Fargo Work Injury Lawyer
After a work injury, it can feel like everything stops at once. Not only your income and routine but also your sense of control. We bring more than 100 years of combined experience and have recovered over $250 million for injured clients across North Dakota. Talk with your Fargo work injury lawyer with ACS Injury Law to schedule a free consultation today. A Fargo personal injury lawyer from our team will be ready to help you move forward.
Common Hazards That Lead to Fargo Work Injuries
In Fargo, some jobs come with more risk than others. From construction sites to manufacturing plants to long hours behind the wheel, injuries can happen in a split second or build up slowly over time. Whether you work with heavy machinery or are exposed to dangerous chemicals, there are hazards that can seriously affect your health and ability to work. Here are some of the most common causes of work injuries we see in North Dakota:
Falls from ladders, scaffolding, or slick surfaces
Machinery accidents involving moving parts or faulty equipment
Overexertion from lifting, pushing, or repetitive physical labor
Exposure to chemicals, smoke, or toxic fumes
Crashes caused by driving while impaired or distracted on the clock
Electrical shocks from exposed wires or power tools
Collisions involving work vehicles or forklifts
Falling objects or tools from shelves, lifts, or scaffolding
Fires or explosions in industrial or storage areas
Cumulative trauma like carpal tunnel or lower back strain
Violence or assault in high-stress or poorly supervised environments
Every one of these hazards can cause serious harm, and it is not always clear right away who is responsible or how long you will be out of work. That is why we look closely at the cause of the injury and whether your employer followed safety rules that are required in North Dakota. Your Fargo catastrophic injury lawyer will use those guidelines to support your claim and make sure your injuries are fully recognized and covered.
How Workers’ Compensation Works in North Dakota
Workers’ compensation is meant to help you get the care and support you need after getting hurt on the job. It covers medical treatment and wage replacement so you are not left struggling while you recover. To qualify, you have to meet certain requirements, and the details in your report and medical records matter more than most people realize.
What WSI Covers After a Work Injury
In North Dakota, the system is run by Workforce Safety & Insurance, also known as WSI. If your claim is accepted, WSI will pay for things like emergency treatment, follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and medication. It can also help with mileage to appointments and long-term support if your injury keeps you from working full-time. These benefits are based on what your doctors recommend and how long your recovery is expected to take.
Wage replacement depends on how much you were earning before the injury and what type of work restrictions your doctors give you. If you cannot return to work at all, or if your hours are reduced, you may be eligible for ongoing payments. All of this falls under North Dakota Century Code § 65-05-01, which outlines what WSI can and cannot cover. Your Fargo work injury attorney from ACS Injury Law will help you understand where your claim stands and how to make sure nothing gets missed.
What to Do If You Are Denied Benefits
Getting denied is frustrating, but it does not mean the end of your claim. Denials often happen because the paperwork was incomplete, medical records were missing, or WSI decided the injury was not connected to your job. In some cases, it might be a misunderstanding or a small mistake that just needs to be corrected.
If this happens to you, there are steps you can take. You have the right to request a review or file a formal appeal. We go through the details with you, gather stronger documentation, and present your side clearly so the board sees the full picture. It can take time, but with the right help, many people are able to turn things around and get the benefits they were originally owed.
Proper Documentation Makes or Breaks Your Case
After a work injury, one of the best things you can do is start keeping track of everything right away. It does not have to be perfect, but the sooner you write things down and gather records, the easier it is to show what really happened. Waiting too long can make things harder than they need to be, especially if someone tries to challenge your story later.
Some of the most helpful things to keep on hand are your injury report, doctor's notes, any test results, and photos if you have them. It also helps to jot down how you are feeling each day, what you are able to do, and what has become more difficult. Even simple notes like “missed work today because of back pain” or “needed help getting groceries” can really make a difference when we are showing how the injury has affected your daily life.
When you work with our team, we help pull everything together in a way that is clear and organized. Your Fargo work injury lawyer makes sure nothing important gets left out and that your paperwork tells the full story. The more solid your documentation is, the stronger your case will be, and that gives you a better shot at getting the benefits and peace of mind you need to focus on getting better.
