Isle of Wight County Industrial Accident Attorney

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were more than 60,200 accidents in Virginia private industries in 2017. More than half of these resulted in the injured victim missing work days, being transferred, or working with restrictions. The financial toll is considerable and can affect the entire family.

Fortunately, state law does provide you with rights if you were injured in an industrial accident. To learn more about what you can do, please contact Hampton Injury Law to schedule a free case evaluation today with an Isle of Wight County industrial accident attorney.

Virginia’s Workers’ Compensation Laws Protect Employees

Under Virginia law, any employer with two or more workers must carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect personnel in the event of an injury-causing accident. The current workers’ compensation system is a great improvement over the previous route for employees who were hurt in on-the-job incidents, which was to file a personal injury lawsuit. Today, you do not need to show that your employer was at fault, but you do need to meet the qualifications described below.

You should note that workers’ comp is often your sole remedy when you are hurt at work. The laws prohibit you from filing a civil lawsuit unless:

• Your employer does not carry the required workers’ compensation insurance;
• Intentional misconduct by your employer was the cause of your injuries; or,
• You were hurt because an unrelated party caused your injuries.

An Isle of Wight County Industrial Accident Attorney can Help with Eligibility

While fault is not a factor, there are strict rules under the workers’ compensation laws. To qualify for benefits:

• You must be a covered employee; and,
• Your employer must be one that is required to carry workers’ comp insurance, which is the case for any industrial employer that has two or more workers.

In addition, your medical condition must be one that you sustained in the workplace while performing job-related tasks. You may qualify if your injuries were caused by a specific activity, or if you were hurt due to a sudden event or accident.

Time Restrictions on Workers’ Comp Claims

Besides eligibility rules, there are certain deadlines and timing issues when filing a Virginia workers’ compensation claim. You must provide your employer with a written notice regarding your work-related injury within 30 days, including:

• The time and date of the incident;
• The location, with additional details if you were hurt at a site that is not your normal workplace;
• The details regarding the accident or circumstances that led to your injuries, being as specific as possible;
• The names and contact information for any witnesses; and,
• Any other details that pertain to your workers’ comp claim.

In addition, you should be aware of another deadline that may apply if your claim is not approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation claim. The law allows you two years from the date of the accident to file documents with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Reach Out to an Isle of Wight County Industrial Accident Attorney Today

If you were injured at work and want to know more about your legal options, please contact Hampton Injury Law to schedule a no-cost case evaluation with an Isle of Wight County industrial accident lawyer.