New Orleans Industrial Accident Lawyer

New Orleans Industrial Accident Attorney

Accidents in industrial industries can have catastrophic consequences for employees, leaving them with disabling injuries and life-long financial costs. These worksites can have machinery accidents, structure collapses, and explosions. When you are injured at work, you should be able to recover compensation. Working with a skilled New Orleans industrial accident lawyer can help you pursue workers’ compensation or other methods of financial recovery.

Louisiana has numerous industrial sectors, including refining, logging, petrochemical plant work, construction, mining, and work in the energy sector. These industries are vital to the state’s economy, but they are also incredibly hazardous for employees.

Almost seven percent of residents in the state work in the manufacturing sector, with 138,000 resident employees in 2023 and a total output of $40.28 billion from the industry. Chemical processing is the number one producer of direct manufacturing jobs in Louisiana, with the state holding over 300 process manufacturing facilities and 15 oil refineries that make up one-sixth of the United States’ refining abilities.

Hammond Law Firm, LLC: Giving You Support After an Industrial Accident

An industrial accident can lead to catastrophic, disabling, or even fatal injuries. These injuries can require expensive medical care as well as long-term rehabilitation and daily care. They can cost employees in numerous other ways, preventing them from working and causing severe pain and personal hardship. At Hammond Law Firm, LLC, we know how frustrating this significant change is for you and your family. We want to help you through this difficult time.

You need reliable, compassionate, and skilled legal support as you navigate a claim after an industrial accident. Our team brings you that support by investigating the cause of the incident, calculating the cost of your injuries, and determining what options you have for compensation. We handle each step of your claim and keep you informed. Our goal is to help you recover the most financial recovery possible, securing the support you deserve.

The attorneys at Hammond Law Firm, LLC, have more than 40 years of collective legal experience. Let us leverage our knowledge to benefit your case and obtain the compensation you are owed.

What Are Common Industrial Accidents in New Orleans?

Different industrial industries may have unique regulations in response to the unique hazards they pose for employees, the environment, and the general public. Employers must follow these safety and other regulations, which may include providing basic safety training for employees, ensuring regular maintenance on equipment, and ensuring that potentially hazardous substances and equipment are properly labeled and stored.

Industrial worksites are inherently hazardous, and accidents can occur even when all parties are taking reasonable care.

Some causes of injury in industrial workplaces include:

• Falling objects
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Repetitive motion injuries and muscle strains
• Struck-by accidents involving vehicles or machinery
• Equipment malfunction
• Structure collapses
• Burst pipes
• Overexertion and heat stroke
• Electrical hazards and electrocution
• Chemical or other hazardous material inhalation
• Chemical spills and contact
• Fires and explosions

After an accident or discovering a developmental injury, it’s important to report the injury quickly and begin the process of recovering workers’ compensation. You also want to get in contact with a dedicated attorney who can help you with this process.

Can I File a Claim Against My Employer for an Industrial Workplace Injury?

Typically, if you are hurt in the workplace, you cannot take civil legal action against your employer. Workers’ compensation insurance protects employees by giving them partial compensation regardless of fault when they are injured, and it protects employers by preventing them from being held personally liable for injuries in the workplace.

Because of this system, the only option for most injured employees is to file a workers’ compensation claim; however, there are exceptions to this. You may be able to file a claim against your employer if they deliberately caused your injuries or caused them indirectly through severe misconduct. Additionally, you can file a claim against another party, not your employer or coworker, who is to blame for your accident.

Who Could Be Liable for an Industrial Accident?

There are certain third parties who could be held accountable through a civil claim if their negligence caused your injuries. This could include:

• Product manufacturers. If your injuries were caused by a defective and unreasonably dangerous product, such as machinery or tools, you could file a product liability claim against the manufacturer or designer of the product.

• Other drivers. If you were driving for your work duties and were involved in an accident, you could file a claim against the driver whose carelessness caused the accident.

• Third-party contractors. When your work involves contractors who are not coworkers, this could allow for a third-party claim. The negligence of these contractors may be the basis for a personal injury claim.

It is important to review your case with a skilled industrial accident attorney. They can help you determine the cause of the incident and whether that cause enables you to file a personal injury claim in addition to or in place of a workers’ compensation claim.

What Damages Can I Recover After an Industrial Accident?

The damages you can recover depend on the damages you sustained and the type of claim you are filing. Having the grounds for a civil claim is beneficial because there are certain damages not available in workers’ compensation claims.

Workers’ compensation claims typically recover the following damages:

• Partial wages
• Medical bills
• Vocational rehabilitation if you cannot return to your job
• Disability income if you cannot work in other employment

Personal injury claims can potentially recover the following damages:

• Medical bills
• Full lost wages
• Lost earning capacity if you can’t return to work
• Property damage repair or replacement costs
• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement

Even if you have the grounds for both types of claims, you can only recover the total of the damages you sustained. An experienced lawyer can help you calculate the total of these losses, including past and future costs of your injuries.

Rebuild Your Life With a Dedicated Industrial Accident Attorney

If you have been injured from an industrial worksite accident, you don’t have to navigate your claim alone. At Hammond Law Firm, LLC, we are dedicated to providing you with communicative and tireless legal representation. We want to fight for your future and your financial stability. Contact our firm today and learn how we can advocate for you.