Workers’ compensation & Social Security Disability
Personal injury & workers’ compensation claims
Wrongfully denied workers’ comp benefits
How were you hurt?
Learn about the most common work injuries in Montana and how compensation works.
In the time it takes you to read this paragraph, at least one worker will have been injured on the job. Every day, approximately 12,600 American workers are hurt on the job, resulting in over 100 million lost production days per year. Certain industries, like construction, often come up when people talk about dangerous workplaces, but the reality is that no one is safe from suffering a workplace accident. People in all professions can be hurt.
When an accident happens, the injured individual may feel anxious and overstretched trying to pay medical bills and provide for their family, all while having to take days off work to recover.
Under Montana’s workers’ compensation system, if you are hurt while performing job-related duties, then you’re entitled to benefits to help pay for these costs. However, receiving the benefits you’re owed isn’t always easy. Many workers are unable to get the support they need from their employer — at a time when they need help most.
If you’ve suffered a work-related injury or occupational illness, Murphy Law Firm in Great Falls, MT can help you secure the financial compensation you need to recover physically and emotionally. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits and even be able to pursue a third-party civil lawsuit. Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to helping injured and disabled workers and their families. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and case review.
Why hire Murphy Law Firm?
- We put our clients first
- We ONLY represent the injured
- Compassionate, aggressive and personal legal representation
- Licensed attorneys with extensive legal knowledge
- 75+ years of combined experience
- We’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements for our clients
- Contingency fee (you don’t pay unless we win)
- Free consultation
Attorney Thomas J. Murphy
Founder of Murphy Law Firm
Our firm handles personal injury and workers’ compensation actions involving third parties, such as the manufacturer of a faulty product used at work. For instance, if a careless driver caused you injury while on-the-job, you may also be able to pursue damages in a civil lawsuit. Permanently injured victims may be eligible for social security disability as well.
Case results
Murphy Law Firm has successfully represented thousands of Montanans, including complex workers’ compensation claims.
High-risk industries for work injuries
Work-related injuries can happen in virtually any occupation. In Montana, they most commonly happen in agriculture, manufacturing, health services, food services, and construction. In our practice, we’ve successfully handled a wide number of cases involving injury and illness in the following employment areas:
Gas and oil industries
Many Montana workers migrate to North Dakota to work in the oil fields, and a number have been injured in fires, explosions, and other serious oil industry accidents caused by dangerous equipment.
There are also cases of cumulative, long-term problems due to exposure to chemicals and repetitive motion.
Manual labor
Many jobs and professions involve manual labor with heavy machinery and dangerous working conditions.
In agriculture, warehouses, factories, solar power, mining and construction, workers are often injured by equipment, falls from heights, and other industrial accidents.
Transportation & delivery
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of workplace fatalities, with 1,778 fatal cases reported in 2020 alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Truck, motorcycle and car accidents are common in any industry or business that requires significant driving, including construction and delivery services. An accident can occur while transporting goods or traveling for work.
Drivers injured on the clock can receive workers’ compensation and simultaneously pursue a civil claim against the at-fault party.
Health care
Health care workers, including nursing home assistants, nurses, doctors and technicians are at higher risk of work-related injuries than other professions. Their job duties often include moving patients from gurneys to beds or surgical tables, and lifting heavy boxes of supplies.
There’s also potential for exposure to communicable diseases and dangerous chemicals.
Most common types of workplace accidents and injuries
These are some of the most common work-related injuries that occur across all industries in Montana.
Slip and fall accidents
According to data from the National Safety Council, between 2021 and 2022, approximately 450,540 work injuries leading to days of missed work resulted from slip and fall accidents, accounting for about 20% of all work injuries.
Many fall-related injuries result from preventable accidents that occur when an employee attempts to walk across a wet floor or in dimly lit areas. Cluttered workspaces can also contribute to accidents that lead to health conditions such as traumatic brain injuries and fractures.
Repetitive stress injuries
Carpal tunnel syndrome tends to come to mind when someone mentions repetitive stress injuries, but there are other forms that affect workers. For example, someone in the construction or manufacturing industry might develop tendonitis in their arms or legs from repeatedly doing the same motions all day.
Repetitive stress injuries may be mild enough for an employee to recover within a relatively short time frame, but they can also lead to nerve damage that lasts a lifetime.
