Lansing Workplace Accident Lawyer

Workers who drive as part of their job, including delivery drivers, truck drivers, sales representatives, and field technicians, face significant risks on Michigan roads. When these workers are injured in vehicle accidents during work hours, they’re typically covered by workers’ compensation. However, if another driver caused the accident, you may also have a personal injury claim against that driver. Transportation accidents can result in severe injuries including brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death. We investigate every transportation accident thoroughly to identify all liable parties and maximize your recovery.

Manufacturing facilities, factories, and warehouses throughout Lansing rely on heavy machinery and equipment. When these machines malfunction or lack proper safety guards, workers can suffer devastating injuries including amputations, crush injuries, and severe lacerations. Machine accidents often involve product liability claims against manufacturers or equipment suppliers in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. Our work accident attorney Lansing team works with engineering experts to determine whether defective design, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings contributed to your injury.

Industrial fires and explosions can cause catastrophic burn injuries, respiratory damage, and traumatic injuries. These accidents often result from gas leaks, chemical reactions, electrical malfunctions, or improper storage of flammable materials. If your employer failed to maintain proper fire suppression systems, conduct required safety inspections, or provide adequate training, additional claims beyond workers’ compensation may be available. Fires and explosions frequently involve multiple liable parties, including property owners, maintenance companies, and equipment manufacturers.

Long-term or acute exposure to toxic chemicals, asbestos, industrial solvents, or other hazardous substances can cause serious illnesses including respiratory disease, chemical burns, neurological damage, and cancer. These cases are particularly complex because symptoms may not appear until years after exposure. Michigan law provides specific protections for workers exposed to hazardous substances, and employers must follow strict safety protocols. When they don’t, we hold them accountable.

Electricians, construction workers, and maintenance personnel face risks from electrical shock and electrocution. Electrical accidents can cause brain injury, cardiac arrest, severe burns, and death. These cases often involve third-party liability claims against electrical contractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers who failed to properly de-energize systems, provide adequate warnings, or maintain safe work environments.

Not all workplace injuries happen in a single traumatic moment. Overexertion injuries from heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, as well as repetitive stress injuries from performing the same motions repeatedly, are extremely common in Lansing workplaces. These injuries include back injuries, herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis. While these claims typically proceed through workers’ compensation, we ensure you receive appropriate medical treatment and compensation for permanent limitations.

Workers in construction, warehousing, and retail environments risk serious injury from falling objects. When tools, equipment, or materials fall from heights, they can cause traumatic brain injury, neck and back injuries, and wrongful death. These accidents often result from inadequate securing of materials, failure to establish safe work zones, or violations of OSHA regulations.

Crush injuries occur when part of a worker’s body is caught between two objects or compressed by heavy machinery or falling materials. These devastating injuries often result in amputations, permanent disability, and complex medical treatment. Crush injury cases require immediate legal action to preserve evidence and identify all responsible parties.

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common workplace injuries, occurring in virtually every industry. Wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, cluttered walkways, and icy parking lots all contribute to these accidents. While slip and falls may seem minor, they can cause serious injuries including broken bones, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries. Our Lansing workplace accident attorney team investigates whether proper maintenance, warnings, and safety protocols were in place.

Large-scale industrial accidents in manufacturing plants, refineries, and construction sites can injure multiple workers simultaneously. These catastrophic events often involve multiple violations of safety regulations and may warrant litigation beyond the workers’ compensation system. We coordinate with safety experts and investigators to build comprehensive cases that hold all negligent parties accountable.

We begin with a thorough consultation where we listen to your story, review your medical records and accident reports, and explain your legal options. This consultation is completely free and confidential.

Our team immediately begins investigating your accident. We visit the accident scene when possible, interview witnesses, obtain surveillance footage, review safety inspection reports, and consult with medical and engineering experts to build a strong case.

We handle all the paperwork and filing deadlines for your workers’ compensation claim. If third-party liability exists, we simultaneously pursue personal injury claims against negligent parties. This dual approach maximizes your potential recovery.

