Warehouse Accident Attorney in Greensboro, NC
Working in a warehouse can expose workers to hazards such as falling products, dangerous machinery, and collisions with motorized equipment. If you’ve been hurt on the job in a warehouse, let an experienced attorney from Ward Black Law help you navigate the claims process.
Contact us today for a free initial case review with a warehouse accident lawyer in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Warehouse Accident Statistics in North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly 90,000 work-related accidents occurred in the warehousing industry in the U.S. in just one recent year. These cases include 76,600 cases involving either days missed from work, job restrictions, or transfers to alternative positions.
The BLS further reports that the private transportation and warehousing sector in North Carolina experienced 36 workplace fatalities in one recent year, an increase of 16 from the previous year. These warehouse accident statistics highlight the dangers that workers face on the job.
Common Types and Causes of Warehouse Accidents in Greensboro
Warehouses have many hazards that can lead to devastating accidents for workers. A few examples of common types of warehouse accidents include:
- Forklift warehouse accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Trip-and-fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Falling object accidents
- Shelving and scaffolding accidents
- Machinery entanglement accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Overexertion and heavy lifting accidents
Warehouse accidents often occur due to careless actions by co-workers or supervisors or negligent maintenance by warehouse operators. Some of the top causes of warehouse accidents include:
- Negligent forklift operation, such as speeding, not keeping a lookout, overloading, or operating without training
- Improper stacking and storing of inventory, such as loading heavy objects on top instead of on the bottom
- Negligent construction of shelving equipment
- Improper or deferred maintenance of equipment
- Failure to include safety equipment on machinery, such as guards and tag-out/lock-out systems
- Failure to separate workers from motorized vehicles and machinery
- Poor safety culture or failure to enforce safety procedures
- Lack of personal protective equipment, such as hardhats and eye protection
A workplace accident in a warehouse can lead to serious injuries such as:
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles
- Internal organ damage
- Knee injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated spinal discs
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Amputations
- Crush injuries
As a result, injured warehouse workers need experienced legal counsel to help them explore their options for obtaining financial recovery for medical expenses and lost income.
Potential Types of Warehouse Accident Claims for Compensation
Depending on the circumstances of a workplace accident, an injured worker may have several options for pursuing compensation. Covered workers hurt in workplace accidents in Greensboro can file workers’ compensation claims with their employer, regardless of fault for the accident. Under the North Carolina workers’ compensation system, an injured worker may recover workers’ compensation benefits that include the following:
- Medical benefits that pay for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for a work-related injury
- Lost wage benefits that partially reimburse workers for lost income due to missed work or reduced earnings caused by injury-related medical restrictions
- Permanent disability benefits that provide financial payments for permanent impairment or loss of body parts or bodily functions
In most cases, injured warehouse workers cannot file lawsuits against their employers, even when the employers are at fault for causing the injuries. However, when someone other than an employer or co-worker is to blame for an accident, an injured employee can file a personal injury claim against that third party.
For example, a sorting equipment manufacturer may bear liability in a third-party injury claim for an accident due to a design or manufacturing defect in their machinery. As another example of a potential third-party claim, a truck driver from a shipping company may bear responsibility for a warehouse accident if they hit a worker while backing up to the loading dock.
When a third party causes a warehouse accident, an injured victim could pursue a personal injury claim against the third party to seek financial compensation that includes money for:
- Medical bills for treatment and rehabilitation
- Costs of long-term disability care
- Total value of lost wages and other income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
The Role of a Greensboro Warehouse Accident Lawyer
An experienced Greensboro warehouse accident lawyer from Ward Black Law can help you through the claims available after getting hurt. For example, when you have a workers’ compensation claim, our lawyers can help you report your injury to your employer and file a notice of claim with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Our attorneys can advocate for your rights and interests during formal workers’ compensation claim proceedings if your employer denies, undervalues, or delays your benefits claims.
When you have a third-party personal injury claim, our warehouse injury attorneys can investigate your case to recover evidence, identify liable parties, document your ongoing and future losses, and vigorously pursue maximum compensation for you through a negotiated settlement or by filing a lawsuit and taking your case to trial, if necessary.
Why Choose Ward Black Law for Your Warehouse Injury Case?
Were you hurt in a warehouse accident in Greensboro? For over 30 years, injured people in positions like yours have turned to the experienced legal team at Ward Black Law because:
- We treat every client like family. Our staff, many of whom have worked here for over 20 years, offer caring, compassionate, and conscientious service. We will thoroughly explain your legal rights and tailor our service to your needs, goals, and concerns.
- We use the latest technology. Our firm leverages cutting-edge systems to improve our client service and case management.
- We know how to win complicated cases. Our attorneys regularly handle complex cases against sophisticated, well-financed corporations. We take pride in leveling the playing field for the “Davids” standing up to the “Goliaths.”
- We work on a contingency basis. That means our clients pay nothing upfront. Instead, our firm gets paid only if we recover compensation for our clients.
Contact Ward Black Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a warehouse accident attorney in Greensboro, NC. Let’s demand the compensation you need to put your life back together.