Many workplaces rely on ladders for employees to get their work done. Unfortunately, ladders are quite dangerous and can sometimes be unstable. If you fall off a ladder, your employer might accuse you of not using it properly. However, regardless of whether you are at fault, workers' compensation is a no-fault system, and you should be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
What to Do After Falling Off a Ladder
After you have fallen off a ladder, you will want to wait until medical help arrives. While you might think that your injuries are minor, fall-related accidents can often be more severe than you might think. You will want your manager to know immediately that the fall occurred. The manager will need to file a claim with the workers' compensation insurance provider.
Whether or not you fall from the ladder due to negligence doesn't matter for the sake of the workers' compensation claim. What matters is whether the accident was related to your work. For example, if you are struck by lightning while in the parking lot of your workplace, this would not be covered by workers' compensation because your job is not directly related to the lightning strike. However, if you need to climb a ladder as a regular part of your job, you may be entitled to compensation for falling off the ladder.
The Role of a Workers' Compensation Lawyer
A workers' compensation lawyer will understand the laws of your state and will be able to make a case for why the way that the accident occurred directly ties the accident to your injuries.
Personal Injury Claims
In some cases, you may also be able to seek compensation directly from your employer depending on the state in which you reside. For example, if your employer did not put the required safety measures in place, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
The manufacturer of the ladder may also be responsible for your accident. If the ladder broke because it was poorly designed, you may be entitled to compensation from the ladder manufacturer.
Filing a personal injury claim can be a good idea because you will be limited regarding how much you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries through a workers' compensation claim. You will not be compensated for pain and suffering, for example. However, because you are required to file a workers' compensation claim initially to receive compensation, you should speak with a lawyer about your legal options.
Sadly, many people are injured due to someone else's negligence. Maybe you were in a car accident that was the other driver's fault, and now you're dealing with relentless back pain. Or perhaps your neighbor's dog bit you, and you're considering suing them. Both of these scenarios fall under the legal umbrella of personal injury law.
Since proving someone else is responsible for your injuries can be challenging, the world of personal injury law is a vast one. Your own attorney is your best source of information directly related to your own case, but we created this website to give you a good basic overview of what your personal injury case may entail — and what you can expect when you meet with your attorney. Dig in and start reading our articles; you'll soon feel more informed as to what's to come.