San Francisco news reports that three workers were taken to the hospital for treatment of serious burns following an industrial accident at Fremont’s Tesla Motors Factory. The Fremont Fire Department confirmed that the workplace accident was not a fire and a Tesla Motors spokeswoman explained “ There was a failure in a low pressure aluminum casting press. Three employees were injured by hot metal from that press. We are making sure that they receive the best possible care.” Two of the three employees were taken to Valley Medical Center’s burn unit in San Jose.

Workplace accidents are typically covered by California workers compensation laws, however in certain situations people injured in industrial accidents may be able to file civil claims to cover damages that result from the incident such as lost wages, hospital bills and pain and suffering. To determine the approach that’s right for you, it is a good idea to consult with a knowledgeable Elk Grove workplace accident attorney right away.

California workers’ compensation laws provide benefits to injured workers and your dependents where you’ve suffered an personal injury at work. The benefit of workers compensation is that fault is not an issue – this means that you can recover money for your injuries even if the occur as the result of your own mistake or negligence.

However workers compensation benefits can be limiting, and often much lower than what you’re entitled to under traditional civil law. On the other hand, in order to recover damages in a civil lawsuit, you would have to prove negligence. Where the accident occurs at work, typically the negligent party must be someone other than your employer – such as the manufacturer of a defective machine used at work or a third party contractor.

Here, it is unknown whether negligence played a role in the accident at Tesla.

For more information about workers compensation or if you have been injured in a California industrial accident, please contact an experienced Elk Grove work place accident lawyer and personal injury lawyer at Sette Law Office for an immediate consultation.