When a Third Party May Be Responsible for Your Work Injury
In some work injury cases, your employer is not the only one involved. If someone outside your company caused or contributed to what happened, you may be able to bring a claim against that third party. These cases can open the door to additional compensation beyond what workers’ comp alone can provide. Here are some examples of third parties who might be responsible:
Subcontractors working in the same area who caused a hazard
Equipment manufacturers that produced defective tools or machinery
Delivery drivers who caused an accident while dropping off supplies
Property owners who failed to fix unsafe conditions on-site
Cleaning or maintenance crews who left behind slip or trip hazards
Security companies that failed to control access or monitor the area
Utility companies that left exposed wiring or open trenches
Vendors setting up temporary installations that collapsed or failed
Architects or engineers who designed unsafe workspaces
Supervisors employed by another company who gave unsafe instructions
Waste removal companies that left debris or blocked access routes
Drivers unrelated to your job who caused a crash while you were working
If someone outside your company played a role in what happened, you may have options beyond workers’ comp. This kind of situation is called a third-party claim, and it can give you access to more help than workers’ comp alone. North Dakota law under N.D.C.C. § 65-01-09 says you can still hold that outside person or company accountable, even while receiving workers’ comp benefits.
When it comes to figuring out what your full claim is worth, N.D.C.C. § 32-03.2-02 helps decide how things like pain, stress, or long-term impact factor into your case. Your Fargo workers’ compensation attorney will look at everything with you and make sure no opportunity for support gets missed.
Job Sites Across Fargo Where Work Injuries Are Common
Some places in Fargo carry a much higher risk of injury than others. Between heavy equipment, long shifts, unpredictable weather, and fast-moving environments, accidents can happen fast.
Construction, Demolition, and Road Work Sites
Fargo sees constant development, and with that comes an increase in construction and demolition jobs. These sites are full of hazards, including falls from ladders or scaffolding, trips over uneven ground, electrical shocks, and injuries from tools or machinery that were not properly maintained. Add in tight schedules and multiple subcontractors, and it becomes easy for safety oversights to happen.
Road work zones add another layer of risk. Workers are often just a few feet from moving traffic with little more than a cone or sign for protection. Drivers may be distracted or confused by detours, and one wrong move can cause a serious injury. Whether your accident happened on a build site or along the road, what matters is showing what went wrong and why it could have been prevented.
Warehouses, Agricultural, and Delivery Jobs
Warehouse work and logistics are essential in Fargo, but they come with their own set of challenges. Forklift accidents, falling inventory, overexertion, and repetitive strain injuries are all common in these fast-paced environments. Many workers spend hours on their feet lifting, moving, or operating machinery with very little room for error. When employers skip proper training or push for unrealistic productivity, it raises the chances of someone getting hurt.
In agricultural work and delivery jobs, the physical toll adds up quickly. Farm equipment is powerful and often difficult to stop in time when something goes wrong. Delivery drivers face long hours on the road, weather hazards, and loading injuries that often go unreported. If you were injured doing one of these jobs, the key is documenting what happened and showing how the work itself caused the injury.
What Compensation You May Be Entitled to Beyond Workers’ Comp
Workers’ compensation can help cover some of the basics, but it does not always stretch far enough. It may take care of your medical bills and part of your lost wages, but it does not account for everything you have lost or the ways your injury has changed your life. That is why, in some situations, it is worth looking at whether more compensation is possible through a third-party claim.
If someone outside of your company played a role in your injury, you may be able to recover additional damages. This can include pain and suffering, future lost wages, emotional distress, or the cost of care you will need long after your case is closed. N.D.C.C. § 32-03.2-04 explains how those kinds of damages are calculated when another person or company causes your injury, and it gives you access to a fuller recovery than workers’ comp alone allows.
Your Fargo work injury attorney from ACS Injury Law will take time to look closely at how your injury happened and who else may have been involved. If we see that another party contributed to what went wrong, we can help you pursue a combined claim that includes both your workers’ comp benefits and a civil claim for additional losses. We also look at N.D.C.C. § 65-05-08, which determines how benefits work when multiple claims overlap, so nothing gets lost or delayed while you recover.
Let a Work Injury Lawyer in Fargo Review Your Case Today
Workplace injuries often come with complicated forms, insurance delays, and pressure to return before you are ready. Your work injury attorney in Fargo with ACS Injury Law can help you file with confidence, avoid common mistakes, and focus on recovery. Contact us today to set up a confidential consultation and take the first step toward protecting your benefits.
**Note: ACS Injury Law is not a real law firm. This is a sample practice area page for a mock law firm website.**
