Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
All We Do is Injury Law
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Factory/Industrial Accidents
Personal injuries and wrongful death in factory and industrial accidents can arise from a wide variety of circumstances, including sudden movement or falling equipment, toxic fumes, explosions, electrical shock just to name a few. Under workers compensation laws in most states, an employee is not permitted to bring a personal injury or wrongful death suit against their own employer (some states have very limited exceptions which are not discussed here). However, our law firm has 100 years of combined lawyer experience in knowing how to determine whether a person or company besides a worker's own employer can be held legally responsible/liable for causing a worker's personal injury.
In other words, lawyers refer to a claim against a party besides one’s own employer, as a “third-party” action, with the third-party being a different company besides your own employer. This is an exception to the normal rule that you cannot sue over an on the job (workers compensation) injury. For example you cannot sue your own employer if you hurt your back lifting a box-this is strictly a claim under workers compensation law. However, if there is an explosion in your place of business and the explosion occurs because of a third party's defective product or malfunctioning piece of equipment-that is not something built or controlled by your own employer. Such circumstances that would be an example of a possible third-party action for negligence against a third-party- separate from your own employer. Our law firm has successfully pursued third party actions arising from workplace accidents.
Under most state laws, if you do receive workers compensation wage or medical benefits, these benefits must be paid back out of any third-party action against a negligent or careless third party but this is not a major obstacle. Some of these complexities can be explained by our personal injury lawyers if you contact us for a free confidential consultation about your factory or industrial accident claim.
Electrical shock, burns and electrocution accidents
When construction, electrical work or renovation activities are ongoing, unfortunate accidents such as electrocution, electrical shock, electrical fires, explosions and burn injuries can occur and many times these accidents are caused by a third party's negligence, carelessness or violation of a regulation. Again, workers compensation laws prohibit lawsuits against one's own employer, but if a third party that is not directly part of a construction project or renovation, is responsible for a defective product, a negligent action, or some other regulatory violation, our personal injury lawyers know how to investigate and bring such third-party claims on behalf of injured clients or family members killed in industrial settings.
Despite building contractors' responsibility to keep workers safe, unfortunate accidents such as electrocutions, explosions, and burn injuries occur from time to time. Hot materials, heavy equipment, and a pressure to finish construction projects on schedule all contribute to injuries and deaths caused by contact with electrical cables, extension cords, and wires.
For example, our Virginia injury law firm handled an electrical shock case involving a pilot showering in a hotel. We were able to obtain a sizable settlement to help ensure our client's extensive medical expenses were covered and he was properly compensated for his lost wages.
How can you identify a top Virginia injury lawyer for your case? Look no further.
Our VA personal injury lawyers have been selected for many accolades.
Two of the attorneys with our Virginia Beach accident injury law firm, James Lewis and Rick Shapiro, have been named the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Two of our VA injury lawyers -- Lewis and Shapiro - have been named to Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury since 2010. In addition, Lewis and Shapiro have been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009.
Our VA accident injury law firm was the first in the commonwealth nvited to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Rick Shapiro was named as one of the Top 100 Injury Lawyers in Virginia by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
In October, 2000 our law firm and co-counsel obtained what was then the largest verdict in Virginia's history for an injured person. Our brain damaged client received an initial award of $46 million that rose to $60 million with interest when the defendant abandoned an appeal and agreed to settle.
Geographical Areas
Our personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases throughout the eastern USA, and work closely with lawyers in other states on signficant injury cases.
In Virginia, this includes Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond, Petersburg, Roanoke, Salem, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Ashland, Big Stone Gap, and every community on the Eastern Shore, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island.
In West Virginia, we can handle personal injury claims in Bluefield, Beckley, Bridgeport, Charles Town, Charleston, Fairmont, Huntington, Lewisburg, Madison, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Moundsville, Parkersburg, Ripley, Sutton, Weirton, Wheeling and any other town or county.
Injury Lawyers licensed in VA, WV, North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Kentucky (KY), Florida (FL) and Washington, DC.
Car & Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Crashes Caused by Trucks
Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
Brain Damage/Head Injuries
Railroad Injury/FELA
All Serious Injuries
Dangerous Drugs & Devices/Product Recalls