Workers’ Compensation for a Workplace Slip and Fall

If you have sustained a slip and fall in the workplace, you may have questions about how you can receive compensation for your injuries. You may not have known it, but slip and falls are one of the most common types of work-related accidents, accounting for over 20% of all workplace injuries. This means that more than one million workers’ compensation claims come in every year for this one type of accident! Unfortunately, preventative measures only go so far in regards to these cases. This is why it is important to stay prepared for these accidents and understand what you should do if you become involved in one. Find out today by reading our helpful FAQs on slip and falls.

Slip and Fall FAQs

What are some of the most causes of falls in the workplace? Some of the most common causes include spilled liquids, cracked or uneven flooring, inadequate warning signs, poor lighting, holes in the floor, broken stairs, or unexpected elevator stops.

Can I sue my employer for my injuries? Most of the time you will not bring a lawsuit for a slip and fall that occurs on the job. Instead, you will bring a workers’ compensation case. However, workers’ compensation can be a bit similar to personal injury claims in some regards. You may receive compensation for medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering, temporary or permanent disability, loss of earning capacity, and future medical expenses.

What is a hazardous condition? There can be many hazardous conditions in the workplace. Some of these conditions may be permanent, such as a staircase that was designed defectively. Some may be temporary, such as the accumulation of ice on a sidewalk. If an employer knew about a dangerous working condition and did nothing to repair or fix it, then they can be held responsible for your injuries.

Will I qualify for workers’ compensation? It really depends on the circumstances surrounding your case. For instance, were you on a lunch break far away from work when your injuries occurred? Then you may have next to no chance of receiving workers’ compensation, because it becomes a question of whether or not it was really “on-the-job.” The same goes to travelling to and from work, when you aren’t actually working yet. However, let’s consider a situation where you are running a work errand for your boss and you trip and fall. This may constitute a workers’ compensation claim because you were in the scope of employment when it occurred. You must have also been acting well and in no violation of company policy, because this is the only way that you can recover.

Will I need to show evidence? Yes, as with all personal injury cases. You must remember that there is a statute of limitations that you must abide by when it comes to these claims, so make sure to file in a timely manner. If you slipped and fell but waited too long to bring a claim, then you may not have as compelling evidence in your case when the time comes.

Speaking to a personal injury attorney is your best bet when it comes to slip and falls of any kind, but especially those occurring in the workplace. Workers’ compensation follows completely different rules than personal injury claims in many cases, so it helps to have an attorney on your side through this process. Call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi today for more information on how to handle your case!