluttered or otherwise obstructed
- Inadequate lighting in the work area
- Spillage on floor surfaces
- Poor winter weather maintenance
One of the reasons slip and fall incidents are so serious is due to the tendencies of a person to disregard the incident due to embarrassment. Many times the injuries sustained won’t even present symptoms until much later and employees will fail to report the injuries as being work-related when they seek treatment.
Failing to report you injury and seek medical attention immediately can negatively affect your chances of recovering workers’ compensation or financial benefits through a premises liability lawsuit.
Recovering From Your Work Accident
It is important to take the necessary steps after a slip and fall accident in order to recover from you injury physically and financially. As previously mentioned, it is important to seek immediate medical attention after a slip and fall. After being treated for injuries you may be wondering about how to pay for the medical bills and other expenses associated with your injury.
As with any other workplace injury, it may be possible to obtain workers’ compensation after a slip and fall accident regardless of whether or not your employers was negligent in the events or situation causing the incident. Additionally, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits depending on the specific circumstances of your injury.
However, unlike certain types of workplace accidents it is often possible to recover additional compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
Can I Sue My Employer For Slipping & Falling At Work?
Most injuries that occur at work — such as a slip and fall — are covered by workers’ compensation benefits. Because this is a no-fault system (which means it doesn’t matter who is responsible for the accident — employee, employer or co-worker), it prevents an employee from suing an employer.
However, there are sometimes circumstances under which someone else could be held liable for injuries that occur to workers in New York. This may be possible if a third party’s carelessness or recklessness caused the slip and fall accident to occur.
One example where workers might pursue a lawsuit is when, during the scope of employment, the worker was injured on another person’s property.
Another example is a construction worker performing work on a job site with others. If an independent contractor or even an employee from another construction company was responsible for causing a slip and fall, the worker might pursue a lawsuit against the contractor. An example would be debris left behind that causes the worker to fall from an elevated surface.
In the event that the negligence of a third party causes a worker to slip and fall, that worker may be able to file a personal injury or premises liability lawsuit.
The Disability Guys: Fighting For Your Workers’ Comp & SSD Benefits
If you have suffered a slip and fall while on the job, you are certainly not alone. It is important to seek the advice of a workers’ compensation attorney to better understand your rights and protect your ability to receive compensation for your injuries.
The Disability Guys is a premier New York law firm dedicated to workers’ compensation and Social Security disability law. We have been helping individuals obtain workers’ compensation in New York for decades and are prepared to take on the toughest cases.
Contact our office today by calling (866) 205-2415 to schedule a free case evaluation today.