How OSHA Violations Can Strengthen Your Workplace Injury Case

How OSHA Violations Can Strengthen Your Workplace Injury Case Image

Sustaining an injury at work is tough enough. What many injured workers don’t realize is that if an OSHA violation contributed to their accident, it can dramatically strengthen their claim for damages. These federal findings provide undeniable proof that your employer failed in their duty to provide a safe workplace, making your pursuit of fair compensation significantly more compelling. If you’re ready to learn how this vital evidence can impact your claim, call our top rated workers comp injury attorney today at 800-257-5533.

Here are compelling ways these federal findings can strengthen your claim and improve your chances of securing the compensation you deserve:

Medical and Wage Benefits Grow When Safety Rules Were Ignored

Workers’ compensation pays medical costs and a percentage of lost wages, but insurers often try to limit treatment length. When the record shows your employer broke a federal safety rule, your Oklahoma City workers compensation lawyer can argue for extended physical therapy, occupational rehab, and mileage reimbursement because the injury occurred under aggravated circumstances. OSHA data prove why: in 2023, nearly 39 percent of construction deaths stemmed from falls, slips, and trips—most of which involved ignored fall-protection rules.

Violations Open the Door to Third-Party Lawsuits

Oklahoma’s no-fault system bars suits against your direct employer, yet you can still sue negligent subcontractors, equipment makers, or property owners. An OSHA inspection often pinpoints exactly which contractor failed to lock out a machine or install a guardrail. Burton Law Group uses that report to file a separate negligence claim in district court, allowing lawyers to pursue pain-and-suffering damages that workers’ comp never covers.

Repeat Offenders Face Punitive Damages

If the same company let you get hurt after previous warnings, a jury can award punitive damages meant to punish and deter. A skilled attorney will order the company’s OSHA history and use each prior citation to argue for a verdict that truly stings.

An OSHA File Raises Settlement Pressure on Insurers

Adjusters study jury trends. They know Oklahoma panels do not like seeing photos of missing machine guards or collapsed scaffolding. Once an OSHA investigator documents those hazards, insurers often double or triple their initial offers to avoid trial. 

Inspection Records Provide Ready-Made Evidence

The OSHA file contains:

  • The formal citation packet detailing which standard was broken;
  • Investigator photos taken before the employer can fix the danger; and
  • Witness interviews secured under oath.

Because the agency must keep these materials, your attorney can subpoena them even if months have passed. Quick action matters: you have just 15 working days to request party status in the inspection and gain full access to the file. Burton Law Group files that notice immediately to keep evidence from disappearing.

Violations Extend Benefit Duration for Long-Term Injuries

Severe hazards often lead to life-altering harm. Oklahoma law lets the Workers Compensation Court award permanent partial or total disability when medical proof supports it. OSHA’s finding that the company willfully ignored a hazard strengthens that medical testimony, persuading the court that continued benefits—and sometimes lifetime medical coverage—are appropriate. This is where injury lawyers in Oklahoma City coordinate medical experts, vocational analysts, and OSHA documents into a single persuasive package.

OSHA Records Bolster Retaliation and Bad-Faith Claims

Some employers cut hours, withhold pay, or even fire workers who report injuries. Proof of a safety violation undermines their excuses and supports a retaliation claim under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act. It also helps a Tulsa workers comp attorney file a bad-faith action if the insurer unreasonably delays benefits. The threat of statutory penalties—plus legal fees—often brings a quick reversal and full back pay.

Burton Law Group’s OSHA-Driven Approach to Workplace Injuries

Burton Law Group blends seasoned courtroom advocacy with meticulous use of OSHA evidence to drive higher awards, streamlined settlements, and safer workplaces—so workers comp injury attorneys can help you rebuild while holding rule-breakers accountable. Ready to start? Contact us today at 800-257-5533 or through our secure online form and put every OSHA violation on your side.