Workplace Slips, Trips & Falls and Workers’ Comp

If you’ve ever been seriously hurt in the workplace, you know how scary it can be and how that injury can change your entire life. Being injured on the job can lead to lost wages, long-term disability and even death if not handled properly.

Each year in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of workers are injured in slip-and-fall accidents at work. According to the National Safety Council, 805 workers died in 2020 from work-related falls and another 211,640 workers sustained injuries from falls that were severe enough to make them miss work.

I slipped and fell at work. What should I do?

What to do after a slip-and-fall accident at work in Alabama

If you’re injured at work in Alabama, it’s essential that you take the following steps to ensure you receive compensation for your injuries.

Seek medical attention

Injuries sustained during work can have long-term consequences. It’s important to visit a doctor if you fall at work, even if it doesn’t initially seem like you’re injured. Injuries often don’t show up until days or weeks after an accident, and any delay in seeking medical attention could reduce your ability to get compensated.

Make sure you tell the doctor any details you remember about the incident, including the time and location it occurred. It’s essential to have medical documentation linking your injury to your workplace accident, so never delay seeking medical treatment after any workplace injury.

Report the accident

After you receive the appropriate medical care, the next step is to report your accident to your employer immediately. Alabama law generally requires employees to notify their employer of a workplace injury within 5 days of their accident, with few exceptions. Any delay in reporting the incident could hurt your chance at compensation.

Document everything

It’s crucial that you document everything you experience after an accident. Keep meticulous notes and take pictures of any bodily injuries, such as bruises or cuts, that may be relevant. If possible, make a note of any accident details, such as how much weight you were carrying, what height you fell from, or any hazards that were present at the time of the incident.

If there were any witnesses present at the time of your injury, see if they’re willing to make a statement that can support your account of the incident and write down any details they provide. Any information you can gather early on in the process may later prove useful to your case.

Follow medical advice

Make sure that you follow all orders from your doctor, including any activity restrictions. Failure to adhere to the restrictions ordered by your doctor could worsen your injury and compromise your ability to receive full compensation.

Contact an attorney

If you suffer an injury on the job, it’s always best to contact an attorney who specializes in workers’ compensation law to help you understand your rights. If your injuries are severe and require any ongoing medical care, an experienced workers’ comp attorney can help estimate the costs of future medical treatments, surgeries and medications so you can receive the necessary compensation to fully heal from your injuries.

How to get workers’ compensation benefits after a slip-and-fall injury in Alabama

If you sustain an injury on the job in Alabama, you will likely be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. In order to be eligible for these benefits, you must be able to prove that the injury occurred due to an accident arising out of and in the course of employment. That’s 1 of the reasons it’s essential to seek medical care immediately following an injury.

For questions about how you can apply for workers’ compensation benefits and an estimate of how much compensation you may be entitled to for your injury, contact an experienced workers’ comp attorney who can help you with the claims process.

Types of workers’ comp benefits available after a work injury in Alabama

Workers’ compensation benefits in Alabama include reimbursement for:

• Medical costs, including doctor’s visits, medication, physical and occupational therapy, diagnostic tests and medical devices.
• Lost wages due to temporary or permanent disability. This amount is generally two-thirds of your average weekly wage for a specific number of weeks, depending on the type of disability:
  • Death—500 weeks
  • Permanent total disability—Unlimited
  • Permanent partial disability—300 weeks
  • Temporary total disability—Unlimited
  • Temporary partial disability—300 weeks
• Burial expenses up to $6,500

What if my workers’ comp claim is denied

If your Alabama workers’ comp claim is denied, it will be necessary to file a lawsuit to appeal this decision. You’ll need to file all required paperwork within a designated period of time in order to be eligible for compensation.

In Alabama, the statute of limitations to file a workers’ comp claim is 2 years from the date of your injury or 2 years from the date of your last compensation payment. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this time frame, you’ll be forever barred from receiving any type of compensation.

When to contact an Alabama workers’ compensation attorney

Alabama workers’ compensation cases can be complicated. The goal of any insurance company is to pay out as little as possible, so you should never accept any settlement offer without 1st contacting an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can explain your rights. Your attorney can give you an estimate of what your case may be worth based on other cases involving similar injuries so you can make an informed decision.

At Nomberg Law Firm, we’ve been fighting for the rights of injured Alabama workers against insurance companies and corporations for more than 50 years. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys can explain your rights, investigate your case and negotiate with the insurance company so you can focus on getting better.