One thing that characterizes the vast majority of workplace injuries that they are accidental. If you experience one, it will often be something like straining your back while lifting, burning your hand, or falling. Other injuries, such as workplace violence, are deliberate. In these situations, a personal is assaulted while they are working. Given the complex nature of these types of incidents, it is best to hire a St. Louis work injury lawyer if you ever experience an workplace injury. Below, we explain why they happen, what types of compensation you can obtain, and some prevention tips.
Why it Happens
There are three primary sources of workplace violence. The first is people from your personal life, who can approach you at work to settle private disagreements. Second, you could get into a fight with your coworkers. Workplaces can be very stressful, and sometimes people get into serious disputes with coworkers. This occasionally results in violence. Lastly, you might be negotiating with an exceptionally irate customer. If they get angry enough, they may resort to violence.
Can I Use Workers’ Compensation?
Whether or not you can use workers’ compensation often depends on the circumstances surrounding your injury. Below, we list an example of when you can use it and when you can’t.
Example #1: You get into a personal argument with your friend on a Friday night. Saturday morning, they decide to come into your workplace and escalate that argument into physical violence. You sustain an injury from the confrontation. In this scenario, the cause of the incident originated outside of work, so your workers’ compensation claim will likely be denied.
Example #2: You are working at a restaurant, and a customer is unhappy with their food. They ask for a refund, which you refuse. They become furious and end up assaulting and injuring you. In this case, the reason for your injury was work related, and you may have a strong workers’ compensation claim.
What are My Other Options?
If workers’ compensation cannot cover your damages, you could pursue a personal injury lawsuit. This kind of case is more complicated than workers’ compensation, but it allows you more freedom and higher compensation potential. A experienced attorney can help you understand if you should file a personal injury lawsuit.
Prevention Tips
Sometimes, you won’t be able to prevent this type of violence. Other times, you can stop an incident before it happens by refusing to escalate. To do this, stay calm and polite throughout your interactions with customers and coworkers. Additionally, if a situation gets out of control, you can talk to a superior instead of trying to handle it yourself.
Hopefully, you will never have to go through the harrowing experience of being assaulted. Not only can it cause physical damage, but it can leave emotional scars for years to come. If this ever does happen to you, and if it happens at work, speak with a St. Louis workers compensation lawyer at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. We can help answer you questions and help you determine what compensation you may be entitled to. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4300
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