Hunting and Fishing Injuries

Massachusetts Attorneys Assisting Victims of Workplace Accidents

The hunting and fishing industries can be extremely lucrative but dangerous professions. Although we typically think of them as recreational activities where a voluntary risk is assumed, each year hundreds, if not thousands, of people are injured while hunting or fishing for their employers. At Kantrovitz & Associates, P.C., our worker’s compensation lawyers can advise Massachusetts residents on pursuing benefits after an accident in one of these industries.

Pursuing Benefits for Injuries in the Hunting and Fishing Industries

Hunting and fishing are widely regarded as some of the most dangerous industries in which to work. Considered to be a part of the “agriculture” division, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employees may be harmed by environmental hazards, equipment malfunctions, repetitive use injuries, and sudden trauma. Unsurprisingly, not only do the hunting and fishing industries have a high incidence of injury, but they also have a significant rate of on-the-job fatalities.

At the crux of any claim for worker’s compensation benefits is the requirement that the injury have occurred while the employee was on the job. Because of the unique job circumstances of many hunting and fishing employees, and the specific types of harm to which they may be susceptible, this can be a relatively straightforward thing for an employee to prove. However, if you have suffered from a soft tissue injury or a repetitive stress injury as a result of your hunting or fishing job, for instance due to repeatedly lifting large amounts of weight, you may need more evidence to prove your claim. This may include careful documentation of when your injury began and how it was caused or aggravated by your working environment, as well as well-organized medical records of the treatment you have received and the opinions of your physicians.

If your application for workers’ compensation benefits is denied by your employer, you will have the opportunity to present your claim before the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents. While it is not required that you have an attorney to assist you in this process, it can be very helpful, since the DIA may chose to proceed with a hearing on your claim that will follow typical court processes. An attorney can also assist you in advocating for your rights to your employer and its insurer. At a DIA hearing, you will be asked to provide evidence of the basis for your claim, which may include testimony from witnesses, medical records, and your own recollection of events. If the DIA agrees with you, you will be granted benefits. If not, you will have an opportunity to pursue further appeals.

Seek Guidance from a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Massachusetts

Injuries that occur on the job are rarely anticipated and often very stressful. Particularly in the highly physical industries of hunting and fishing, a workplace accident can mean an extended period of time away from the job and without pay. Thankfully, the Massachusetts workers’ compensation program provides protection in these circumstances through the payment of medical benefits and lost wages. If you have recently been injured on the job while working in the hunting or fishing industry and are considering bringing a claim through the Massachusetts workers’ compensation system, the workplace accident attorneys at Kantrovitz & Associates, P.C., are available to answer any questions that you may have or to represent you in possible DIA proceedings. From our Boston office, we serve claimants throughout Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties, as well as the Merrimack River area. Call us at 800-367-0871 or contact us online for a free consultation.