As you may know, working in a warehouse is dangerous for many reasons. After sustaining an injury as a result of working in a warehouse, it is reasonable to consider who may be liable for your losses. Here’s what you need to know:
Workers’ Compensation for a Warehouse Accident
If you’ve suffered injuries as a result of working in a warehouse, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. Your ability to do so will largely depend on your employment status. If you are an employee, you will most likely file a workers’ compensation claim.
However, if you are an independent contractor or an employee of another company outside the warehouse boundary, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the warehouse for negligence.
Warehouse Liability
According to the Uniform Commercial Code § 7-204, so long as you are not an employee of the facility, a warehouse may be held liable for your injuries if it failed to “exercise care with regard to the goods that a reasonably careful person would exercise under similar circumstances.”
However, it is important to note a warehouse may not be held liable for your losses if you could have avoided the injury by exercising the care that a reasonable person would under similar circumstances.
Regardless, if you are working in a warehouse, the facility is expected to keep the premises safe for your use so that you can conduct your work without the fear of suffering an injury.
Compensation for a Warehouse Accident
If you are an employee of the warehouse, your workers’ compensation claim should cover all of the medical and other expenses needed to help you recover from your work-related injury.
However, if you are an independent contractor or an employee of another company, a personal injury lawsuit may be able to provide you with compensation to help cover the following:
- Medical expenses, including:
- Emergency room visits,
- Hospital care,
- Time with doctors and therapists,
- Pharmaceutical drugs, and
- Other costs associated with your care.
- Physical pain and mental trauma.
- Lost wages or income.
- Punitive damages intended to punish the warehouse for its wrongdoing.
- Other legal damages that apply to your situation.
Common Warehouse Accidents that Cause Injuries
Warehouse worker injuries are commonly caused as a result of these types of accidents:
- Forklift mishaps,
- Overexertion damage,
- Slips/trips and falls,
- Commercial truck accidents,
- Loading dock issues,
- Getting struck by an object, and
- Being stuck between objects.
When a warehouse fails to provide you with a safe working environment and you are hurt as a result, it should be held responsible for its negligence.
You have a right to expect the warehouse you work in to be safe and free from hazards.
However, if you are an injured employee, you are likely able to file a workers’ compensation claim for damages regardless of who is at fault for the accident that caused your injuries.
We Can Help Injured Warehouse Workers
If you’ve suffered injuries through no fault of your own while working in a warehouse, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Our team has helped many others in similar situations recover the compensation they deserved, and we will do everything we can to help you recover the compensation you deserve too.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our office right away if you have any questions about our firm or the legal process in general. We want to do everything in our power to provide you with the guidance you need for your case to succeed.
Contact the skilled team at Rancaño & Rancaño, APLC today by calling (916) 884-6554 or by filling out the online contact form with the details of your case to learn more about how we can help you.
