Workplace accidents can have devastating consequences, with severe burn injuries being one of the most debilitating outcomes. Colorado has witnessed its fair share of unfortunate incidents in recent years, many of which involve workplace explosions, especially in the oil and gas industry. When employees sustain severe burn injuries due to such explosions, workers’ compensation becomes critical for their physical, emotional, and financial recovery. If you have suffered a severe burn from a workplace explosion, contact a Colorado workers’ compensation lawyer to pursue compensation.

Legal Obligations

Employers have a legal duty under Colorado state law to provide a safe working environment for their employees. This includes following strict safety regulations, conducting regular inspections, and implementing necessary precautions to prevent workplace explosions. To protect employees injured in such accidents, workers’ compensation laws offer compensation for various reasons, emphasizing assisting injured parties from being overly burdened by the exorbitant cost of hospital stays, rehab, missing work, and more.

Workers’ Compensation Process

When severe burn injuries occur, the immediate focus is on receiving medical attention. Afterward, initiating the workers’ compensation process is crucial. It starts by reporting the incident promptly to the employer. Gathering evidence, such as photographs, medical records, and testimonies, is essential to support the claim. Consulting with a workers’ compensation attorney who handles burn injury cases can provide invaluable insight and guidance throughout the workers’ compensation process, ensuring rights are protected and maximum compensation is pursued.

Construction is a high-risk industry involving heavy equipment, dangerous tools, and hazardous materials. Workers on construction sites face various risks that can result in severe injuries and even death. Understanding the most common injuries on construction worksites is imperative for knowing what to look for when you are on the job. If you are a construction worker injured on a worksite, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney to get the process started.

Five Most Common Construction Site Injuries

Here are five common construction injuries, including:

• Falls – Falls are the most common type of construction worksite injury. This can include falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, or other elevated surfaces. Workers not provided with proper fall protection or not trained to use fall protection equipment are at a higher risk of sustaining a fall-related injury.
• Struck-by-accidents – These injuries occur when workers are hit by falling objects, moving vehicles, or other equipment. This can include being struck by a crane boom, a falling tool, or a vehicle on the worksite. Workers who are not provided with the proper personal protective equipment or not trained to recognize and avoid struck-by-hazards are at a higher risk of sustaining a struck-by injury.
• Electrocution – Electrocution is a very serious risk for workers who are working near power lines or electrical equipment. This can include being electrocuted by contact with live wires or being injured by an electrical arc or explosion. Workers who are not trained to recognize electrical hazards or who are not provided with the proper protective equipment are at a higher risk of sustaining an electrical injury.
• Caught-in/between accidents – These accidents can occur when workers are caught, crushed, or pinched between two objects. This can include being caught in machinery or crushed by a collapsing structure.
• Repetitive motion injuries – Repetitive motion injuries can affect many professions, yet construction workers are at greater risk than most other professions. They can include injuries to the hands, wrists, elbows, or shoulders and back injuries. In addition, workers who perform repetitive tasks without proper ergonomics or equipment are at a higher risk of sustaining a repetitive motion injury.

Contact a Fort Collins Workers’ Compensation Attorney

If you have been injured at work, you need to hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who will fight to protect your rights and secure the compensation you may be entitled to. Contact the knowledgeable Larimer County workers’ compensation lawyers with Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. for more information. Call 970-225-2190 for a free consultation.

Personal injury law and workers' compensation law are two types of law that deal with injuries caused by accidents. Although both types of law involve injuries, there are significant differences between the two. Today, we will discuss the essential differences between the two types of law. Remember, if you have suffered an injury, contact an attorney to ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process. If you are unsure what kind of attorney to call, this blog will provide that answer.

Personal Injury Law vs. Workers' Compensation Law

Personal injury law deals with injuries caused by another party's negligence or intentional actions. For example, suppose someone is injured in a car wreck because of someone else's reckless driving. In that case, the injured individual can file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash in order to seek compensation for their damages. Personal injury law also covers a wide range of accidents, including car crashes, slip-and-fall events, medical malpractice, and product liability.

Meanwhile, workers' compensation law deals with injuries that occur in the workplace. If an employee is injured on the job, they may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages. Workers' compensation law is a no-fault system, meaning that the injured employee does not need to prove fault or negligence on the employer's part to receive benefits. The employer's insurance company typically pays workers' compensation benefits.

Construction workers make up only about 6 percent of all U.S. laborers, but they are responsible for about 17 percent of all work-related fatalities, according to federal estimates. If you work in the construction industry, this statistic may not surprise you. Construction jobs may require workers to work in extreme conditions, often using very powerful equipment. Some of the most common construction site fatalities are caused by falling from heights, electrocution, and being struck by an object. If you or a loved one have suffered a severe injury in a construction site accident, a personal injury lawsuit may be the best way for you to receive full compensation.

Federal and State Laws Require a Certain Degree of Safety

Although construction work is dangerous, there are many steps that employers can take to keep workers as safe as possible. The responsibility for maintaining a reasonably safe worksite typically falls to the general contractor. The general contractor is also expected to hire workers who are capable of safely performing work tasks and to provide any training needed. Contractors should also ensure that equipment is functional and regularly maintained so that it does not present an avoidable risk to workers or bystanders.

All Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations should be followed. If a contractor fails to adequately follow safety protocols, the contractor or company overseeing the construction work may be liable for any injuries that result from the failure. In some construction site accidents, however, the fault does not lie with the contractor but instead with another party, such as the manufacturer of faulty construction equipment.  

The law in Colorado regarding which companies are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance and who is eligible to use it is relatively straightforward compared to some other states. Any company in Colorado that has at least one employee within the state is required to use the workers’ compensation program, meaning that there is generally no reason a worker in Colorado should not have access to these critical benefits when they are needed.

Workers’ compensation is an incredibly important program. No matter what line of work you are in, there is nearly always a chance that you will suffer an injury related to your career. Even white-collar employees who mainly sit behind a desk to perform their job duties may suffer an injury, whether due to a defective office chair or repetitive stress, as is the case with many who develop carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have been injured due to your work and are in need of workers’ compensation benefits, an attorney may be able to help you obtain the temporary or permanent benefits you need.

Who Is Considered an Employee for Workers’ Compensation Purposes?

Determining who is or is not an employee for the purposes of workers’ compensation benefits is generally, but not always, fairly straightforward. The rule in our state is that anyone who is paid by a company for work they perform is presumed to be an employee of the company issuing the paycheck. Employees are eligible for workers’ compensation whether they are full-time, part-time, or a family member of the business owner.