Spending your days working with heavy machinery on a construction site, at a factory, at a warehouse, or elsewhere can be rewarding; however, there are substantial risks. When accidents involving table saws, forklifts, cranes, pavers, and other types of equipment happen, South Carolina’s work injury laws empower people to file a claim to seek compensation. When you are in this situation, you may find relief in partnering with a knowledgeable machine injury lawyer who can support and guide you through the lengthy legal process.
Consider contacting a machine injury lawyer at Williams & Roche, LLC. Our South Carolina team has decades of valuable, hands-on experience working on all sides of the workers’ compensation claims process. Our advocates regularly give back to the communities they serve and have held multiple leadership positions in the workers’ compensation and legal spaces.
Types of Machinery-Related Accidents and Injuries
As explained by the National Safety Council, contact with objects and equipment is a leading cause of death and severe injury at the workplace. In the 2021-2022 reporting period, the NSC states that there were 780,690 cases where workers had to stay home, were placed on restricted duty, or had to transfer to another department because of injuries involving equipment or objects. Employees who are hurt in these situations may experience wounds ranging from cuts and electrocution to brain injuries and amputation.
Cuts and lacerations
When you are working at a manufacturing plant, the potential for you to get cut or bruised by machinery and parts is relatively high. For example, you may knick your arm on a jagged piece of metal or fall on your elbow, scraping it on a bench during the fall. Minor cuts and lacerations may be superficial and heal on their own. That said, deep cuts may require stitches and antibiotics to fully recover and fight off infections.
Electrocution
As the Occupational Health and Safety Administration cautions, electricity is incredibly dangerous, and many workers are not fully aware of the risks involved at their workplace. In the construction sector, in particular, there is a high potential for employees to get electrocuted. The types of losses someone may experience if they are struck by electricity include rhabdomyolysis, burns, nerve damage, and seizures.
Crushing injuries
Getting struck by or caught in between objects or machinery is a leading cause of workplace injuries and death. When an employee is hit by heavy construction equipment, the crushing force may shatter multiple bones in their body.
Brain injuries from lost loads
Workers may be struck on their heads when unsecured objects—such as lumber, steel, or cargo—break loose and hit them. For example, a construction worker who is walking around a house may be hit in the head by a power tool that falls from the roof.
Limb loss
People in work-related industrial machine accidents may include the loss of fingers, toes, feet, arms, or legs during the incident or because of it. For example, an improperly made guard on a roller machine may allow a worker’s hand to get pulled in. As a result, the worker may lose a finger, fingertip, or entire hand in the incident.
What Should Employers Do To Prevent Accidents With Industrial Machinery?
The Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration has a host of regulations employers need to follow to help limit the likelihood of someone getting hurt by industrial machinery. For example, the employer should make sure to have functioning guards on heavy equipment. Table saws, for example, should have a guard cover that prevents someone from getting cut while using the machine. In some cases, there should be a mechanism that prevents the machine from turning on unless the guard is attached and functional.
What if My Employer Blames Me for a Machinery-Related Injury?
South Carolina law allows workers to recoup their losses if they are hurt in, for example, machinery accidents while on the job. In many cases, the employee can receive benefits regardless of whether they or anyone else is at fault.
The exception to this rule is if the worker intentionally harmed themselves — i.e., if they purposely got hurt so they could get workers’ compensation or time off. Additionally, if the employee was drunk or under the influence of drugs and this caused the accident, they may not be able to receive benefits. If you got hurt while at work and your employer is blaming you for what happened, contacting a machine injury lawyer may be in your best interest. They can carefully review the evidence and applicable law in your case to see what benefits you may be entitled to and how to claim those. They can also brainstorm strategies for how to respond to efforts your employer may be making to try to discredit your claim.
Why Choose Williams & Roche?
Dozens of injured workers have trusted the team at Williams & Roche, LLC, to fight for them in their time of need. Our firm has a high level of respect for those who sacrifice their bodies and time to provide for themselves and their families. With over 50 years of combined experience in the workers’ compensation arena, we have a vast amount of knowledge and tips we can use to your advantage.
Past clients praise our ability to provide an “outstanding” level of service to them in their hour of need. Many say they would recommend our services to anyone who needs an attorney in South Carolina.
Contact a Machine Injury Lawyer at Our Firm Today
Getting crushed, struck by, or caught in heavy machinery while at work can be a devastating experience, setting you back for days, months, or even years to come. While filing a workers’ comp claim cannot put you back in the position you were in before the incident occurred, it can go a long way toward connecting you with the financial support you need to make ends meet.
Contact a machine injury attorney in South Carolina today by calling 803.784.0503 to set up an initial consultation. The Williams & Roche, LLC, team truly cares about your troubles, and we hope to be able to create an effective strategy that helps you find the relief you are looking for.
