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Fulfillment centers move fast, rely on heavy equipment, demand constant productivity, and pose significant risk to employees every day. When an accident happens, workers often feel unsure about their legal options. The good news is that you may be able to recover compensation for your workplace injury.
Common Hazards in Fulfillment Centers
Employees face regular hazards when working at fulfillment centers, largely due to the pace of work and reliance on heavy machinery. Some of the most common hazards include:
Equipment Malfunctions
Forklifts, conveyor belts, pallet jacks, and automated systems are all common aspects of daily operations and a fulfillment center. Mechanical failures or poor maintenance can easily lead to life-altering injuries like amputations or head trauma.
Inadequate Training
Employers have a legal obligation to effectively train workers to safely operate equipment and adhere to safety protocols. Inadequate training significantly increases the risk of collisions, falls, crush injuries, and repetitive stress injuries.
Unsafe Working Conditions
Crowded aisles, poor lighting, slippery floors, and unrealistic productivity demands create dangerous environments for workers. These conditions frequently cause slip-and-fall accidents, falls from heights, overexertion injuries, and accidents caused by fatigue.
Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Claims in Fulfillment Center Accidents
When a fulfillment center worker suffers injuries on the job, they typically have two legal avenues for receiving compensation: workers’ compensation benefits and third-party personal injury claims.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Most fulfillment center employees qualify for workers’ compensation benefits after a job-related injury. Mississippi workers’ compensation typically covers injuries that occur while performing work duties, regardless of fault. That means you do not need to prove negligence to receive benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits typically include:
- Medical expenses related to the injury
- Partial wage replacement during recovery
- Disability benefits for permanent impairments
- Vocational rehabilitation services
However, workers’ compensation does not pay for the personal impacts of the accident, such as mental anguish and emotional distress, nor does it offer the full amount of your lost income. These limitations often result in inadequate compensation for injured workers. To receive full compensation, many workers turn to third-party personal injury claims.
Third-Party Personal Injury Claims
Workers’ compensation insurance prevents employees from suing their employer after a workplace injury in exchange for workers’ comp benefits. However, if a negligent third party contributed to your injuries, you may have a valid personal injury claim against them. Unlike workers’ comp claims, compensation in third-party personal injury claims can include:
- Full lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
However, while workers’ compensation claims do not require proof of fault, third-party claims do. You must show that a party other than your employer’s negligence caused or contributed to your injuries. Potentially liable third parties include:
- Equipment manufacturers
- Maintenance companies
- Independent contractors
- Property owners or managers
An experienced North Mississippi personal injury attorney can investigate your claim to determine whether a negligent third party caused you harm. If you have a valid third-party claim, your attorney can pursue full compensation from them on your behalf.
How Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims Work Together
An injured worker may pursue both a workers’ compensation and a third-party claim at the same time. Workers’ compensation typically pays medical bills and partial lost wage benefits first, but you may be ordered to reimburse those benefits after a successful personal injury claim. Regardless, the combined claims often result in substantially higher total compensation.
Contact a North Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you’ve suffered injuries in a fulfillment center accident, the team at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman can help. Whether you’re seeking workers’ compensation benefits, pursuing a third-party personal injury claim, or both, we can lead you through the entire process from initial filing to final resolution and help you fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation.
