An accident involving a piece of heavy machinery can upend your life in seconds. You may find yourself suddenly navigating expensive medical treatments and wondering how you will cover those costs while out of work due to injury.
If you or someone you love was hurt, you are not alone. Friedman Schuman Layser’s industrial accident attorneys can fight for compensation to help you get back on your feet. Our Fort Washington machinery accident lawyers are on your side and can build your case and aggressively pursue your damages.
What Is a Machinery Accident?
Machinery accidents can involve large, heavy equipment, such as loaders, bulldozers, and dump trucks, among others. Accidents can also involve smaller machines, like mini excavators and forklifts.
Many machinery accidents can be classified as “struck-by” accidents, which are among the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “fatal four.” Struck-by incidents can occur when moving machines hit people or objects, or when a machine part, such as a crane arm, hits a person or object. Machinery accidents can also involve falling loads, machine rollovers, and internal malfunctions.
Our machinery accident attorneys handle all types of claims in Fort Washington and across Pennsylvania. Our law firm has over 40 years of experience and has recovered multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for injured construction workers.
Liability for Machinery Accidents in Fort Washington
Machinery accidents can result from one or more of the following:
- Machine operator inexperience/lack of training
- Operator distraction or fatigue
- Overloaded machines
- Unsafe property conditions
- Lack of machinery maintenance
- Faulty machinery parts
Our firm can help you determine and prove the cause of your accident with an investigation, which may include workplace incident reports, eyewitness accounts, and testimony from experts.
Most employees in Pennsylvania have workers’ compensation coverage through their employer. You usually cannot sue your employer for negligence if they offer this insurance, and you do not have to prove liability to win your claim. However, you can sue an uninsured employer or another at-fault party, such as:
- Property owners
- Equipment manufacturers
- Equipment service and maintenance contractors
- Machinery operators
- Coworkers
- Third parties, including contractors and subcontractors
Friedman Schuman Layser can discuss your options for pursuing damages and assist with multiple claims when necessary.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Machinery Accident?
If you suffered a machine accident injury in Fort Washington, you can seek the cost of your current and future medical expenses when you work alongside our legal professionals. You can also recover your lost wages and employment benefits. If your injury keeps you from going back to work, you can pursue compensation for your lost earning capacity. Injured parties may also qualify for compensation for intangible losses, such as physical pain, emotional suffering, and mental distress.
If your loved one died because of a machinery accident, we can help your family with a wrongful death claim. Money cannot bring back what you have lost, but it can save you from financial stress while you grieve.
How Long Do You Have to Seek Damages?
Our law firm can help you file a personal injury claim if your employer does not offer workers’ compensation. The statute of limitations for injury claims is two years, according to Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes 42 § 5524.
Contact Our Fort Washington Attorneys to Discuss a Machinery Accident Lawsuit
The hardworking team at Friedman Schuman Layser fights for injured workers across Pennsylvania. Our Fort Washington machinery accident lawyers can help you seek full and fair compensation if you were hurt by a machine at your place of work. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our compassionate and experienced legal team.