There are many different types of work injury scenarios. Sometimes, workers get hurt by falling objects. Other times, they slip on a wet spot and break a bone. Employees can get hurt through chemical exposure, violence from customers or repetitive motions.
In some professions, heavy machinery may be an injury risk. Professionals in the construction and manufacturing sectors often have to work with or in close proximity to large and potentially dangerous machines. Those machines might malfunction. Workers could also make accidental contact with them in a slip-and-fall incident. Even a simple timing error could result in a machine injuring an employee.
Do professionals injured by machinery have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits, or will they face a complex claims process?
Machinery issues often lead to straightforward claims
People sometimes misunderstand the nature of workers’ compensation coverage. They might believe it only applies in scenarios where their employer is directly responsible for their injuries. A mistake while operating a machine might leave a worker believing they are to blame for their injuries. A malfunction that occurs due to defective components or questionable design might lead to a belief that the machine’s manufacturer is liable.
Fault doesn’t influence eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. The primary concern is whether employment caused the medical condition. A machinery incident while on the clock is clearly a work-related matter. Therefore, the employee likely qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits.
They may be eligible for medical benefits to pay for their treatment. If they need time away to heal or must transfer to a lower-paid job because of their injuries, they may also be eligible for disability benefits. Typically, employers cannot contest a benefits claim on the basis of an employee getting hurt by a machine.
If anything, such circumstances may expand the worker’s options. When defects may have contributed to machinery failing, workers may be eligible for a third-party lawsuit in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. Generally speaking, machinery-related incidents on the job may cause injuries that qualify a professional for workers’ compensation benefits.
Getting support while preparing an application for workers’ compensation benefits or reaching out for help when appealing an unfavorable decision may make a major difference for injured professionals. Those hurt by machinery usually don’t have to worry about particularly complicated or contentious benefits claims.
