Heavy industry makes up a large portion of Louisiana’s economy, from oil and gas refineries and manufacturing facilities to chemical plants and welding and fabrication yards. Some large steel manufacturing companies also call Louisiana home.
While these plants and facilities offer a lot of job opportunities, they also present a risk of dangerous industrial accidents. When these accidents occur, victims are often unsure of how or even if they can pursue compensation for medical care and other damages.
At Galloway Jefcoat, we have extensive knowledge of the many different laws and regulations governing industrial accidents and resulting legal claims. We have secured millions on behalf of our clients, including a $1.4 million result in a workers’ compensation case.
Our Lafayette industrial accident lawyers offer a free consultation and there are no upfront fees for our representation.
Have legal questions? Call today: 337-984-8020. Turning Wrong Into Right.
How Could I Seek Compensation For an Industrial Accident?
This is one of many questions on the minds of victims of industrial accidents. Can you file a workers’ compensation claim? What about a personal injury lawsuit?
These are questions victims should discuss with an experienced industrial accident lawyer, as there are many factors to consider. For example, you may be able to file a lawsuit in addition to a workers’ compensation claim. This may be possible if there is a third party that bears liability for the accident, such as a contractor, product manufacturer or property owner.
While workers’ comp claims may provide significant compensation, they may not provide everything victims need. That is why you need to work with a knowledgeable, experienced lawyer who can explore all your options. Our firm has secured hundreds of millions for our clients, so we know how to determine what your case may be worth.
We also have the resources and staff to fully investigate the accident and determine if another’s negligence may have been involved. This includes bringing in medical and economic experts, and potentially other types of experts. Unlike insurance companies and other liable parties, we are committed to securing full compensation to help you.
If you were injured while working in a factory or other heavy industrial job, we are here to help. Our firm is prepared to assist many types of industrial workers, including but not limited to:
- Electricians
- Welders
- Drillers
- Mechanics
- Tool makers
- Machine operators
- Maintenance workers
- Drivers
- Forklift operators
- And many more
Types of Industrial Accident Cases
There are so many ways a Louisiana industrial accident may occur. For example, workers could slip and fall because of a wet or slippery floor. They could fall from high off the ground, which is likely to cause catastrophic injury.
Other types of industrial accidents include:
- Explosions or fires
- Collisions involving industrial vehicles
- Malfunctioning industrial equipment
- Getting pinned between pieces of machinery or between a machine and the floor or wall
- Release of toxic chemicals, such as benzene, chromium, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid
- Forklift accidents
- Falling object/machinery accidents
- Burst pipe accidents
- Electrocution accidents
If you were seriously injured on the job, call Galloway Jefcoat to find out if a Lafayette industrial accident lawyer may be able to help. There are no upfront costs with our services.
Turning Wrong Into Right. Contact us to learn more: 337-984-8020.
Injuries Often Suffered in Industrial Accidents
Industrial accidents have the potential to cause life-changing injuries that limit victims’ ability to continue working to support themselves and their families. Examples of these injuries include:
- Amputations, including medically necessary amputations caused by crush injuries
- Traumatic brain injury if the employee gets hit in the head
- Third-degree burns from explosions or fires
- Severe broken bones that require surgery
- Spinal cord damage, including fractures that result in paralysis
- Hearing impairment or hearing loss because of exposure to loud noise over an extended period
- Vision loss
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Neurological damage from inhalation of hazardous chemicals
- Respiratory damage from excessive smoke inhalation
- Severe knee injuries
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
How Employer Negligence Can Cause Industrial Accidents to Occur
Industrial accidents are often the result of an employer’s failure to properly implement and enforce safety protocols set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has numerous regulations designed to keep workers safe and prevent accidents, including regulations on:
- Ladders
- Scaffolds and rope descent systems
- Fall protection systems
- Fire prevention plans
- Training requirements
- Step bolts and manhole steps
- Exit routes
- Powered platforms, man lifts and vehicle-mounted work platforms
- Hazardous materials
- Noise exposure
- And much more
Employers may bear liability for failing to follow these regulations. For example, employers may have failed to provide proper safety equipment for workers, such as:
- Helmets
- Protective eyewear
- Gloves
- Scaffolds that failed to meet safety guidelines
Employers may also fail to:
- Ensure toxic chemicals are properly contained to prevent employees from being exposed
- Protect workers by removing malfunctioning or faulty equipment from service
- Monitor their employees to make sure spills and slippery spots on the floor are cleaned up to prevent falls
- Repair broken railings to prevent falls from high off the ground.
- Replace outdated machinery or update the facility to lower the risk of injury
Some accidents are the result of coworker negligence. However, employers could potentially be held liable for these situations.
For example, coworkers may not have been properly qualified or trained for their position. They may have not received proper training on operating a forklift or piece of machinery, putting themselves and other workers at risk. It is the employer’s responsibility to make sure workers are properly trained and qualified.
Third Parties Who May Be Liable For Industrial Accidents
Sometimes a third party is at fault for an industrial accident that caused a worker’s injury. For example, the accident may have been caused by a defective product, such as defective:
- Safety equipment
- Industrial machinery
- Industrial vehicles
- Containers for hazardous chemicals
Other third parties that might be at fault for an industrial accident include:
- Contractors or subcontractors who were working at the job site during the accident; workers under their supervision may have been negligent, causing a dangerous situation
- Property owners if there was a hazardous condition on the property that should have been dealt with
- Manufacturers or distributors of toxic substances
In a third-party claim, victims and their lawyers are required to prove negligence. This is different from workers’ comp claims, where fault is not an issue.
Negligence refers to the failure to uphold a duty of care owed to another. If the breached duty of care is directly linked to the injury, there may be grounds for a third-party lawsuit.
Our Lafayette industrial accident lawyers are prepared to pursue a third-party lawsuit if a third party was involved in your accident.
Compensation For Damages From an Industrial Accident
Injured employees should be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits, which include:
- Reasonable and necessary medical care
- Cost of traveling to medical treatment
- Temporary total disability, which covers 66 and two-thirds of your average weekly wage if you are temporarily unable to work in any capacity
- Supplemental earnings benefits if you can return to work but you earn less than 90 percent of the wages you earned before the injury
- A one-time payment of $50,000 for catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis or total loss of two limbs
- Death benefits if the worker dies within two years of the last treatment for an injury from a work accident
- Vocational rehabilitation to find job opportunities that fit with your new physical limitations from the work injury
If you have a third-party claim, you may be able to seek personal injury damages. This includes economic and non-economic damages, like:
- Past and future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Lost companionship
- And more
It is important to note that you cannot receive double compensation for damages. For example, workers’ compensation insurers can seek reimbursement for compensation they paid out if you also receive compensation from a third-party claim.
These are all issues that can be sorted out by your lawyer, which is yet another reason why it is vital to seek out an experienced attorney after an industrial accident.
Call Galloway Jefcoat To Discuss Legal Options After an Industrial Crash
If you or a loved one were injured in an industrial accident, Galloway Jefcoat may be able to help seek compensation. While we know compensation cannot change what happened, it is an important step in the recovery process. Compensation can help secure a victim’s financial future.
Galloway Jefcoat has been a trusted advocate for the injured in Acadiana and elsewhere in Louisiana. Our Lafayette industrial accident lawyers are deeply committed to securing all the compensation clients need.
Free legal consultation with no upfront costs. Call us at: 337-984-8020.
Lafayette Parish 
June 11, 2021