Working in a Pheonix warehouse can be dangerous as the job often entails heavy lifting or working with machinery. Proper training and following safety protocols can help prevent injuries. However, if you suffer an injury, you have options under workers’ compensation to pay for medical expenses and other financial losses.
Warehouse injuries can be life-altering, and you will need to speak with a Phoenix warehouse accident attorney from Zanes Law.
Common Causes of Warehouse Accidents
Warehouse accidents can result in life-changing injuries or death for warehouse workers. You cannot allow a negligent employer to get away with causing your injury. Employers must be held responsible for their inaction because many incidents are preventable with proper training and up-to-date equipment.
The cause of warehouse injuries will vary depending on the type of work you do.
Misinformation
Misinformation can come across as fact to warehouse workers, especially with language barriers. The employer’s primary responsibility is to provide training to employees in a language they understand. All employees are at extreme risk when one person does not get correct instructions or cannot understand the message being relayed to them.
When an employee performs a task to their understanding but is given the wrong directions, it can result in an injury to them or others. The employer is responsible because they did not provide sufficient training resources.
Types of Equipment
There is a range of equipment in operation in a warehouse, and all of it must be in working order. The warehouse employer must ensure the equipment is functioning correctly, ready to use, and secure. Additionally, you must have proper training on how to use the equipment from the employer.
A severe incident can ensue if one of these operational elements is missing.
Falling Objects
There are many intricacies in a warehouse, and there is the possibility that objects can fall, especially when shelves are packed, and inventory is heavy on pallets. These pallets and other items in the warehouse require using forklifts to move them around. If an item falls, it can cause a severe injury or the death of the person it falls on.
Sometimes these items fall alone, while other times they fall because they weigh too much for the machinery,
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Any property has the risk of a slip and fall happening. Warehouses have a higher risk than other workplaces because cables and loose equipment are often strewn about. Water puddles are also a danger no matter where you go.
Employers in Phoenix are responsible for providing safe working conditions and ensuring no tripping or slipping hazards. Even though they are responsible, they will try to use the excuse that they were unaware of the hazard. It will be vital to prove the owner knew or should have known the danger was present.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Warehouse workers put excessive strain on their bodies by lifting and moving items. These repetitive motions can result in internal injuries that will restrict your movements. These injuries often happen in the neck, shoulder, back, and knee.
Repetitive motion injuries are challenging because it is something that happens over time. Some injuries occur after a singular movement, but others often happen over months or even years. Additionally, you will likely suffer from these injuries for years, and they can require surgery or other invasive treatments.
For a free legal consultation with a warehouse accidents lawyer serving Phoenix, call 866-499-8989
Injuries from Warehouse Accidents
Warehouse injuries can leave a lasting impact on your life. You might be unable to work in the same capacity you once did or need to change employment; some common injuries that result from warehouse accidents include:
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Degenerative illnesses
- Shoulder injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Harmful chemical exposure
- Knee and leg trauma
- Broken bones
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Spinal cord damage
Workers’ compensation benefits offer you compensation to recover from workplace injuries, but they may not cover all your losses. You might need vocational training to change jobs or positions within the company. You may suffer a permanent disability that no longer allows you to work.
You will need to make up for these losses through a compensation claim. You must enlist the help of a warehouse accident attorney in Phoenix to ensure you are protected and get the financial recovery you need.
Phoenix Warehouse Accident Lawyer Near Me 866-499-8989
You Have Legal Options
Workers have protection when they suffer an injury at the workplace. Workers’ compensation is meant to protect employees when they sustain an injury. The warehouse injury must occur within the scope of your employment.
All employers in the state must have an insurance policy covering employee injury costs. Employees do not pay for these coverages. Some of the expenses worker’s compensation policies cover are:
- Death benefits
- Lost wages
- Medical care and treatment
You will also get some of your wages when recovering from a workplace injury; you will receive two-thirds of your gross salary. Benefits are paid to injured workers until they reach full recovery and return to work. Permanent injuries, however, require lifetime benefits.
Arizona has no-fault provisions for these policies, so even if the employee were partially at fault, they could still recover benefits. Many employees do not report the incident or go home, hoping the injury will heal after a few days of rest. Reporting the injury is vital to a worker’s compensation claim, especially in a warehouse setting; you will also need to work fast to file a legal claim because there is a one-year statute. Once the statute passes, you cannot file claims or receive benefits.
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Contact a Warehouse Accident Lawyer in Phoenix Today
You cannot lose your job by filing a worker’s compensation claim. Warehouse jobs are very dangerous, and the employer has a duty to protect you and provide reasonably safe accommodations. While the primarily liable party is often the employer, there are instances where a third party can be held accountable.
An injury is life-changing, but some warehouse workers lose their lives in an accident, leaving the family to pick up the pieces and file a wrongful death claim. Since these claims are so complex, working with a Phoenix warehouse accident lawyer is vital. When you suffer an injury, or a loved one dies in a Phoenix warehouse accident, you will need to discuss your legal recovery options with Zanes Law immediately.
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