If you are injured in an industrial accident on the job, you can suffer permanent injuries that may prevent you from being able to work again or enjoy the life you did before the accident. If someone other than your employer was to blame for an industrial accident, you can hold them accountable through a lawsuit and may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. The family at Inzina Law Firm Injury Attorneys work to hold responsible parties accountable by potentially filing a lawsuit on your behalf.
Common Industrial Accidents in Lafayette
Factories and other industrial workplaces can be very dangerous areas. With so much happening at a given moment, a single mishap can be enough to cause serious accident injuries.
In an industrial accident, an individual employee might be injured while performing a task or a larger mishap could cause several employees to suffer serious injuries. Common examples of industrial accidents include:
- Collapses
- Explosions
- Fires
- Chemical leaks
- Falls
- Equipment malfunctions
Workplace accidents can turn deadly in an instant. Serious accidents seem to happen more often in Louisiana, which is ranked as the fourth most dangerous state for workers in the United States. Not only are employees at risk in industrial accidents, but people living in the surrounding areas may also be injured by explosions and chemical leaks.
What Causes Industrial Accidents in Lafayette?
Employers and others present at a work site may cut corners to maximize efficiency and profits. They may fail to properly train workers or may hire unqualified employees. They may not provide workers with adequate personal protective equipment or machinery that functions properly.
Other causes of industrial accidents in Lafayette include:
- Improper use and storing of chemicals
- Human factors, such as overworking and overexertion of employees
- Systemic failures to follow work safety regulations
- Poor overall housekeeping procedures at a work site
- Lack of regard for safety standards
It is critical to learn the actual cause of the industrial accident so you know who to hold accountable and how to do so.
How To Obtain Compensation for an Industrial Accident
You need to determine who was to blame for the accident before you can take legal action. If the industrial accident happened at work, you cannot file a lawsuit against your employer. Your attorney would conduct a full and immediate investigation of the accident and gather evidence that you may need to form the basis of a lawsuit against a third party.
When evidence allows, your attorney would sue all responsible parties on your behalf, and your case would go through the legal process. Your lawyer could continue to build your case through the discovery process, collecting evidence from the defendant.
There is a decent chance that your industrial accident case may settle before you go all the way to trial. Defendants may realize that you have built a strong case and may have their own incentive to avoid the jury. If the defendant will not settle the case on reasonable terms, the case would proceed to trial where the jury would decide whether they should be held liable and how much they should pay you.
Compensation for Industrial Accident Victims in Lafayette
Your compensation for an industrial accident injury depends on how badly you have been injured and how much insurance coverage and assets the responsible party has to pay for your injuries. If they are to blame for your injuries, they have a legal obligation to fully compensate you for all the harm that you have suffered.
Your industrial accident compensation can include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Embarrassment and humiliation
- Emotional distress
If the defendant has a high enough degree of culpability for the accident, you may even be awarded punitive damages by the jury. Even the prospect of punitive damages may be enough to persuade a stubborn defendant or their insurance company to settle your case on more favorable terms to you.
Time Limits for Filing an Industrial Accident Lawsuit in Louisiana
Louisiana has a very strict law for how long you have to file a lawsuit after industrial accident injuries. You only have one year from the time that you were injured to file your case in court. If you miss this deadline, you will come away with nothing. Courts hold to this timeline very strictly, and there are very few exceptions. You cannot hire a lawyer as the deadline is approaching and expect them to be able to file a compelling lawsuit on your behalf. You need to act quickly to contact an industrial accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
Contact a Lafayette Industrial Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in an industrial accident, the family at Inzina Law Firm Injury Attorneys can help you as you seek the compensation you deserve. Call today at 337-243-1237 or send us a message online to schedule a free initial consultation, where we will review your case and explain your potential pathway to compensation. You do not need to pay anything out of your pocket to get legal help, and we are only paid if you win your case by receiving a settlement or jury award.
