Have You Been Injured on the Job by a Tool or Equipment in Florida? An Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney Explains What You Need to Know

Have you been injured on the job by a tool or equipment and can’t return to work? Are you concerned about how you will pay your bills? After all, your family is counting on you, but you’re unsure how you will stay afloat due to your injury. If this is your situation, you don’t need to deal with these challenges alone.

At Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A., our workers’ compensation attorneys are dedicated to helping injured workers get the benefits to which they are entitled. We have years of experience navigating the complex workers’ compensation system and know how to get results. If you want more information about how we can help you, please contact us at (772) 461-9181(772) 461-9181 today to schedule your free consultation. We will go the extra mile and look forward to answering any questions you may have.

How Common Are Workplace Injuries Caused by a Tool or Equipment?

Unfortunately, workplace injuries are far too common. According to recent statistics, workplace injuries involving objects or equipment resulted in claims costing several billion dollars in 2021 as indicated by the following chart:

Cause	2021 Cost in Billions	Percentage of Injuries
Struck by object or equipment (being hit by objects)	$5.61	9.6%
Struck against object or equipment (colliding with objects)	$2.46	4.2%
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects (running equipment or machines)	$2.01	3.4%

If you were injured on the job by a tool or equipment, you have a workers’ compensation claim regardless of whether that tool or equipment malfunctioned. In Florida, the workers’ comp system is a no-fault system, so it doesn’t matter how your accident happened. You will be covered as long as you got injured on the job.

Types of Tools and Equipment Causing Injuries

• Belt sanders
• Bulldozers
• Cranes
• Defective conveyor belts
• Defective scaffolding or ladders
• Drills
• Dump trucks
• Factory machines
• Forklifts
• Jackhammers
• Nail guns
• Table saws
• Tractors

Types of Workplace Injuries Caused by Tools and Equipment

There are many different types of workplace injuries that tools and equipment can cause. Some of the most common include:

• Cuts and Lacerations: These can occur when an employee uses a knife or other sharp object to cut something and the knife slips. Cuts and lacerations can also occur when an employee is working with power tools such as saws, drills, or sanders, and they inadvertently come into contact with the blade or teeth of the tool.
• Burns: These often occur when an employee works with welding tools, soldering irons, or other hot objects. Burns can also occur from contact with chemicals such as acids or bases.
• Eye Injuries: These can happen when an employee works with power tools that produce flying debris, such as grinders or sanders. They can also occur from contact with caustic chemicals.
• Fractures: These usually happen when an employee falls from a height or has something heavy fall on them, but fractures can also occur from repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Amputations: These typically occur when an employee’s hand or fingers come into contact with a power tool such as a saw or drill. Amputations can also occur when an object falls on an employee’s hand or fingers.
• Sprains and Strains: These often happen when an employee incorrectly lifts something heavy or slips and falls. Sprains and strains can also occur from repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you have suffered any of these on-the-job injuries due to a tool or equipment, consult with a workers’ comp attorney without delay to ensure you receive the compensation you need to move ahead with your life.

File a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Tool or Equipment Injury in Florida

You must file a claim to receive compensation for your workplace injuries by informing your employer of your injuries within 30 days of the incident that caused the injury. If you do not file your claim within the specified deadlines, your claim may be reduced or denied entirely, leaving you without the necessary compensation.

When you file a claim with your employer, they must report it to their insurance company within seven days. Your employer will then refer you to a doctor. Except in cases of emergency medical treatment, Florida law allows your employer to choose the doctor. Your workers’ comp attorney can help you file your claim and answer any questions. In an article we wrote here, you can read how Florida’s workers’ compensation system works in more detail.

What If My Injury Was Caused by a Defective Tool or Equipment?

If your injury was caused by a defective tool or equipment, there might also be a personal injury or product liability lawsuit. Your workers’ comp attorney will want to look into that to see if you have other potential claims in addition to your workers’ comp claim.

At Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A., We Go the Extra Mile for Injured Workers

If you have been injured by a tool or equipment while working in Florida, it is crucial to understand your rights and options under the law. Workers’ compensation benefits may be available to help you cover medical expenses and lost wages, but the claims process can be complex. At Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A., we will go the extra mile for you in helping you navigate the system and get the compensation to which you are entitled.

Contact our office today at (772) 461-9181(772) 461-9181 for a free consultation with a member of our workers’ compensation attorney team. You can also fill out our online form here.

Copyright © 2022. Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A. All rights reserved.

The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
1645 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd #550
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(772) 461-9181(772) 461-9181
https://workerscompfl.net/

Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
7380 Sandlake Road, Suite 500
Orlando, FL 32819
(772) 461-9181(772) 461-9181
https://workerscompfl.net/

Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
110 E Broward Blvd #1700
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(772) 461-9181(772) 461-9181
https://workerscompfl.net/

Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
543 NW Lake Whitney Place, Suite 106
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 461-9181(772) 461-9181
https://workerscompfl.net/