Every employee deserves safe and fair conditions on the job. Unfortunately, work-related accidents and injuries remain a serious problem in Iowa, Nebraska, and throughout the country. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are approximately 2.7 million workplace injuries and illnesses each year. Workers’ compensation insurance covers employees who were injured in workplace accidents which arose out of and in the course of an individual’s employment and those who developed work-related illnesses or conditions.
At the Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., our Council Bluffs workplace injury attorneys are skilled, knowledgeable, and results-driven advocates for people hurt on the job. If you or your family member was injured in the workplace, we are here to help you navigate the complexities of the legal claims process. To schedule a free, no obligation initial consultation with an experienced workplace injury lawyer, please contact us at at our Council Bluffs law office today.
Injured workers should be prepared to take immediate action to protect their health, safety, well-being, and legal rights. Workers’ compensation claims and third parties are complicated. It is crucial that you take proactive steps to put yourself in the best position to navigate the claims process. Following an accident on the job, an injured worker should do the following:
Our firm takes on all types of work injury claims in Iowa and Nebraska. Regardless of how and why you were hurt, our workers’ comp and personal injury attorneys are ready to take action to protect your rights, help you find the best path forward and help you recover. Our law firm represents clients who have sustained a wide range of workplace injuries, including:
Such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis from performing the same motion repeatedly. We often see people with overuse injuries from repeated lifting or spending long hours keyboarding.
From asbestos to cancer-causing chemicals. These diseases can take decades to develop. But if your condition was caused by work-related exposure, workers’ compensation should cover your medical care.
To the point where you can no longer perform the duties of your job.
From injuries caused by repetitive motion, such as those involving lacerations
Including asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, reactive airway disease (RAD), asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and other pulmonary conditions and lung diseases.
Also known as complex regional pain syndrome.
From whiplash to herniated discs to spinal cord injuries.
Mental health issues that stemmed from a work-related injury.
Such as traumatic brain injuries and post-concussion syndrome.
Pain and discomfort from wear and tear in the hip joint can result in the need for serious medical intervention, such as hip replacement surgery.
Such as shoulder injuries, rotator cuff injuries, fusions, joint problems, amputations, as well as secondary problems such as peripheral nerve injuries.
With 5,333 workplace deaths in the United States in 2019 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a rise in fatalities in the workplace since 2008. In 2019, more than 2.8 million workers in the United States were injured on the job.
Manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, food services, construction, and retail trade are all industries that are considered dangerous to their employees. In fact, temporary workers face twice the risk of getting a severe workplace injury due to unsafe work sites and receiving less training before being assigned a high-risk task.
Workers’ comp laws are designed so that injured workers are able to access necessary medical care and financial support to help cover lost wages and earnings. Iowa workers’ compensation laws and Nebraska workers’ compensation laws both provide benefits to workers in a non-fault based system. A person injured in a workplace accident does not need to prove that their employer (or any other party) did something wrong to be eligible to recover benefits.
However, the workers’ comp claims process can sometimes prove to be difficult to navigate. Too many injured workers struggle to get access to the maximum benefits they rightfully deserve. If you have any questions or concerns about the workers’ compensation process, please do not hesitate to contact our Council Bluffs workers’ compensation attorney for assistance.
In Iowa and Nebraska, workers’ compensation is the exclusive legal remedy an injured employee has against their employer. In effect, this means that people who were hurt on the job generally cannot file a separate personal injury lawsuit against their employer. Instead, they need to pursue the workers’ comp benefits that are due to them under the relevant state law.
However, there is nothing stopping an injured worker from suing another party (non-employer) for a workplace accident. These types of cases are often referred to as third party liability claims. Our Council Bluffs third party liability work injury lawyers are skilled, experienced advocates for injured workers in Iowa and Nebraska. We can help you hold all negligent third parties – contractors, subcontractors, property owners, etc. – legally responsible for your accident.
Third party liability claims are different from workers’ comp claims in several important ways. To start, these are fault-based cases. You must prove that a third party was negligent, or did something wrong, in order to hold them legally liable. Another key difference is that you can recover additional damages through a third party liability workplace accident claim. For example, you may be entitled to financial compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages.
You Can File Both Types of Claims: Third party liability claims and workers’ compensation claims are not “either/or” legal cases. You should always file for workers’ comp benefits if you were hurt on the job in Council Bluffs or Omaha. You can also file a concurrent third party liability claim if your accident was caused by any negligent party other than your own employer. Call us to learn your options.
Workplace injury claims are complicated. You need a legal team that you can trust by your side. At the Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., our workers’ compensation lawyers works with respected medical experts to find out the full nature and extent of your injuries – even hard-to-prove injuries and conditions that do not always appear on x-rays or MRIs. We are ready to go above and beyond to protect your best interests. When you contact our Council Bluffs law office, you will have a chance to work with a workplace injury attorney who can:
At the Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., our Council Bluffs and Omaha workplace injury attorneys are devoted to protecting the rights of people hurt on the job. If you or your family member was hurt in a workplace accident, we will help you secure the full financial support you deserve. Give us a call now or connect with us directly online to arrange your free, fully private initial case review. With a law office in the Omaha metro, we are able to represent clients from all over Iowa & Nebraska.
Workers are the backbone of our economy. Anyone who has been hurt while working deserves comprehensive medical care and financial benefits. If your job caused or contributed to a medical condition that prevents you from working, you should contact workers’ compensation attorney Laura L. Pattermann at Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., in Council Bluffs, Iowa for help.
Laura, a top-rated workers’ compensation lawyer, has decades of experience representing injured workers in Iowa and Nebraska as part of our firm which has been representing injured workers since 1974. No matter the nature or severity of your injuries, attorney Laura Pattermann is prepared to review your case, answer your questions, and determine the proper course of action to get you the maximum recovery you deserve under the law.
