SALEM WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS LAWYER

We Handle Worksite &
Industrial Accident Claims in
Salem and Throughout Oregon

Salem has many key industries including advanced manufacturing and technology, agriculture and food processing, and transportation and distribution. While these industries are crucial for Salem’s economy, the people who work in these industries often become injured. And when this happens, workers deserve compensation for their medical bills, lost income, and in some cases, even more.

If you have been hurt while on the job, our workplace accident lawyers at Johnston Law Firm want to hear about your case. Although we are a Portland-based firm, we serve clients in Salem, Marion County, and throughout all of Oregon.

Contact our Salem industrial workplace accident attorneys or call us at (503) 546-3167 today to learn more about your legal options and schedule a free consultation.

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How Our Attorneys Can Help With Your Salem Industrial Workplace Accident Claim

Industrial workplace accidents can leave workers facing serious injuries, lengthy recoveries, and uncertainty about their financial future. Whether you were injured in a manufacturing facility, warehouse, construction site, or another industrial setting, determining your legal options can be complicated. At Johnston Law Firm, Marc A. Johnston and our legal team can investigate your accident, assess potential claims against negligent third parties, and help you pursue compensation while you focus on your recovery.

When you work with our Salem industrial workplace accident lawyers, we can:

• Investigate your workplace accident to identify unsafe conditions, equipment failures, and potential negligence.
• Identify negligent parties, such as contractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, and other potentially liable third parties.
• Gather incident reports, safety inspection records, witness statements, photographs, and other critical evidence.
• Examine potential violations of OSHA regulations and applicable Oregon workplace safety requirements.
• Evaluate potential third-party injury claims alongside your available workers’ compensation benefits and rights.
• Work with medical specialists and industry experts to establish liability and document injuries.
• Calculate medical expenses, lost earnings, future treatment needs, and other accident-related financial losses.
• Handle insurance negotiations and challenge attempts to unfairly deny liability or minimize compensation.
• Prepare your case for litigation when negotiations fail to produce a fair resolution.

We understand how a serious industrial accident can affect your health, livelihood, and family’s financial security. That’s why we take the time to understand your circumstances, explain your legal options, and develop an approach tailored to your needs. Although our firm is based in Portland, we represent injured workers in Salem, throughout Marion County, and across Oregon, helping them navigate complex injury claims and pursue accountability from responsible parties.

Common Types of Industrial Workplace Accidents We Serve in Salem, OR

Industrial work is some of the most dangerous there is. Accidents happen frequently, and they occur in many different ways. Some of the most common types of accidents in industrial workplaces include:

• Substance accidents, such as toxic chemicals
• Burn and explosion accidents
• Electrocutions
• Accidents involving defective products, such as equipment
• Truck accidents
• Falls from heights

After being involved in any type of industrial workplace accident, it is critical to speak to an attorney who can advise on how to move forward to claim the compensation you are entitled to.

• Falls in holes
• Road construction accidents
• Falling object accidents
• Catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death

Workers’ Compensation After an Industrial Workplace Accident in Salem

The vast majority of employers in Salem, and throughout Oregon, are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation holds many benefits for injured workers. The first is that workers can receive these benefits fairly quickly, as long as they notify their employer of the injury as soon as possible. After the employer’s insurance company receives authorization from the worker’s doctor, injured employees can receive benefits in just 14 days. Compared to the months or even years a personal injury claim could take, workers’ comp benefits are received very quickly. The other benefit of the no-fault system is that it is no-fault. This means that even if an employee caused or contributed to the accident, they can still claim full no-fault benefits. This is unlike civil lawsuits, in which the person pursuing damages must prove another person was at fault for their injuries.

In exchange for the many benefits the workers’ compensation system holds for injured workers, there is one caveat. Employees are generally barred from filing a lawsuit against their employer after a workplace accident, even if the employer was negligent and caused the accident. For any other questions, contact our Salem workers compensation lawyer today!

Third-Party Claims After a Salem Industrial Workplace Accident

In most situations, workers’ compensation is the only recourse injured employees have to claim benefits. In some instances, though, employees can file a third-party injury claim against the negligent party that caused their injuries. A third party is someone who is not connected to the employer and does not work for them. If you have been hurt, some instances in which you can file a third party claim are as follows:

A third-party claim is a personal injury claim and so, they do take longer than workers’ compensation claims. However, a third-party claim will also have some benefits over workers’ comp. For example, within a third party claim, you can receive damages for pain and suffering, which are not available in workers’ compensation claims.

• You were hurt by a hazardous condition on the premises and need to file a third-party injury claim against the property owner
• You were hurt by a defective piece of equipment on the premises and need to file a third party injury claim against the manufacturer
• A third party, such as the driver of a vehicle, injured you while you were on the job
• You were injured by a toxic substance and need to file a toxic tort claim against the manufacturer of the toxic substance

Employer Liability Law in Salem

If you were hurt on the job by another employer on your job site, you are protected under Oregon’s Employer Liability Law. Also known as the ELL, this piece of legislation requires employers to use every and any measure available to protect the “life and limb” of employees no matter the cost. Employers must comply with this law any time an employee or employees are involved in risky or dangerous work.

The safety requirement stipulated by the Employer Liability Law places a heavier duty on third-party employers than the ordinary standard of negligence. The law also gives you the right as an employee to show any evidence that the employer had fixed the dangerous condition that caused your injury after the accident occurred. This important evidence can show that while it was possible for the employer to take other measures to protect life and limb, they did not.
You must also prove certain elements of your case when filing a claim under the Employer Liability Law. You must prove the third party employer was in business with your employer, and that they had control, or had the right to control, the manner in which you worked.

Compensation We Can Help You Recover After a Salem Workplace Accident

Workers’ compensation benefits may be available for any industrial workplace injury you or someone you love has sustained. Unfortunately, these benefits are not always enough to cover all of your losses.

Our workplace accident lawyers will review your case free of charge and establish the full damages you are eligible for, which may include:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings, if you cannot return to the same line of work in the future
• Rehabilitation
• Pain and suffering
• Long-term care