Insurance companies often try to minimize workplace accident claims. We negotiate aggressively with insurers and employers to secure full compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If negotiations don’t produce a fair settlement, we’re fully prepared to take your case to court. Our trial experience in Ingham County Circuit Court and other mid-Michigan venues demonstrates our commitment to fighting for you at every level.

We remain available to answer questions, address concerns, and adapt our strategy as your medical treatment progresses. Your recovery is our priority.

Michigan’s workers’ compensation system provides several types of benefits:

• Medical Benefits: Full coverage for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your workplace injury, including doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and medical equipment.
• Wage Loss Benefits: Partial wage replacement while you’re unable to work, typically calculated at 80% of your after-tax average weekly wage, subject to state maximum limits.
• Vocational Rehabilitation: If you cannot return to your previous job, workers’ compensation may cover retraining costs to help you enter a new occupation.
• Permanent Disability Benefits: Compensation for lasting impairments that affect your ability to work or quality of life, calculated based on the severity and location of your injury.
• Death Benefits: If a workplace accident results in wrongful death, surviving family members may receive death benefits and compensation for funeral expenses.

When someone other than your employer caused or contributed to your workplace accident, you may file a personal injury lawsuit seeking additional compensation. Third parties might include:

• Negligent drivers in car accidents or truck accidents
• Equipment manufacturers who produced defective machinery
• Property owners who failed to maintain safe premises
• Contractors or subcontractors whose negligence caused injury
• Delivery companies or vendors

Third-party claims can provide compensation not available through workers’ compensation, including:

• Pain and Suffering: Monetary compensation for physical pain and emotional distress
• Full Lost Wages: Complete wage replacement rather than the partial benefits workers’ compensation provides
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation when injuries prevent you from participating in activities you previously enjoyed
• Punitive Damages: In cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct

Michigan’s Workers’ Disability Compensation Act provides that workers’ compensation is typically the exclusive remedy against your employer for workplace injuries. This means you generally cannot sue your employer for additional damages beyond workers’ compensation benefits, even if their negligence caused your accident. This “exclusive remedy” rule exists because workers’ compensation provides guaranteed benefits without requiring proof of fault.

Important exceptions allow additional claims in specific circumstances:

• Intentional Tort Exception: If your employer intentionally injured you or had actual knowledge that an injury was certain to occur and willfully disregarded that knowledge, you may sue for additional damages.
• Third-Party Liability: You can always pursue claims against parties other than your direct employer who caused or contributed to your accident.
• Co-employee Liability: In limited situations involving intentional misconduct, you may have claims against individual co-workers.

Michigan law imposes strict deadlines for workplace injury claims:

• Notice to Employer: Under MCL 418.381, you must notify your employer of a workplace injury within 90 days of the accident or within 90 days of when you knew or should have known the injury was work-related. Failure to provide this notice can result in losing your right to benefits entirely.
• Workers’ Compensation Claim: You must file a workers’ compensation claim within two years of the injury or within two years of the last payment of benefits.
• Third-Party Personal Injury Claim: If pursuing a lawsuit against a third party, Michigan’s general statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of injury to file.

Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim, which is why immediate consultation with a Lansing work accident lawyer is critical.

MIOSHA enforces workplace safety standards throughout Michigan. Employers must comply with MIOSHA regulations covering everything from fall protection to hazardous chemical handling. MIOSHA violations can strengthen your workplace accident claim by demonstrating employer negligence. Our attorneys review MIOSHA inspection reports and citation histories when investigating your case.

If you receive workers’ compensation benefits and also recover compensation through a third-party lawsuit, Michigan law requires coordination to prevent double recovery for the same losses. Under MCL 418.827, your employer’s workers’ compensation carrier has a statutory right to a lien for reimbursement from your third-party settlement or judgment. We negotiate these liens to maximize your net recovery.

Monument Legal works on a contingency fee basis for workplace accident cases. This means you pay no upfront fees and no out-of-pocket costs.

We only collect attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation for you, and our fee is a percentage of your recovery. Workers’ compensation attorney fees are separately regulated by statute. This arrangement ensures everyone can access quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation. Your initial consultation is always free, and we’ll explain our fee structure clearly before you decide to hire us.

