Industrial Accidents

Industrial Accident Attorney in Encino

Trial-Tested Representation for Factory, Warehouse & Manufacturing Injuries

Factory floors, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities are among the most hazardous workplaces in California. When something goes wrong, injuries are rarely minor. Crushed limbs, spinal cord damage, severe burns, and traumatic brain injuries are common outcomes. Workers and families in that situation need more than a firm that files paperwork and waits for an insurer’s offer.

Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara has represented personal injury clients in Encino and throughout the Los Angeles area since 2001. Attorney Colleen O’Hara has tried over 200 combined court and jury trials, giving industrial accident clients a litigator with substantial courtroom experience. Spanish-speaking services are available.

If you or a family member was injured in an industrial accident, contact Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara for a free consultation. Call (213) 996-0529 today. Calls are returned the same day.

What Sets Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara Apart in Industrial Accident Cases

Attorney O’Hara began her legal career as a Deputy District Attorney and completed an internship with the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, during law school. She also completed over 50 jury trials under a third-year practice certificate before becoming licensed. That foundation means she enters industrial accident litigation with courtroom experience that most attorneys accumulate over an entire career. When an equipment manufacturer or a company’s insurer knows the opposing attorney has tried this many cases, that can affect settlement calculations.

The firm is built on word-of-mouth referrals, which reflects something more meaningful than marketing. Clients get direct access to Attorney O’Hara, not just a paralegal. All calls are returned the same day, and clients receive monthly written updates so they understand exactly where their case stands. There are no fees unless the firm recovers compensation, and initial consultations are free.

Industrial Accident Environments & Common Injury Types

Industrial injuries occur across a wide range of workplaces, each with its own hazard profile. Factories, warehouses, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and chemical facilities all fall within this category. The scale of the equipment and the presence of hazardous materials mean that accidents in these settings frequently cause permanent disability or death.

Common accident types in industrial settings include:

Machinery entanglement and crush injuries from unguarded moving parts or equipment without proper lockout/tagout controls
Forklift rollovers and struck-by incidents involving inadequate training or unsafe traffic patterns
Chemical and toxic substance exposure from missing or inadequate hazard communication and protective equipment
Industrial explosions and fires tied to improper storage, ventilation failures, or equipment malfunctions
Falls from elevation caused by missing guardrails, unsecured ladders, or unprotected floor openings
Electrical contact from exposed wiring, unsafe equipment, or absent lockout procedures
Caught-in-between incidents where a worker is trapped between machinery and a fixed surface

California employers are required to comply with Cal/OSHA safety standards governing these environments. Failures in training, equipment maintenance, machine guarding, and hazard communication are recurring contributing causes when industrial accidents occur.

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Workers’ Compensation vs. a Third-Party Lawsuit: Understanding the Options

Most injured industrial workers know they can file a workers’ compensation claim. Fewer know that workers’ comp may not be the only available path to recovery, and that in many industrial accident cases it isn’t the most complete one.

Under California Labor Code Section 3600, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. A worker can recover medical costs and a portion of lost wages without proving the employer was at fault. The tradeoff is significant, though: workers’ compensation doesn’t cover pain and suffering, full lost earning capacity, or punitive damages. Filing a workers’ comp claim also typically bars a direct lawsuit against the employer.

A third-party personal injury lawsuit works differently:

When someone other than the employer caused or contributed to the injury, a separate civil lawsuit can be filed alongside the workers’ compensation claim
Third parties in industrial cases commonly include equipment manufacturers, equipment maintenance companies, chemical suppliers, property owners, and subcontractors on shared worksites
A civil lawsuit can recover damages that workers’ comp excludes: full wage loss, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in cases of serious misconduct, punitive damages

Filing deadlines differ between the two tracks. Under Labor Code Section 5405, a workers’ compensation claim generally must be filed within one year of the date of injury. Third-party personal injury lawsuits are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, though exceptions may apply, particularly for occupational illnesses with delayed discovery. These deadlines should be confirmed with an attorney as soon as possible after an injury.

Cal/OSHA Violations, Product Liability, & Third-Party Claims

Cal/OSHA (the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health) operates under Labor Code sections 6300 to 6719 and enforces workplace safety standards that in many areas exceed federal OSHA requirements. When an employer or property owner has violated those standards, documented citations and inspection reports can become powerful tools in a civil lawsuit.

