Workplace Accidents

A person who is injured on the job in Kentucky or Ohio potentially faces not only significant medical bills, but also has to deal with making up wages they lose during the time that they are unable to return to work. With few exceptions, all employees of public and private employers in Ohio and Kentucky are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

In Ohio, the attorneys at Steiden Law Offices represent employees injured by the intentional tort of an employer under R.C. § 2745.01. In those cases, an employer can be held liable for an intentional tort committed with the intent to injure the employee.

While the workers’ compensation system is designed to provide an easy way for employees to recover compensation for medical bills and lost wages without the need to file a lawsuit, the benefits provided often fail to meet the many needs of some injured workers. When an employee suffers a particularly serious injury that was caused by another party’s negligence, he or she may be entitled to compensation in addition to any workers’ compensation benefits.

Lawyer for Workplace Accidents in Cincinnati, Ohio

If you sustained a catastrophic injury or your loved one was killed in an accident on the job that was caused by another party’s negligence, it is in your best interest to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. Steiden Law Offices represents clients hurt in their workplaces on a contingency fee basis so you do not have to pay us one cent if we do not get you compensation.

Our Cincinnati personal injury attorneys help injured workers and their families in Hamilton County, Warren County, Butler County, and Clermont County in Ohio as well as Campbell County, Boone County, and Kenton County in Kentucky. We can provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case as soon as you call to take advantage of a free, no obligation consultation.

Workplace Accidents Information Center

• Where do most injuries on the job usually happen?
• Who else might be legally responsible for an accident beside an employer?
• Where can I find more information about workplace injuries in the Cincinnati area?

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Types of Southwestern Ohio Workplace Accidents

Accidents can occur in any workplace. The dangers of the job can be more apparent in certain fields, but some of the most severe injuries can sometimes happen in the least expected settings.

People can be hurt in a variety of ways at work, including slip and fall accidents, falls from heights, and falling object incidents. In certain industries, the use of heavy machinery can lead to injuries when the equipment fails or is improperly used by another worker.

Some of the most common workplace injuries include, but are not limited to:

• Auto accidents;

• Construction accidents;

• Industrial accidents;

• Office accidents;

• Retail store accidents; and

• Warehouse accidents.

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Liable Parties in Cincinnati Workplace Accidents

In the cases of some catastrophic injuries or egregious conduct, workplace injury victims may be able to file lawsuits against the negligent parties. While Ohio and Kentucky both have workers’ compensation systems, they have different laws regarding an employee’s ability to sue his or her employer or co-workers.

Ohio Revised Code § 2745.01 states that workers (or their dependent survivors) can bring actions against their employers for damages resulting from an intentional tort committed by the employer during the course of employment only if the worker proves that the employer “committed the tortious act with the intent to injure another or with the belief that the injury was substantially certain to occur.”

Most employees in Kentucky are prohibited from suing their employers, although they may be able to file lawsuits if they signed Notice of Rejection of Workers’ Compensation Act forms (more commonly known as Form 4 waivers) opting out of the workers’ compensation system.

Several accidents on the job may be the result of the negligence of another party that is not the employer. In such cases, workers’ compensation does not prevent an injured employee from pursuing legal action against that negligent party.

A few examples of possible negligent third parties in a workplace accident include, but are not limited to:

• Drivers of cars or trucks that cause auto accidents;

• Maintenance companies;

• Manufacturers of toxic substances;

• Manufacturers or sellers of defective tools or workplace equipment;

• Non-employer project managers or site supervisors;

• Property owners; or

• Vendors, contractors, or subcontractors.

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Workplace Accident Resources

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — OSHA is the United States Department of Labor agency responsible for the enforcement of safety and health legislation in the workplace. On this website, you can learn more about laws and regulations, find data and statistics, and file a health and safety complaint. OSHA has four area offices in Ohio, with the Cincinnati office overseeing southwestern Ohio.

State Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities — The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is another Department of Labor agency, but it is the principal fact-finding agency for the federal government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. On this section of the BLS website, you can find statistics relating to fatal occupational injuries in Ohio and Kentucky for each year between 2012 and 2014. You can also nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses data by industry for the same years in Kentucky.

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Finding a Workplace Accident Lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio

Did you suffer a serious injury or was your loved one killed on the job in an accident caused by the negligence of another party? You will want to immediately seek legal representation for help obtaining the compensation you need and deserve for all of your lost wages, medical bills, and other financial damages.

The Cincinnati personal injury attorneys of Steiden Law Offices represent clients in communities throughout Kenton County, Campbell County, and Boone County in Kentucky in addition to Clermont County, Hamilton County, Warren County, and Butler County in Ohio. Call or submit an online contact form today to receive a free consultation that will let our lawyers review your case and help you understand all of your legal options.

Call today.

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