An accident at a South Louisiana oil refinery or other industrial setting can be catastrophic. Fires, explosions, chemical leaks, and truck crashes can leave employees unable to work and in need of expensive medical treatment. Under Louisiana law, if you are injured on the job, you are covered by your employer’s workers’ comp insurance. However, this may not be enough to cover your true losses. It is possible that someone else is at least partially responsible for the accident and could be liable for compensating you. We explain how third-party liability claims work in Louisiana.
Industrial Worksites Are Busy Places
There may be hundreds of workers on a construction site or in a factory or oil refinery. While many are employed by the owner of the site, others are contractors, suppliers, and delivery people who are employed by outside companies. If the negligence of one of these outsiders causes an accident that injures a worker, that individual and their employer may be liable for the damages. However, these are difficult claims to win. It must first be established that the third party owed a duty of care to the injured worker and somehow failed in that duty. It must also be proven that it was that breach of duty that directly caused the worker’s injuries. Our experienced personal injury attorneys understand how to prove this information and will work hard to establish the events leading up to the accident and will hold the liable party responsible.
Product Liability Claims
Another possible source of a third-party claim is a product liability lawsuit. If a worker is injured by a tool, forklift, machinery, or other equipment because of a flawed design or defective part, the designer, manufacturer, or supplier of the equipment could be liable for damages. These are also difficult claims to prove and an injured worker will need an experienced attorney on their side from the beginning.
Rusty Bianca Will Handle All Aspects of Your Claim
In most cases, an industrial work accident results in a workers’ compensation claim. When you work with the legal team at Bianca | Matkins, we will not only make sure your workers’ comp claim is handled fairly and efficiently by your employer, but we will investigate to determine if you also have a third-party claim. You deserve to collect all of the compensation to which you are entitled when you are injured at work in South Louisiana. Contact Bianca | Matkins for a free case review as soon as possible.
