Oregon Workplace Injury Attorney

If you've suffered an on-the-job injury, you may not be stuck in the workers' compensation system. Therefore, you owe it to yourself to explore other possible ways to be compensated for your workplace injury.

Chad Stavley is an Oregon workplace injury attorney who has been helping injured Oregonians since 2007. He's passionate about helping people and their families recover after being injured in the workplace. He offers free consultations so that you can learn whether you have a personal injury claim outside the workers' compensation system.

Call (503) 546-8812 now for a free consultation from an experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer.

Understanding The Difference Between A Workers Compensation Claim And The Civil Justice System

Workers' compensation laws were enacted to give certain guaranteed benefits to workers during a time of industrialization in the United States. This is sometimes referred to as the "grand bargain" part of workers' compensations laws, including Oregon's workers' compensation law.

Unfortunately, with serious injury cases, the guaranteed benefits available through the workers' compensation system are often completely inadequate. Injured workers are often stuck in the workers' compensation system, but they are not always stuck.   

Some workplace injuries allow a legal claim to be made just like any other personal injury claim. Claims not restricted to workers' compensation benefits are called third-party claims and include violations of Oregon's Employer Liability Law ("ELL").

Third-Party Claims For Injured Workers

Oregon workers generally gave up their right to sue their employer. They generally did not give up their right to sue third parties on a worksite. Many worksites have multiple companies working on the site. There are contractors and sub-contractors. It is crucial to explore the potential liability of non-employer parties. After a workplace accident, the injured worker is often pushed into the workers' compensation system, and nobody takes the time to explore potential third-party claims. You may even have an Oregon workers' compensation attorney already. But the attorney may not have explored your potential third-party claims or have experience with personal injury lawsuits.

For example, suppose an injured worker on a construction site was working for an electrical subcontractor, and the general contractor and a safety contractor were also working on the site. In that case, that injured worker may have a claim against one or both of those companies. If you've been injured on the job, you need to rule out the possibility of third-party claims before settling for the limited damages available through workers' compensation.

Oregon's Employer Liability Law

Oregon law is very protective of workers injured while performing dangerous work. Oregon has a good law that gives teeth to claims brought by injured workers in situations where they were involved in dangerous work, the non-employer and the employer were engaged in a common enterprise (working together), or the non-employer company had some control of or right to control the risk-producing activity or condition. In these situations, companies must use every device, care, and precaution practical for the safety of the workers regardless of the cost. That can become a very high burden for a non-employer third party to overcome.  

Get A Free Consultation

Chad Stavley has represented injured Oregon workers in accidents related to electrical subcontractors, temp agencies, tire-retreading, and construction. If you were injured on the job, you might have valuable claims that need to be evaluated. Give us a call.  

What To Expect From Your Free Consultation

First, Chad will want to know all of your workplace injury facts. He will ask questions about the workplace accident, any prior injuries, and whether you are currently receiving workers' compensation benefits. If you have workers compensation attorney, he will want to know about that law firm.

Chad will also want to know about the claims process as it relates to your workplace injury including the workers' compensation insurance company, accepted claims and denied claims.

Chad will want to know about your medical care and medical expenses. He will also want to know where you are getting medical treatment and if your medical appointments are ongoing. If your claim has been closed, Chad will want to know about the claim closure. Worker's compensation claims can have findings such as a permanent total disability, permanent partial disability, temporary partial disability, or temporary total disability.

Chad will also want to know about your hourly wages or average weekly wage to help calculate your lost wages.

Once Chad knows about your case, he will make sure you have plenty of time to ask questions you have so that we can determine together if your work-related injuries are compensable outside the Oregon workers' compensation system.