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 our Council Bluffs law office today.
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 can be considered dangerous for 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. Many workers accept only a fraction of what they should receive from workers’ compensation. If you have any questions or concerns about the workers’ compensation process, please do not hesitate to contact our office and our 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 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. 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 an experienced legal team that you can trust by your side. At the Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., our workers’ compensation lawyers work with respected medical experts to determine 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 fight to secure the full financial support you deserve. Give us a call now or connect with us directly online to arrange your free consultation. We represent injured workers from many different career fields and employers all across Iowa and Nebraska.
Have you or a loved one suffered an injury or illness because of workplace exposure to toxic fumes? Contact a lawyer from Gallner & Pattermann today to learn your legal options. We offer free consultations.
Workers are the backbone of our economy. Anyone who has been hurt while performing their job duties deserves comprehensive medical care and financial benefits. If your job caused or contributed to a medical condition that prevents you from working or makes it difficult to work, contact workers’ compensation attorney Laura L. Pattermann at Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., in Council Bluffs, Iowa for help.
Laura 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.
