Industrial Injury Lawyer in Dothan

Despite workplace safety measures, over 5,000 people die each year in workplace accidents across the U.S., and millions more suffer nonfatal injuries and illnesses that force them to stop working completely, miss several days from work, or change jobs.

In Alabama alone, nearly 100 people died in work-related accidents in a single recent year. A large majority of these serious injuries and wrongful deaths were caused by industrial accidents at places like construction sites, drilling rigs, factories, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, and warehouses.

If you have been injured or a loved one was killed in an Alabama industrial accident, Gartlan Injury Law is here to fight for the full compensation you deserve. We understand how devastating these types of accidents are for workers and their families, as well as the long-term financial impacts they cause. This is why we are committed to providing victims of industrial accidents with the qualified legal services they need to stand up for their legal rights and seek maximum compensation. Contact our Dothan industrial injury lawyer today.

Let Gartlan Injury Law get you on the road to recovery. Contact an industrial accident attorney today to set up your free consultation and learn how we can help with your personal case. You can reach us 24/7 by calling us or chatting with us live online. Our Dothan industrial worker accident lawyer can help.

What Are Some of the Most Common Industrial Accidents That Lead to Injuries?

Industrial accidents can happen at a wide range of sites and can cause catastrophic and sometimes fatal injuries. The causes of industrial accidents vary. Some of the most common causes of injury-causing industrial accidents include:

• Explosions and fires
• Failure to provide adequate safety equipment, such as safety nets, hardhats, respiratory protection, and harnesses
• Exposure to toxic chemicals and other harmful substances
• Electrocution
• Equipment malfunction
• Falls from ladders, scaffolding accidents, falls from factory platforms, etc
• Communication failures
• Getting crushed or caught in between equipment, vehicles, structures, and other objects
• Inadequate training
• Failure of safety devices and mechanisms, such as automated emergency shut off
• Defective and dangerous machinery or materials
• Accidents with heavy machinery and other equipment
• Slips, trips, and fall accidents on wet or damaged surfaces
• Transportation accidents
• Worker error
• Flying debris, falling equipment, and other accidents involving out-of-control objects
• Workplace violence
• Overexertion
• Structural accidents, such as scaffolding or building collapse
• Chemical exposure to harmful substances

How Are Industrial Accidents Different from Typical Workplace Injuries?

Industrial accidents are often much more serious and have longer impacts on workers and communities than typical workplace accidents. While many work-related accidents cause minor injuries like sprains, soreness, and scrapes that can heal quickly with the proper treatment, industrial accidents often cause catastrophic injuries and permanent disabilities.

For example, in one of Alabama’s worst industrial accidents on record, 128 miners were killed in an explosion at a coal mine near Littleton in 1911. More recently, in March 2020, a worker was decapitated while cleaning equipment at an Alabama chicken processing facility, and another worker died in an accident at a Mount Meigs plant that produces silicon metal for car parts.

Beyond the harm that these accidents cause workers, many industrial incidents like explosions and leaks of toxic chemicals also require authorities to evacuate local neighborhoods and might cause long-term issues for the community.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Dothan Industrial Accidents?

Who can be held liable for an industrial accident depends on the circumstances of the case? Some parties that might hold responsibility include:

• The employer – Even if an employer’s actions cause worker injuries, employees can typically file for workers’ comp for workplace accidents without having to prove that their employer was at fault, according to Alabama’s Workers’ Compensation laws. These laws also prevent employees from suing their employer for these types of accidents.
• The employee – If a willful action by the employee caused the accident, then they might not be eligible for workers’ comp. For example, if employees intentionally try to harm themselves, willfully refuse to use safety appliances provided by their employer, or work while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, then they might not be able to receive compensation for their injuries.
• A third party – In certain situations, a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer or contractor, might hold responsibility for the industrial accident. Another employee or individual might also be liable if they directed action at an employee because of personal reasons and not because of the person’s employment.

What Compensation Can a Worker Receive After Being Involved in an Industrial or Construction Accident in Alabama?

After an industrial accident, injured workers in Dothan AL may have one or two options to seek the compensation they’re owed:

• Workers’ compensation – Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act requires most employers that have five or more employees to carry workers’ comp insurance. This insurance helps provide compensation to employees who suffer workplace illnesses or injuries to help cover their medical expenses, lost income, and other related losses.
• Personal injury claim – If a third party held some responsibility for the industrial accident, then the injured worker might be able to file a personal injury claim. This type of claim is meant to help victims recover compensation for the damages caused by the accident, such as payments for pain and suffering.

What Evidence Is Needed for a Worker Making an Industrial Accident Claim in Alabama?

Under Alabama’s worker compensation laws, employees can typically file for workers’ compensation for an industrial injury or illness without having to prove that their employer was at fault. However, providing some evidence might help expedite your claim and can often help you get the full compensation you’re owed.

For example, insurers only provide workers’ comp to cover work-related accidents and injuries. Providing evidence, such as testimony from witnesses or an official accident report, might help prove that the industrial accident caused your injuries.

Additionally, a medical report from your physician can serve as useful evidence in proving that your injuries resulted from this specific industrial accident and not from a previous accident or an underlying medical condition.

Get the Help of an Industrial Accident Lawyer After an Alabama Industrial Accident

If you are an industrial worker suffering from a catastrophic injury after an industrial accident and need an Alabama personal injury attorney, contact Gartlan Injury Law right away and talk to our Dothan industrial accident worker injury lawyer.  To get started, call us or contact us online and schedule your free case evaluation.

Let us help you with your insurance claim and industrial accident case. Our industrial accident attorneys have been helping victims of Alabama industrial accidents for years. We can help you get the compensation you deserve to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call our law offices for a consultation with one of our Dothan industrial injury lawyers today.