Boston Workplace Injury Lawyer
Many injured workers rely on work comp to help them through their accident-related expenses. Sadly, work comp only provides so much, and your injury might qualify for much, much more. To find out if you have grounds for a personal injury claim, speak with a Boston workplace injury lawyer.
Getting injured on the job can lead to injuries that are every bit as devastating as those seen in car accidents and premises liability incidents. This also means that the medical expenses and other losses that follow can have the same dramatic impact on the victim’s life.
Where they differ is that many workplace injury victims are forced to settle for the money provided by workers compensation benefits, which will only cover medical expenses and a percentage of lost wages. This fails to account for other injury-related expenses and leaves all of the non-economic damages that affect quality of life entirely unaddressed.
Many accident victims don’t realize it, but there are actually some on-the-job injuries that can qualify you to go beyond workers compensation and receive the sort of comprehensive settlement offered by a personal injury claim. A Boston workplace injury lawyer from Joel H. Schwartz, PC can help you determine if your case qualifies and also ensure that you get full compensation.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for an On-the-Job Injury
Certain conditions have to be met in order for your workplace injury to be treated as a personal injury:
- Your employer doesn’t carry workers compensation insurance
- Your injury was caused by a defective product, such as faulty safety equipment
- You were made ill or injured by a toxic substance
- Your accident was caused by an outside third party, such as a contractor or passerby
- Your accident was intentionally caused through malice
It’s not always easy to determine if your case meets one of these criteria, but this is a necessary step because this will determine who was at fault and therefore owes you compensation. For example, in the case of a defective product or toxic exposure, you will be able to sue the manufacturer of the substance or item.
The only time you can sue your employer is if malice was involved or if they don’t carry workers compensation insurance. Your Boston workplace injury lawyer will help you investigate and make the determination of whether your case qualifies.
Massachusetts Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits
If your case does qualify, it will also be subject to the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Massachusetts. The state allows just three years in which you must file suit if you wish to seek financial damages.
This may sound like a lot of time, but it will go by quickly. It’s within your best interests to act as quickly as possible anyway, as evidence and witness testimony are always easiest to collect while both are still fresh.
Additionally, your Boston workplace injury lawyer will need time to negotiate a settlement from the at-fault party. This process usually involves a great deal of back-and-forth, and it’s not uncommon for the other side to use stall tactics. This makes it important to preserve your right to sue and file your claim immediately.
Workplace Accident Compensation
A personal injury claim provides an opportunity for a settlement that is far larger and more comprehensive than what workers compensation will provide. With work comp, you will only receive coverage for your medical benefits and a portion of your lost wages.
A personal injury claim, on the other hand, will allow you to seek compensation for all of the following that apply to your case:
- Current and future medical expenses
- All of your lost wages and income
- Mobility aides and medication
- Transportation expenses and caregiver wages
- Renovations made to your home to accommodate a new disability
- Pain and suffering
- Damage done to your personal relationships
- Lost enjoyment of life
A Boston workplace injury lawyer from our office can ensure that everything you’ve been through and experienced is factored into your end settlement amount. You deserve more than the bare minimum provided by work comp, and we can help you get it.
Get Help from a Boston Jobsite Accident Attorney
The legal system and insurance industry don’t make it easy to get a fair and full settlement, but with the right legal help, you can get the compensation you need to get your life back on track. Joel H. Schwartz, PC has been helping injury victims just like you get the money they need to make their recovery for over fifty years—and we can help you, too.
To schedule a free consultation with a Boston workplace injury lawyer, call 1-800-660-2270 or complete the contact form below. Explore your legal options for compensation, and take the first step on the road to restoring your physical and financial wellbeing.