Being struck by or caught between heavy objects
People who work in the construction, mining and manufacturing industries are the most likely to be struck by a heavy or fast-moving object at work. However, workers in many different environments are at risk of these types of injuries. Even a school teacher could accidentally be struck by an object that is thrown by a student during recess.
The National Safety Council reported that between 2021 and 2022, contact with objects and equipment accounted for about 450,050 injuries leading to days of missed work, making these accidents almost as common as falls.
Being struck by a heavy object can lead to injuries such as severe organ damage, brain bleeds, paralysis, and amputations, depending on where and how the person gets hit.
Sprains and strains from heavy lifting
Overexertion injuries involving back muscles frequently lead to workers’ compensation claims, and you could also experience severe strains in your neck, shoulders and arms that impact your ability to continue working in the same position.
Following the proper protocols for lifting heavy objects and using supportive equipment and teamwork are helpful tips for preventing this type of injury.
Even with these steps in place, however, workers who are frequently required to carry and lift heavy objects can still suffer from injuries and chronic pain that affect their ability to perform their work duties over time.
Other common types of catastrophic injuries that can happen to workers in almost any industry include:
- Hearing loss/excessive noise
- Electrocution
- Being hit by a falling object
- Toxic chemical exposure
- Workplace violence
Hurt at work? Find out if your injury is covered
By state law, injured workers are entitled to receive medical care and other financial benefits through workers’ compensation if their injury was job-related. Workers’ compensation can provide payments to make up for lost wages, and provide ongoing benefits for permanent injuries. In case of a work-related fatality, the surviving family may be eligible for death benefits.
However, the claims process can be confusing, and many injured Montanans have their benefits denied or reduced without reason.
The fact is that some insurance-approved doctors are motivated to minimize worker injuries and terminate your disability status early. Injured or ill workers are sometimes denied appropriate treatment and medication, and aren’t allowed to see certain specialists.
If you are partially or fully disabled, you may not receive adequate, long-term support. For these reasons and others, it’s important to consult a knowledgeable and experienced work injury lawyer before you agree to a settlement.
Workers’ Compensation Resources
Get answers to commonly asked work injury questions like what is workers’ comp insurance, who can file, what to do, what is an occupational disease, statistics and more.
Workers’ Compensation
Claims Process
Learn about the steps to file a work injury claim in Montana, including which forms you need to fill out, the deadline to report a workplace injury, and how to appeal a denied claim.
Types of
Work-Related Injuries
Many different types of catastrophic injuries can result from an on-the-job accident, such as traumatic brain injury, burn injuries, loss of limb, or vision loss. A fatality is the worst case scenario.
Employers are required to ensure a safe workspace for their employees. But some types of professions are inherently unsafe, especially in an industrial town like Great Falls, MT.
Injured on the job? Schedule your FREE consultation for legal help now
Whether an accident happens on-site or off, a work-related injury means you are entitled to workers’ compensation. Murphy Law has a strong reputation for getting the best results for injured workers throughout Montana. We are consistently ranked among the top workers’ compensation law firms in the state.
The attorneys at Murphy Law assist workers caught in these types of situations. In cases of serious injury or death of a loved one, you should contact us as soon as possible. We can help file your initial claim and handle your entire case from start to finish, including representing you in a mediation appeal or workers’ compensation court.
If your employer has acted grievously or subjects you to discriminatory practices related to your claim, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit.
We may be able to help you obtain reimbursement and compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Travel expenses
- Loss of consortium (income, companionship, child care, etc.)
- Emotional distress (pain and suffering)
- Punitive damages (money given as punishment)
Our firm handles personal injury and workers’ compensation actions involving third parties, such as the manufacturer of a faulty product used at work. For instance, if a careless driver caused you injury while on-the-job, you may also be able to pursue damages in a civil lawsuit. Permanently injured victims may be eligible for Social Security disability as well.
Contact Murphy Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation.
“I worked with these attorneys for 15 years. They are not motivated by money. Tom Murphy gives more to charities each month than most of us give in a year. The attorneys at Murphy Law Firm are sincere and if they don’t feel they will enhance a case, they immediately notify the potential client so as not to delay their options. I have yet to meet professionals as giving, honest and caring as those at Murphy Law Firm.”