Michigan law requires you to notify your employer of a workplace injury within 90 days of the accident under MCL 418.381.

You must file your workers’ compensation claim within two years of the injury. If you’re pursuing a third-party personal injury lawsuit, you generally have three years from the date of injury. However, earlier action is always better, evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurance companies use delays against you.

Contact a work accident attorney in Lansing immediately after your injury to protect your rights and ensure you meet all deadlines.

The value of your case depends on multiple factors including the severity of your injuries, the amount of your medical expenses, your lost wages, whether you have permanent disabilities, and whether third-party liability exists.

Workers’ compensation claims follow specific formulas based on your wages and medical costs. Third-party personal injury claims may be worth significantly more because they include compensation for pain and suffering. Most workplace accident cases in mid-Michigan settle for amounts ranging from several thousand dollars for minor injuries to hundreds of thousands or even millions for catastrophic injuries.

We provide honest case evaluations during your free consultation based on the specific facts of your situation.

Simple workers’ compensation claims where benefits are not disputed often resolve within a few months. More complex cases involving disputed injuries, permanent disabilities, or third-party claims typically take 12 to 18 months to settle. Cases that go to trial may take two years or longer.

The timeline depends on the severity of your injuries, how long your medical treatment continues, whether your employer disputes your claim, and whether negotiations produce fair settlement offers. We work efficiently to resolve your case as quickly as possible while ensuring you receive maximum compensation. Contact us today to discuss your specific situation.

While Michigan law doesn’t require you to hire an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim, having legal representation significantly increases your chances of receiving full benefits and substantially higher compensation.

Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize claims, and employers often dispute benefits or pressure injured workers to return before they’ve fully healed. An attorney knows how to calculate the true value of your claim, identify all available compensation sources including third-party liability, negotiate with experienced insurance adjusters, and take your case to trial if necessary. Studies consistently show that represented workers receive higher compensation than those who navigate the system alone.

In most cases, Michigan’s workers’ compensation system is your exclusive remedy against your employer, meaning you cannot sue them for additional damages beyond workers’ compensation benefits.

However, important exceptions exist. If your employer intentionally injured you or had actual knowledge that injury was certain and willfully disregarded that knowledge, you may have an intentional tort claim. Additionally, you can always pursue claims against third parties other than your employer who caused or contributed to your accident, such as equipment manufacturers, property owners, or negligent contractors.

Our Lansing workplace accident lawyers thoroughly investigate every case to identify all potential claims and compensation sources.

Michigan law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

If your employer failed to obtain required coverage, you may file a claim with the Michigan Workers’ Compensation Agency, which administers a special fund to compensate employees of uninsured employers. Additionally, you may be able to sue your uninsured employer directly in civil court for damages, which is not permitted when employers carry proper insurance. This is a complex area of law requiring immediate legal attention.

Contact our office right away if you discover your employer lacks workers’ compensation coverage.

Michigan law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who file workers’ compensation claims. It’s illegal for your employer to fire you, demote you, reduce your hours, or take other adverse actions because you reported a workplace injury or filed for benefits.

If you believe you’ve experienced retaliation, you may have additional claims against your employer beyond your workers’ compensation case. However, workers’ compensation does not guarantee your job will be waiting if you cannot perform your duties even after maximum medical improvement. We help protect your employment rights throughout the claims process.

First, seek medical attention immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries.

Report the accident to your supervisor or employer as soon as possible. Michigan law requires notice within 90 days, but immediate reporting is best. Document everything: take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any hazardous conditions; get names and contact information for witnesses; and keep copies of all medical records and accident reports. Do not sign any statements or settlement agreements without consulting an attorney.

Then contact Monument Legal for a free consultation. Early legal guidance protects your rights and strengthens your case.

Yes, in specific circumstances. Workers’ compensation is your exclusive remedy against your employer, but if a third party’s negligence caused or contributed to your workplace accident, you can pursue both workers’ compensation benefits and a personal injury lawsuit against that third party.

For example, if you were injured in a car accident while working, you would receive workers’ compensation from your employer and could also sue the negligent driver. If defective equipment caused your injury, you might have a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

We identify and pursue all available compensation sources to maximize your recovery.