Workers' Comp Claims in Fort Wayne

Workers' Compensation Attorney in Fort Wayne Helping Injured Employees With Claims Across Indiana

A work injury can create medical bills, lost wages, and a confusing claims process. Shaw Law represents employees across Allen County who need to file workers' comp claims in Fort Wayne, whether the accident involves a slip and fall, heavy equipment, repetitive stress, or another workplace hazard. We handle every step: preparing and submitting the DWC-1 form, collecting medical records, and dealing directly with insurance carriers to keep benefits on track. Our Fort Wayne workers' compensation attorneys work daily with the Allen County courts and know how Indiana law applies to job sites ranging from factories and hospitals to construction projects and retail stores.

We pursue every benefit Indiana law provides, including wage replacement, medical care, rehabilitation, and permanent disability compensation when injuries cause long-term limits. From the first report to hearings and appeals, we keep your claim moving and protect your rights. 

Call Shaw Law today to speak with a workers' comp attorney in Fort Wayne and begin your claim.

Can You Sue Your Employer for a Slip and Fall?

In most cases, you cannot sue your employer for a workplace slip and fall. Indiana’s workers’ compensation system provides medical coverage and wage replacement without the need to prove fault, and it also protects employers from direct lawsuits. You file a workers’ compensation claim and receive benefits even if the fall was partly your own fault.

There are narrow exceptions. If someone other than your employer contributed to the hazard—for example, a property owner, a maintenance contractor, or a delivery company—you may have a third-party claim. In that case you must prove negligence, but you can recover the full amount of lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering. Our attorneys investigate every slip and fall to identify all responsible parties and preserve evidence that supports a third-party case.

When You Can't Sue Your Employer and Must File a Worker's Compensation Claim

Slip and falls are among the most common types of work-related accidents. According to the National Safety Council, these injuries account for more than 20 percent of all workplace injuries—over one million workers' comp claims each year. Many injuries are minor, but a significant number involve serious harm such as head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, or severe burns.

Employers must follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations that mandate specific safety measures. OSHA investigations can expose violations and lead to fines, and those findings may also appear in third-party lawsuits. In those suits, defendants sometimes argue that the employer shares responsibility, which can reduce the award through Indiana’s comparative fault rules.

Consider a case where a truck strikes a worker in a parking lot. The injured worker can sue the truck driver and his employer, but those defendants might blame the property owner for poor lighting or weak security to lower their share of damages.

Third-Party Lawsuits and Comparative Fault in Indiana

In some cases, you can file a third-party lawsuit when someone other than your employer contributed to your injury. Indiana’s comparative fault rules allow the defendant in that lawsuit to argue that your employer shares part of the blame. If the court agrees, the defendant’s financial responsibility can be reduced even though you were hurt.

For example, if a delivery truck hits you in a parking lot, you may sue the truck driver and the trucking company. Those defendants might argue that the property owner failed to provide proper lighting or security, which can lower the damages they must pay. A workers' comp lawyer in Fort Wayne can examine these issues, gather evidence, and protect your interests in both the workers’ compensation process and any third-party action.

It's a hard world out there for people injured while at work.

Common Causes of Workplace Falls

Slip and fall accidents remain the most frequent workplace injuries. Hazards that often lead to a workers' comp claim in Fort Wayne include:

• Spilled liquids
• Cracked, torn or uneven flooring
• Inadequate or non-existent warning signs
• Poor lighting
• Holes in the floor or parking lots
• Broken or uneven stairs
• Exposed cables running along the floor or ground

Compensation After a Workplace Accident

Employees injured on the job have the right to workers’ compensation benefits without proving employer negligence. Even if you contributed to the accident, you can file a workers' comp claim in Fort Wayne and receive coverage.

Benefits may include:

• Full payment of medical bills and physical therapy
• Reimbursement for medicine, crutches, or mobility devices
• A portion of lost wages, typically about two-thirds of your average weekly pay

Only intentional misconduct—such as fraud or knowingly unsafe behavior—can disqualify a claim. In most cases, documented injury and medical evidence are enough to start the process.

For guidance on filing or appealing a claim, contact an experienced workers' comp lawyer in Fort Wayne who can explain your options and protect your right to full benefits.

If you believe you may be entitled to workers' compensation, contact Shaw Law at (260) 777-7777 to schedule your free consultation today for your workers' comp claim in Fort Wayne!