Learn to Reduce Your Risk of  Injuries at Work

Accidents and work-related injuries happen. As much as we try to avoid them, that isn’t always possible. It’s easy to break our toes on the side of a table or bed, or burn our fingers while cooking. We can’t avoid injury completely, but we can work to reduce our risk of getting injured. Always remember if you injured after calling 911, you should always call a personal injury attorney.

This is especially important when we’re in the workplace. Though some jobs are more dangerous than others, every job has an occupational hazard of some kind. And with workplace injuries being costly to both the employee and the employer, avoiding them is beneficial to both parties. Injury is unavoidable, but we can work to avoid them from happening at work. So here are some ways to help reduce risks of any injuries at work occuring. 

Want to learn more about safety requirements on the job in Florida, visit Health and safety in Florida 

Tips for the Employer

As the employer, work safety and injury prevention starts with you. As the one in charge, it is your responsibility to ensure that each employee is properly trained, has the proper protective equipment needed for their position and that all machinery is working optimally. If just one of these components isn’t up to par, then the other components won’t function as well. As an employer, you should always hire an attorney if you have any doubt or questions. 

So as the employer, here are some ways to help your employees minimize any injuries at work.

There is no need to get injured in the workplace, but accidents do happen   When these accidents occur contact The Law Offices of Scott J Senft, the best personal injury attorney  in all of South Florida

1. Proper training: Especially in jobs that require the use of heavy and dangerous machinery, it is important to ensure that each employee is properly trained in each machine. Knowing how to properly operate a piece of equipment could be the difference-maker in preventing machine-related injuries at work.
2. Proper Equipment & Safety Gear: In dangerous jobs like construction, having the right tools and gear can help prevent workplace injuries. If you’re working in construction, make sure every employee has a hard hat, bright-colored vest, safety glasses, and any other protective equipment they need to stay safe. Keep extras of everything in sight for the client who comes through to inspect your work or for the employee who might have forgotten a piece of gear one day. Having extra gear on hand can potentially save you hundreds of dollars in workman’s compensation.
3. Reinforce Safety Rules: It’s really easy to get lax with safety regulations if no injuries have occurred on the job. So if someone isn’t wearing their safety gear one day, you might overlook it. But by overlooking it that one time, it could become a common practice among your employees, which could then lead to them disregarding safety rules altogether. If that happens and a worker is injured on the job, they can file a claim against you for workplace negligence. This can lead to many repercussions, all of which could have been avoided had the rules been followed from the start!
4. Hiring & Position Placement: There are times where you might be short-staffed and need to hire new employees as quickly as possible. During this frantic time, it’s easy to overlook a few details when hiring someone, but doing that could lead to injured workers. If the position requires a certain physique or the ability to lift at least 50lbs, hiring someone who doesn’t meet those requirements could lead to them eventually being injured. Not having enough employees is a difficult situation to be in, but you face that possibility again if you hire someone who is not right for the job.
5. Refresher Courses: When an employee has been working at the company for a long time, they are likely to forget rules and regulations that aren’t an everyday concern. By having a refresher course covering everything, your employees will have everything fresh in their minds, preventing injury from occurring. Depending on how your work year is set up, you can try to do this course every quarter or every six months.

Tips for the Employee

As an employee, work safety should be a high priority for you. Your safety and the safety of your customers should be a task on your everyday to-do list for work. Though it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure you’re probably trained and properly equipped, it is your responsibility to report anything that isn’t working properly or up to code. It also your job to report if any other employees aren’t following procedure or are engaging in dangerous conduct to help reduce any injuries at work.

So as the employee, here are some ways to help your fellow co-workers and customers avoid injury. Let’s help both employees and employees learn how to reduce the risk of injuries while at work.

