The lawyers at Howard, Fine, and Howard, P.C. represent clients throughout the area and across the state. We serve clients who have been injured in a wide variety of accidents, including those that happen on the job, and we are committed to helping people recover by aggressively seeking to hold the responsible parties liable. With more than 146 years of combined experience, we are seasoned personal injury attorneys who have the knowledge, skills, and ability to help you get back on your feet following an accident at work, and pursue compensation for any time you miss, as well as medical bills and other expenses.
Whether it's at a construction site, in an office or on the open road, on-the-job accidents can and do happen. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 3 million cases of workplace injury and illness are reported by private employers each year, resulting in more than 907,000 total days of missed work. That's not to mention the 4,300 workers killed in
fatal workplace accidents
in 2012. On construction sites, the leading causes of death are referred to as the "fatal four":
- Falls
- Struck by Object
- Electrocutions
- Caught-in or caught between
May workers injured on the job are entitled to
workers' compensation benefits. These benefits cover medical costs and at least 60% of the injured worker's income and are generally available, even if the worker is at fault for the accident. An injured employee may also be able to seek damages against his or her employer - or third parties like contractors and subcontractors - under a theory of "gross negligence" where the employer's actions show a complete disregard for workers' health and safety. In addition, an injured worker can sue other responsible parties, like property owners and faulty equipment manufacturers, for traditional negligence under theories such as premises liability.
Maximizing the legal recovery that an injured worker deserves therefore often involves dealing with various insurance companies and employers, as well as a number of other involved and possibly liable parties. It regularly requires significant negotiation efforts and, failing successful resolution, litigation through trial.