Virginia Machinery Accident Lawyers Stand Up for Injured Workers
Experienced representation for injuries from heavy machinery
Heavy machinery makes mass production possible, thereby reducing the per item cost of consumer products and raising the standard of living for all of society. Heavy equipment also enables construction on a grand scale, so ambitious building projects can be accomplished quickly and cost-effectively. But there are risks to operating industrial equipment, and too often workers fall victim to malfunctions that can seriously injure the human body. If you’ve been hurt in a heavy equipment accident in Virginia or Washington, D.C., the accident attorneys at Pikrallidas & Probasco in Fairfax can help you obtain the financial compensation you deserve.
Common heavy equipment used in Virginia industries
Industries in Virginia depend on a wide range of mechanical equipment. In construction alone, this equipment includes cranes, forklifts, bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, hydraulic mining shovels, pavers and industrial trucks. Equipment used in mass production includes hydraulic presses, compactors, mixers, shredders, conveyors, grinders, drills and borers. Any of this machinery can cause catastrophic or fatal injury if it malfunctions or if it used without observing proper safety measures.
Causes of heavy machinery accidents
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists contact with objects and equipment as the third leading cause of work-related death, the second leading cause of days on restricted activity and the third leading cause of days away from work entirely. In these “contact” cases, part of a worker’s body is squeezed, pinched, compressed or crushed in equipment, between shifting objects, between stationary objects or in a wire or rope.
The reasons for such accidents include:
- Operator error
- Inadequate training or lack of safety protocols
- Poor equipment maintenance and/or mechanical failure
- Operation without regard for hazards, such as uneven terrain or weather conditions
- Failure to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
In 2020, there were 196,140 injuries due to contact with objects and equipment that were so severe, workers needed time away from the job.
Severe injuries from heavy machinery accidents
Industrial machinery has the potential to maim or kill a person who comes into unsafe contact with it. Severe injuries often include:
- Loss of limb
- Severe bone fractures and crush injuries
- Concussion and traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord trauma and paralysis
Heavy equipment injuries often lead to permanent disability claims, which employers’ insurance companies are resistant to paying.
Immediate steps to take after a heavy machinery accident
If you sustain an injury in a heavy equipment accident, you must seek immediate medical treatment. You should also alert your employer as soon as possible to maintain eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. You might also have a personal injury claim against a third party. For this reason, you should document the accident scene with cellphone photos and collect identifying information from potential witnesses.
Employers’ responsibility for a safe workplace
Employers have a legal duty to ensure proper training and certification for machine operators, regular maintenance and inspection of machinery and provision of necessary safety equipment while enforcing safety protocols. Violations might serve as evidence of an employer’s willful disregard for safety, which could overcome the workers’ compensation bar to suit.
Potential third-party claims for industrial machinery accidents
Workers’ compensation bars an injured worker from suing an employer or coworker for negligence in a heavy equipment accident. However, if the accident resulted from an equipment malfunction or defect, or if the equipment was operated by a separate contractor, the worker could have grounds for a third-party liability lawsuit. Our attorneys will investigate your accident to uncover facts that determine whether a lawsuit is permissible and if so will vigorously pursue your claim.
Contact our Virginia attorneys for a free equipment accident consultation
Pikrallidas & Probasco in Fairfax represents victims of heavy equipment accidents in Virginia and Washington, D.C. If you have been hurt on the job, we can pursue your claims for workers’ compensation and possibly for compensation from a third party. Call us at 703-267-2600 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.
