Ensuring the safety of employees in the workplace should be an employer’s top priority. However, even with extensive safety measures accidents can still occur. This is especially true when the workers in question operate equipment and heavy machinery. When equipment and machinery accidents happen in the workplace, it is crucial that any employees involved understand liability. If you were involved in a workplace accident speak with a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer to schedule a free consultation and begin discussing the details of your case.
Where Does Liability Lie in a Workplace Equipment and Machinery Accident?
If you were involved in an accident involving workplace equipment and machinery, various parties can be held responsible. Liability can fall on several parties depending on the circumstances of the incident. The following parties could be deemed liable.
- Your employer: Employers have a duty of care to provide their employees with a reasonably safe working environment. This can include ensuring that equipment and machinery are properly maintained, employees receive proper training, and there are safety protocols in place. If your employer neglects to provide regular maintenance to machinery or allows workers to operate equipment with insufficient knowledge, it could result in an accident.
- The manufacturer or supplier: If the product was defective the manufacturer could be held liable for the accident. Companies and manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that their products are safe. If the machinery was used properly and it still malfunctioned and caused an accident, they could have been negligent. Product liability can be assigned when the machinery has a defective design, manufacturing, or other defects.
- Third parties: Subcontractors who work on-site can also be liable for machinery accidents if they contributed to the incident, as well as property owners and other third parties.
What Injuries Can Be Caused By Defective Equipment?
If you are involved in an equipment or machinery accident you could face severe injuries and have to endure lengthy and intensive treatments. The following are some injuries you may sustain.
- Bruising
- Lacerations
- Amputations
- Burns
- Electrocution
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Eye injuries
If you have experienced any of the above you may be entitled to workers’ compensation.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation, commonly referred to as workers’ comp, is a form of insurance that certain companies are required to provide their employees. It provides employees with wage replacement, medical treatment, and permanent disability benefits in the event of an accident or injury in the workplace. Employees who are injured or become sick at work or as a result of their job can receive cash benefits through workers’ comp.
If you were injured in an equipment or machinery accident at work you can file a workers’ compensation claim. Regardless of who was at fault, an injured employee in New Jersey will receive benefits.
