With the average working American spending up to 40 or more hours at their place of employment each week, it should come as no surprise that workplace accidents occur frequently. Sometimes accidents are just that, accidents. Other times, those accidents are the result of the negligence of your employer or third parties. In whatever the case may be, it is imperative for office workers to be aware of how to file a premises liability claim.
Under Rhode Island law, a workers’ compensation claim is often your only recourse if it is exclusively your employer’s negligence that caused your injuries. Workers’ compensation is a form of no-fault insurance, which must be carried by all employers with one or more employees and is designed to provide assistance to employees injured at work for their medical expenses and lost wages. While a workers’ compensation claim may be your only remedy from your employer, the benefits provided under the program will not compensate you for any pain and suffering associated with your injuries.
However, if your injuries were caused by a third-party’s negligence, or caused by both your employer and a third-party, you may be able to pursue a premises liability claim. For that reason, it is important to take the following steps to protect yourself after any workplace injury:
- Seek medical attention: Your overall well-being should be your primary concern after any injury. Contact 911 or a medical professional immediately. If you are unable to call yourself, seek the assistance of others in your workplace.
- Take note: While waiting for medical assistance to arrive, take note of your environment. What caused your injury? Were there any witnesses? With your phone or camera, take photographs of the area and what caused your injury and write down the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Keep records of your medical visits: Keep track of all of your medical care resulting from your injuries and keep a log or diary detailing your treatment and progress.
- Contact a premises liability attorney: While you have three years from the date of your injuries to pursue a lawsuit, it is important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you are able. The earlier you make this first contact, the earlier your attorney will be able to begin assisting you through the process. Additionally, as memories fade and the accident scene will change, this early contact will be essential to preserving the most evidence possible.
- Focus on your recovery while your attorneys focus on your case: What is most important to everyone involved is that you get back on your feet as soon as possible. Your attorneys will work on your behalf to obtain a fair settlement and if one cannot be reached with your employer or other responsible parties, they will be prepared to fight for you in court.
If you are injured at your place of employment, feel free to contact the attorneys at Decof, Barry, Mega & Quinn, P.C. to discuss your case. We have decades of experience reaching successful results for injured persons and their families in a broad range of personal injury and premises liability cases, including workplace injuries.