A 40-year-old factory employee lost his arm yesterday morning in a work accident. The factory is located in Bridgeport on Chicago’s South Side. The man was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. Work accident lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are currently accepting similar injury cases.
Although details of the accident were not available, we have dealt with many similar cases of catastrophic injury in the workplace. Many victims believe that the only way they can get compensation for their injuries is through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. It is important to note that there are many exceptions to this rule that employees need to know about.
If a worker suffers an extremely serious injury like a severed arm, it is likely that there was an outside factor involved in the accident. An example would be if an injury was caused by a defective or poorly maintained product. This would open up the possibility of filing a product liability lawsuit against the maintenance team or manufacturer.
Other examples where injured workers may be able to sue for additional damages include:
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¢ Toxic exposure: many occupations and industries expose workers to toxic substances, such as asbestos, lead, diacetyl, or benzene. More information on this can be found here.
¢ Third party injuries: if your job requires that you travel, a car accident that left you injured could be considered a third party injury.
¢ Uninsured employers: if your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, injured workers may be able to sue in civil court or collect from a state fund.
¢ Intentional or negligent conduct: personal injury lawsuits are an option if your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional abuse.
Bringing a lawsuit outside of the workers’ compensation system can give injured victims an opportunity for recover additional damages. The money provided by workers’ compensation insurance are typically as low as possible, and do not give workers a chance to recover for pain and suffering. In particularly serious cases, a lawsuit could also result in punitive damages, which are fines against companies to specifically punish them for their negligence.
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Another option for seriously injured workers is Social Security Disability Insurance. This is available only to workers who suffer an injury that is disabling and prevents further employment. There are two separate benefit programs under this option: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is available to elderly people or those whose incomes and assets are very low, or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is available to people who have already worked for a specific number of years.
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More information on SSI and SSDI benefits can be found here. Each person’s eligibility and amount of benefits depend on state laws. Generally, injured workers have to prove that they suffered a severe disability, either mental or physical, that lasts at least one year and prevents them from doing any substantial work.
Our team of work accident lawyers has over 30 years of experience working on workers’ compensation and injury lawsuits. If you or someone you love was seriously injured, sickened, or killed while on the job, contact our firm immediately. Our case reviews are always free and available to concerned workers nationwide.
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