New Jersey Machinery Accident Lawyer

Machinery accidents often stem from poor safety and improper maintenance on worksites. Heavy machinery can lead to crushing injuries, amputations, and severe trauma when it strikes workers or catches them between moving parts or equipment.

A New Jersey machinery accident lawyer from our firm can conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of your accident and identify all potentially liable parties, including employers, manufacturers, or other contractors. Our personal injury attorneys can advocate for your interests and negotiate for a fair settlement with the insurance company.

How Does Liability Work in Machinery Accidents?

Common causes of machinery accidents include equipment malfunctions, improper maintenance, operator error, and lack of proper safety measures. Accidents often involve machinery like cranes, bulldozers, and forklifts, which can strike workers, catch them between the machinery and other objects, or cause the workers to fall from heights. Employers are generally liable for workplace injuries through workers’ compensation insurance.

If a party’s negligence caused the accident, such as if they poorly maintained equipment, provided inadequate training, or violated safety regulations, a third-party claim may be possible. For example, a subcontractor who failed to properly maintain equipment or a coworker who operated machinery unsafely could be liable for compensation in a subsequent personal injury claim. If the machinery involved in the accident was defective due to design flaws, manufacturing errors, or inadequate warnings, the manufacturer can be liable.

While workers’ compensation benefits operate on a no-fault system, identifying negligence is key in any third-party personal injury claim. This involves proving that someone had a duty of care, breached it, and directly caused the accident and resulting injuries through that breach. If you have been injured in a machinery accident in New Jersey, consult with an attorney today to determine all potentially liable parties and explore your legal options.

Commonly Reported Injuries and Recoverable Damages From Machinery Accidents

Machinery accidents can lead to life-altering injuries. These can include:

• Crush injuries resulting from moving machinery catching body parts
• Traumatic amputations due to contact with moving machinery
• Deep cuts and lacerations from sharp edges and moving components
• Broken bones
• Brain injuries and long-term brain damage from severe impacts
• Spinal cord injuries, which can cause paralysis and other serious complications
• Grave burn injuries resulting from contact with hot surfaces or machinery parts

If machinery injures a worker at work due to a third party’s negligence, they can pursue both workers’ compensation benefits and a third-party lawsuit simultaneously. Workers’ compensation provides benefits for medical expenses, lost wages—typically 70% of the worker’s average weekly wage—and permanent disabilities.

Unlike workers’ compensation, third-party claims can allow recovery for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and potentially punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. There is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, meaning a third-party lawsuit must be filed within two years of the accident.

It is essential to consult with an attorney experienced with both workers’ compensation and third-party claims in New Jersey to understand your path to financial recovery after a machinery accident.

Contact a New Jersey Machinery Accident Attorney

A New Jersey machinery accident lawyer from our firm can interview witnesses and gather evidence to determine what sources of compensation may be available. If the injury occurred at work, our attorneys can help you navigate the workers’ compensation system to ensure that you receive proper benefits.

Additionally, if a third party’s negligence or a defective product caused the injury, we can file a lawsuit to seek damages beyond what workers’ compensation provides. Contact our legal team today to request your free consultation and learn how to pursue the compensation you need.