Falls from heights are among the most common and dangerous workplace accidents, leading to traumatic musculoskeletal and brain injuries and even death. If you fell from a height while working in Kentucky, understanding the next steps to take is crucial for your well-being and your ability to seek financial recovery.
Contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to speak with an experienced work injury lawyer about your fall accident case. Working with a knowledgeable lawyer is always in your best interest. We’ll help you explore your options and walk you through the process of seeking compensation after a fall from height.
Job Roles with High Risk of Falling from Heights
Many jobs in and around the construction industry involve a high risk of falling from heights. These include roofers, carpenters, painters, and various other construction contractors and laborers.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls from height are among the leading causes of fatal accidents among construction workers. However, even when workers survive falls from heights, they may be left with life-changing injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severely broken bones, and internal organ damage.
To prevent these injuries from occurring, OSHA recommends using personal fall arrest equipment, installing perimeter protection around ledges, covering and securing floor openings, and making sure ladders and scaffolding are properly erected and stabilized.
Other jobs that involve a risk of falling from heights include those in the oil and gas and forestry industries, as well as maintenance workers. Any time a worker is in a position where they must climb up or onto something, there is a risk of falling, and fall protection equipment should be used.
If I’m Injured from a Fall at Work, What Should I Do?
If you experience a working at height accident, it’s essential to know the steps to take to protect your right to seek the compensation you need. The key steps to take after a fall from height on the job are to seek medical attention, report the accident, document the fall and your injuries, and consult a work injury lawyer.
Seek Medical Attention
The first step you should always take after falling at work is to seek medical attention. The sooner you seek medical attention, the better, as it will benefit your well-being and show your employer’s insurance company that you took your injuries seriously.
In most cases in Kentucky, injured workers can choose their own doctors after a workplace injury and still qualify for medical cost coverage.
Report the Accident to Your Employer
Injured workers should report their fall to their employer as soon as possible. You must report the accident to your employer to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, so it’s always best to do so just in case you need to file a workers’ compensation claim for your severe injuries.
While you have up to two years to file a claim under the Workers’ Compensation Act, this time limit does not apply to reporting the injury. And the longer you wait to report the injury, the higher the chance of your employer’s insurance company denying your claim.
Document the Fall and Your Injuries
Write down everything you remember about the fall and how it occurred, and keep notes on how your injuries affect your daily life. If coworkers witnessed the fall, let your lawyer know so they can obtain testimony from them.
If you have visible injuries, photograph them over time to document your recovery. This may be necessary to demonstrate the reasonableness and necessity of your medical treatment.
Consult a Work Injury Lawyer
The best way to protect your rights and maximize your compensation is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to handle your case. They can investigate the incident, gather evidence, file your claim, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to seek the workers’ comp benefits you need.
Damages That Can Be Received from a “Fall from Heights” at Work Case
Damages are the compensation you seek through an insurance claim or injury lawsuit. When filing a workers’ compensation claim for a fall, the damages or workers’ compensation benefits you can seek include:
- Coverage for your medical expenses related to the incident
- Partial lost wages replacement, if your injuries prevent you from working or impact your ability to work
- Coverage for your vocational rehabilitation costs, if your work restrictions mean you need to find a new job
- Death benefits for family members of workers killed by a fall
If a third party caused your fall, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them to recover compensation for your injuries. Independent contractors must also file lawsuits to recover compensation, as workers’ compensation insurance doesn’t cover them.
The Importance of Having a Lawyer in a Workplace Fall Case
The big reason why you need a lawyer in a workplace fall case is simply that the other side will have one of their own. Whether you’re seeking compensation through a workers’ compensation claim or a third-party injury lawsuit, the insurance company on the other side will have lawyers to protect its interests and reduce the value of your case.
Having a lawyer on your side can improve your chances of maximizing your compensation for your serious injuries. They’ll advocate for the benefits and compensation you need and provide general legal advice surrounding your case so that you don’t get taken advantage of.
How Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer Can Help You
The lawyers of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can help you after an injury caused by a fall from height at work by handling your case from all angles. We’ll help you seek financial recovery through a workers’ compensation claim, personal injury lawsuit, or Social Security disability claim, depending on the circumstances of your injury.
If you’re wondering, “I fell at work, what should I do?” Call our firm at (877) 809-5352 for a free consultation with an experienced workplace accident attorney about your fall injuries.
Our attorneys are available 24/7 to answer your questions, and the same lawyers you see on TV are the ones who will handle your case in real life. We always have an attorney speak with you early on in your case rather than handing you off to a paralegal, like some large firms do.