ON THE JOB INJURIES REDUCED BUT STILL A PROBLEM
Workers have a right to a safe workplace and have rights if injured on the job. Minnesota and federal law requires employers to provide their employees with safe workplaces. Since the OSHA laws were passed in the 1970s, workplace injuries have been significantly reduced in Minnesota and across the country. Nonetheless, accidents at work still happen. Therefore, employers are still required to have workers compensation insurance for employee injuries. Workers compensation lawyers still stay busy.
OSHA is available to answer questions or concerns from employers and workers. To reach your regional or area OSHA office, go to the OSHA Offices by State webpage or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
OSHA has a free and confidential On-Site Consultation program for small business owners. They will help determine whether there are hazards at their worksite. If so, OSHA will work with the employer on correcting any identified hazards. They also provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards and assist in establishing injury and illness prevention programs. On-Site Consultation services are separate from enforcement activities and do not result in penalties or citations.
COMPENSATION FOR INJURY AT WORK
Workers can file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe there are serious hazards on the job site. You can contact OSHA by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or online via eComplaint Form. Complaints that are signed by a worker are more likely to result in an inspection. Your contact will be kept confidential. For other valuable worker protection information, such as Workers’ Rights, Employer Responsibilities, and other services OSHA offers, visit OSHA’s Workers’ page.
Our personal injury attorneys do not directly handle workers compensation claims. However, we do handle work accidents caused by a third party. For example if there is a defective machine on the job site that injures someone while working, we would sue the manufacturer. Likewise, if a property owner creates or allows a dangerous condition on their property that injures a visiting worker we will sue the property owner. (Such as an exposed wire that electrocutes someone.) We also frequently handle on the job car accident cases.
You can get workers compensation and also sue the responsible third party. This can be helpful because workers compensation benefits are limited. Your medical bills will be completely covered by workers compensation. However, many other aspects of your case are limited. Our lawyers will make sure you get more complete compensation for your work injury.
There are too many other examples of third party claims to list them all. If you were injured at work in MN please call us and speak with a lawyer for a free consultation. We will refer you to a top workers compensation lawyer. We will also discuss with you whether you have a potential case against a third party that we can pursue for you.