Heavy machinery powers nearly every major industry in East Tennessee, from construction sites to manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and farms. Workers who operate or work near this equipment face severe risks when accidents occur. If you were hurt in a heavy machinery accident on the job, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical care, lost income, and long-term losses tied to your injuries with the help of a workers’ compensation lawyer in Knoxville.
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Types of Injuries Linked to Heavy Machinery Accidents
Most heavy machinery incidents trace back to a handful of recurring causes: insufficient training, missing or disabled safety guards, poor maintenance, fatigue, equipment malfunction, and pressure to work faster than conditions allow. Sometimes the equipment itself is defective from the manufacturer. Other times, a coworker’s mistake or a supervisor’s decision to skip protocol creates the hazard.
Whatever the trigger, the resulting injuries tend to be severe:
- Crush injuries
- Traumatic amputations
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Severe burns from hydraulic fluid, electrical contact, or fires
- Traumatic brain injuries from falls or impacts
- Internal organ damage
- Multiple bone fractures
- Lacerations requiring reconstructive surgery
- Vision or hearing loss
Pursuing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Tennessee
If you were involved in a heavy machinery accident while performing your job duties, Tennessee’s workers’ compensation system is generally the first avenue for recovering benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the incident. A successful claim should cover your authorized medical treatment, a portion of your lost wages, and benefits for any permanent disabilities you sustained.
To pursue a workers’ compensation claim, report the injury to your employer in writing within 15 days. Your employer will then complete the First Report of Injury Form (Form C-20) and submit it to their workers’ comp insurance company. Then, the company will issue a decision within 15 days of receiving the form.
When a Third Party May Owe You Compensation After an Accident
In some cases, someone else’s negligence is responsible for the heavy machinery accident. Tennessee law generally bars you from suing your own employer when workers’ compensation applies, but you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit if a third party is responsible.
Potentially liable parties include:
- The manufacturer of defective equipment or component parts
- A maintenance or repair company that serviced the machinery improperly
- A subcontractor or another contractor on a multi-employer jobsite
- The property owner where the accident took place
- A vendor or supplier that provided faulty replacement parts
- An equipment rental company that leased out unsafe machinery
You can recover compensation for the full value of your damages after a heavy machinery accident. This includes all of your past and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, and the physical and emotional pain and suffering you endured.
Seriously Injured on the Job in Knoxville? Let’s Review Your Options
When you are injured by a piece of heavy machinery, you need an advocate willing to pursue every source of compensation available. A Knoxville personal injury attorney at the Lawyers of Brown & Roberto will examine your accident, identify who should be held accountable, and fight for the recovery you need to move forward.
Contact us today for a free, confidential case review with our Knoxville work injury attorneys.