Cal/OSHA Violations & Negligence Per Se

Under the negligence per se doctrine, a proven Cal/OSHA violation may establish that the responsible party was legally negligent without requiring the injured worker to separately demonstrate carelessness. That evidentiary shortcut can strengthen a third-party personal injury claim.

Strict Product Liability for Defective Equipment

California’s strict product liability framework adds another avenue. A manufacturer or distributor of defective industrial equipment can be held liable if the product had a design defect, a manufacturing defect, or a failure to warn users of known hazards. Proof of negligence isn’t required. Third-party defendants in industrial accident cases commonly include equipment manufacturers, rental and maintenance companies, chemical and hazardous materials suppliers, property owners, and subcontractors on multi-employer worksites.

Subrogation & Maximizing Net Recovery

Dual-track cases carry one additional complexity: subrogation. Under Labor Code sections 3850 to 3865, the workers’ compensation insurer holds lien rights against any civil recovery the injured worker obtains. Skilled negotiation of those liens can materially increase what the worker ultimately receives. Understanding how the two tracks interact from the outset of representation is important to pursuing the full recovery potentially available under California law.

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Our Commitment
to You

Fighting for Justice, Every Step of the Way
Whether you’ve been injured due to negligence or are seeking a second chance through post-conviction relief, we are committed to protecting your rights and your future.
Legal Advocacy Without Barriers
With Spanish-speaking services and free consultations, we ensure that language and cost are never obstacles to getting the legal help you need.
Proven Results, Compassionate Representation
From personal injury claims to post-conviction relief, we fight tirelessly for the best outcome, so you can move forward with confidence.
Your Case, Your Future—Handled With Care
Every case is personal. Whether you’re recovering from an accident or challenging a conviction, we provide strategic, results-driven representation tailored to your needs.

Why Encino Industrial Accident Victims Work With Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara

Industrial accident cases pit injured workers against employers, equipment manufacturers, and insurance carriers with considerable resources and experienced legal teams. How those cases resolve often turns on a single question: is the worker’s attorney a credible trial advocate, or a firm that settles everything before a courtroom becomes a real possibility?

Attorney O’Hara has tried over 200 combined court and jury trials, including more than 50 before becoming licensed through her third-year practice certificate work in law school. That depth of courtroom experience is directly relevant when negotiating with corporate defendants who know the difference between an attorney who can try a case and one who can’t. The firm’s consistent record of client referrals reflects cases handled with the same commitment across personal injury matters of all sizes.

Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara takes industrial accident cases on a contingency basis, meaning there are no attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation. That structure aligns the firm’s interests with the client’s and removes the financial barrier to experienced legal representation.

Free Consultations for Encino Industrial Accident Victims

Industrial accident claims involve overlapping deadlines, multiple potential defendants, and strategic decisions that affect the total compensation available. The earlier an attorney can evaluate the claim, the stronger the position from which to pursue it.

Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara offers free initial consultations for injured workers and their families in Encino and throughout the Los Angeles area. Spanish-speaking services are available. Call (213) 996-0529 to speak with Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara. Calls are returned the same day.

Steps to Take After an Industrial Accident in Encino

The actions taken in the days immediately following an industrial accident directly affect both the workers’ compensation claim and any potential civil lawsuit. Taking the right steps early can help protect the right to recover in both forums.

After an industrial accident, injured workers should:

Report the injury to the employer promptly to preserve workers’ compensation eligibility under California law
Seek immediate medical attention and continue consistent treatment; complete medical records support both the workers’ comp claim and any third-party lawsuit
Document the accident scene with photographs of the equipment, the work area, and any visible safety hazards before conditions change
Preserve incident reports, Cal/OSHA inspection records, and defective equipment if accessible, as these can become critical evidence
Collect witness contact information from coworkers or others who saw what happened
Contact an attorney before speaking with the employer’s insurer, which can begin gathering information quickly and in its own interest

California’s filing deadlines for workers’ compensation and third-party civil claims run on separate tracks and begin from the date of injury. Missing either deadline can eliminate the right to recover in that forum. An attorney can evaluate whether a third-party defendant contributed to the injury and coordinate settlement timing across both tracks to protect ongoing benefits and maximize the worker’s net recovery.

Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara develops a tailored case strategy for each client based on the specific facts of the accident, the parties involved, and the full range of compensation potentially available. Clients receive monthly written updates and direct access to Attorney O’Hara at every phase of the process.

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