1. Easily visible signs: When stores are having giant sales, they have bright signs with a bold font in easily visible places. They do this so potential customers will walk by, see the sign, and then come into the store to make a purchase. Doing the same thing for potential hazards such as remodeling construction, bare wires or a wet floor can help prevent injuries.
2. Keep an Eye Out for Potential Hazards: If you work in a busy and fast-paced environment, it’s not easy to keep an eye on the entire store. This means you might potentially miss out on an apple juice spill from a tantrum-throwing toddler, a tethering stack of boxes, or another potential hazard. If you work in retail and you’re out on the floor helping customers, keep an eye out for those hazards and take care of them as quickly as possible. If need be, put up a temporary sign to block off an area until the issue is resolved.
3. Keep Your Workspace in Order: Having a tidy workspace can make a huge difference. By having a clean workspace you avoid accidentally slicing your hand open on a sharp tool or knocking over something that might fall on your foot, arm, or someone else. By taking a few minutes to put things in order, you are preventing a bigger and potentially costly mess from happening.
4. Be Mindful of Your Health: If you’re a hard worker or someone who really loves their job, it’s easy to overlook any small aches or pains you might experience, or ignore a runny nose and a cough. Coming to work with an injury or illness can cause bigger problems down the road. An injured or ill employee won’t be working at their optimal level, meaning details will get overlooked, rules won’t be followed as closely, and other issues will arise. So if you’re not feeling well, take a sick day. If you’re experiencing pain, make an appointment with your doctor to discover the cause. By taking a day or two to focus on your health, you avoid aggravating an injury to a point where you can’t work for a while and you avoid becoming sicker and making your co-workers sick as well.
5. Be Mindful of Your Actions: As you get to know your co-workers, a friendly rapport will start to build. This will lead to conversation, a few inside jokes, and maybe even a practical joke or two. While having fun at work can help keep morale up, especially during stressful times, it all needs to be done thoughtfully. You can joke with your fellow co-workers, but keep it verbal and don’t start playfully pushing or punching either other, especially in dangerous and high traffic areas. If you see a puddle of water on the floor, don’t try to be clever and slide through it to make a coworker laugh. Always use your best judgment before acting.

Job injuries happen, there really is no way to fully avoid them. But by lowering the risks of serious injuries that result in needing to file a worker’s compensation claim and needing time to recover, you can make your job a safer place for everyone.No one wants to have to call a law firm, but we are here just in case. Our law firm focuses on personal injury auto accident cases, but check out some of the other services we off to our clients in South Florida

If you have been a victim of a work-related injury, you may want to contact a lawyer. If your injury was due to negligence or your employer asking you to engage in a dangerous task you are not trained for, you may also have a personal injury claim you can make. If you are in need of legal advice and representation, then contact Scott Senft today!

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The thought of getting injured or dying haunts everyone, especially when you have a family to think about. Injuries and death lead to medical and funeral expenses, both of which can be costly without the aid of medical and life insurance. And when you think about the emotional turmoil these injuries can cause your loved ones, it’s heartbreaking.

But if you or a loved one has been a victim of a personal injury or wrongful death, you are most likely entitled to some monetary compensation. Though the money cannot bring back your health or loved one, it can help make some of the financial burdens easier to handle. But if the case of filing a claim in the event of a death caused by an injury, how do you know which claim is the right one to file? Keep reading to find out!

What is a Wrongful Death?

According to Florida’s Wrongful Death Statute (786.16-786.26), wrongful death is a death caused by another’s intentional, reckless or negligent conduct. A wrongful death claim is a civil claim brought on behalf of someone who died as a result of such conduct.

This Florida Law allows for the financial burden to be placed on the person(s) responsible for the death of the family’s loved one and not on the grieving family.  During all wrongful death cases in Florida, there will be a specific time of death which the personal injury attorney will use during their investigation to help you and your family get the compensation that you deserve after such a horrible tragedy.

When Can a Wrongful Death Claim be Filed?

There are many situations in which a wrongful death claim can be filed. These claims are most commonly filed against hospitals, companies, and other parties whose negligent conduct resulted in your loved one’s death. Sometimes these claims can even be filed against an individual(s) whose misconduct resulted in a death.

Here are some situations where a wrongful death case and claim may be opened:

Car accident fatalities involving negligence- If a family member dies from car accident injuries, a wrongful death claim may be brought against the individual who caused the accident. These are most common with drivers operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

Medical malpractice that results in death- If a doctor or hospital improperly diagnosed a condition or was negligent in the level of care needed, then the family may bring a wrongful death action against the doctor or hospital.

Intentional death of the victim- The OJ Simpson case is an example of this.

What is a Personal Injury?

A personal injury is caused when someone suffers harm from an accident or injury, and another person is legally responsible for that harm. Some examples of potential personal injuries are:

• Assault
• Car accidents and collisions
• Road traffic accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents

When Can a Personal Injury Claim be Filed?

