Published on behalf of Pennsylvania workers who are injured in slip and fall accidents while on the job can suffer serious injuries and loss of wages. While workers’ compensation provides some benefits, pain and suffering damages are not recoverable under workers’ compensation. Instead, injured workers retain their tort rights, or the rights to sue any non-employer party or business which contributed to the happening of the accident. These rights extend to slip and fall or trip and fall accidents at work.
Related Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Article: Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law – Compensable Injury
Under Pennsylvania law, any person or business which commits negligence that causes harm to another individual is liable in tort. The injured individual can recover pain and suffering, medical bills and other financial losses like lost wages.
The following are two common workplace accident slip and fall or trip and fall scenarios in which the worker may have a viable tort claim:
1. Employee trips and falls in the parking lot on the way to the office
An employee who trips and falls or slips and falls while walking into the workplace may have a viable claim against non-employer entities. Especially in serious injury cases, it is important to have the case evaluated for all sources of liability. A common scenario involves uneven walkway surfaces or holes in the walkway or parking lot. In this scenario, an employee who is injured while walking into the workplace may have a tort claim against the following entities:
- building owner/operator,
- property management company, or
- parking lot owner/operator/management company.
2. Employee slips and falls in a building, while on the job
An employee who slips and falls while at the workplace may have a tort claim which is independent of a workers’ compensation claim. For example, a worker may slip and fall due to an accumulation of water on the floor of a walkway which is due to a leaking roof. Many large office complexes and industrial warehouses employ maintenance companies which perform building maintenance. So, in addition to the kinds of entities listed in the first example, maintenance companies could also bear liability.
Related Slip and Fall Accident Articles:
- Pennsylvania Sidewalk Accident Law – Local Government Liability
- Pennsylvania Sidewalk Accident Law – Defendants in a Sidewalk Accident Lawsuit
For more information, contact our Pennsylvania workplace accident slip and fall lawyers. Call 215.925.4451. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation.
The work injury and accident lawyers at Schwartz & Blackman handle cases in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area:
- PA: Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, Allentown, Lehigh Valley, Norristown, Philadelphia
- NJ: Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Camden, Cherry Hill, New Jersey shore cities
*This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is important to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Published: August 15, 2012