Deciding to file a personal injury claim isn’t as easy as deciding to file a wrongful death claim. For one thing, there are a lot more factors to consider when pursuing a personal injury case. Some factors to consider are the levels of pain and suffering and how many punitive damages there are in any South Florida accident case. You have to first figure out whether you’re covered by your insurance company’s policy or the insurance policy of the person responsible for your injuries. If you aren’t, then you may decide to proceed to the next step- engaging an attorney. Depending on where you live and where the accident occurred you will want to obtain personal representation from a South Florida personal injury attorney like Scott J Senft.

An attorney will be able to discuss your case with you to see if you have one. Talking with a personal injury lawyer allows you to discuss the merits of your case and have your legal options outlined. Initial consultations with most personal injury attorneys or lawyers are free, meaning you don’t have to worry about a fee until you hire them. Every attorney is different, so do some research on attorneys in your area before consulting with one.

Then, finally, you have to decide whether it’s worth it to file a lawsuit or not. There are several ways to go about this, so if you decide to go through with it, discuss which option is the best with your attorney or lawyer. During this process, keep in mind the statute of limitations for personal injuries in your state. With a set amount of time in a place to file a lawsuit, it’s crucial you abide it and understand your time frame.

I am located in South Florida and I have been involved in an auto accident?

Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Broward County, and Palm Beach County are known to have some of the highest injury statistics after an auto accident.  Without the representation of a top South Florida accident attorney, it is likely that any personal injury case will not be successful.  Do not make the mistake of trying to represent yourself after an auto accident or other injuries such as a slip and fall.

How Are These Two Similar?

The biggest similarity between the two is that they heavily impact the lives of the victim and their loved ones. Personal injuries and wrongful deaths are costly in several ways. With the physical and emotional health of all parties being compromised, it can put a huge strain on a person and their loved ones. Then, with the expense of medical bills and possibly even a funeral, it becomes a huge emotional strain as well. One can lead to the other, meaning these two are closely linked.

The most important thing to remember before pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit or a personal injury lawsuit is that you need solid evidence to back up your claim. The stronger your evidence, the more likely you are to win your case.

So if you believe you or someone you love has a case, call Scott Senft at 877-291-4878 and get your free personal injury consultation today.

Florida tort law involves civil wrongs that permit claims for personal injuries or property damage. The law might award compensation for a tort in the form of money damages or injunctive relief. A tort can be an intentional act, a negligent act or a failure to act. Tort law does not provide for fines or the imprisonment of the person who committed the tort.

Intentional torts

These involve deliberate conduct that is designed to result in consequences that are harmful to people and/or their property. Examples of intentional torts include but are not limited to:

• An assault causing the imminent apprehension of bodily harm
• A battery involving harmful or offensive contact with somebody’s body
• Trespass on the land of another
• Conversion of the property of another

Recovering damages for intentional torts

Nearly all insurance companies exclude coverage for intentional torts. Victims have to look directly to the person for compensation for damages. Compensation can be awarded in cases involving intentional torts, but collecting those damages might be difficult since there is usually no insurance company standing behind the person who committed the intentional tort.

Negligent torts

The overwhelming majority of tort cases that actually involve awards for damages and collection of damages involve the law of negligence. Negligence involves careless conduct as opposed to deliberate conduct. The elements of negligence are:

• A duty of care
• Breach of that duty
• Causation connecting breach of duty and the damages claimed
• Proof of legally compensable damages

These elements usually involve a careless act or a failure to act. Failure to prove any single element of negligence will cause the case to fail in its entirety. Common negligence cases undertaken by the Law Offices of Scott Jay Senft involve motor vehicle crashes like rear-end collisions caused by distracted driving. Under Florida law, distracted driving is careless and not intentional.

Collecting damages in negligence cases

Most negligence cases handled by the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Scott Jay Senft involve occurrences like motor vehicle collisions, premises conditions or professional negligence. In Mr. Senft’s experience, nearly all individuals who injure somebody else through a negligent act or omission have some type of available insurance coverage. If they are not directly insured, other insurance might be available. When coverage applies, damages are collected through settlement or awarded in a trial. Of course, the amount of collectable damages is different in each case.

Scott Jay Senft is a highly experienced Florida attorney with offices in Dania Beach, Orlando, Naples and Jacksonville. His practice includes personal injury law. He is experienced, compassionate, aggressive and highly respected by both judges and other attorneys. If you or somebody close to you was injured by the intentional or negligent conduct of somebody else anywhere in Florida, contact the Law Offices of Scott Jay Senft at 877-291-HURT for a free consultation and case evaluation. People injured through the fault of others deserve fair and just compensation.