Tree Service Worker Injuries In Connecticut | Mancini Law

Tree Service Worker Injuries in Connecticut: Understanding Your Legal Options

Tree work in Connecticut is dangerous. Everything involved can seriously hurt you, including cutting limbs, climbing high branches, running a chainsaw, and hauling heavy logs. If you’ve been hurt while working in tree service, though, there are laws that protect you.

At Mancini Law, we have experience with these types of cases and can help get your life back on track. We can help navigate the legal process, which might include both workers’ compensation and traditional negligence claims.

Common Causes of Tree Work Injuries

Tree service jobs often involve a mix of manual labor, power tools, heights, and unpredictable weather conditions. Injuries can happen many ways:

• Falls from trees, ladders, or lifts
• Injuries caused by falling branches or limbs
• Chainsaw cuts and lacerations
• Equipment failure, such as malfunctioning ropes or harnesses
• Electrocution from power lines
• Crushing injuries from logs or machinery
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals like pesticides or herbicides

Sometimes, these accidents are the result of plain bad luck. But often, they happen because someone cut corners, used unsafe gear, or failed to follow safety rules. We can help get to the bottom of all of this, and determine what happened,  why it happened, and hold any responsible parties accountable for their actions.

Workers’ Compensation: The Starting Point

If you’re hurt doing tree work and you’re classified as an employee (not an independent contractor), workers’ compensation is usually the first step. Connecticut law requires most employers to carry workers’ comp insurance, which is supposed to cover medical bills for treatment related to your injury, partial wage replacement while you’re unable to work, compensation for permanent injuries or loss of function, and, in some cases, vocational retraining.

You do not have to prove your employer was at fault to receive workers’ comp benefits. As long as you were injured on the job, you’re generally covered.

That said, things don’t always go smoothly. Insurance companies may downplay your injury or deny your claim. They might pressure you to return to work before you’re ready or push you toward a company-approved doctor who doesn’t take your pain seriously. That’s when having a lawyer who understands how workers’ compensation works in Connecticut can make a big difference.

When Workers’ Compensation Isn’t Enough

Workers’ comp provides important benefits, but it’s limited. You can’t sue your employer for pain and suffering, even if they were clearly negligent. You also don’t get compensated for the full amount of lost wages, only a percentage.

However, there are situations where other parties outside of your employer may be responsible for what happened. These are called third-party claims.

Third-Party Liability in Tree Service Accidents

A third-party claim is a separate lawsuit you can file against someone who is not your employer but who contributed to your injury.

Here are some examples:

1. Faulty Equipment or Safety Gear: if your harness snapped or your chainsaw malfunctioned because it was poorly made or defectively designed, the manufacturer of that product might be held responsible.
2. Property Owner Negligence: if you were working on a residential or commercial property and got injured because the owner didn’t warn you about a hazard, you may be able to bring a claim against the property owner. Examples of this include unstable ground or hidden power lines.
3. Utility Companies: contact with overhead power lines is one of the deadliest hazards in tree work. If the electric company failed to properly mark or maintain those lines, or didn’t warn you or your crew, they might be partially liable for your injuries.
4. Subcontractor or Other Work Crews: if another company was working alongside yours and created an unsafe condition, like dropping branches without warning or moving equipment unsafely, they could be liable for your injuries.

In any of these situations, you may be able to recover damages beyond what workers’ comp offers, including full lost wages (not just the percentage covered by comp), pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and future medical expenses

This kind of third-party claim often happens alongside your workers’ comp case. They aren’t mutually exclusive. A well-qualified attorney will handle both tracks at once and make sure you’re getting every dollar you’re entitled to from both systems.

Independent Contractors and Tree Work

Some companies classify their tree workers as independent contractors. That makes things more complicated.

If you’re an independent contractor, you’re usually not covered by workers’ compensation through the company you’re working for. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Depending on how much control the company had over your work, you might have been misclassified. If that’s the case, you might still be entitled to workers’ comp.

Even if you were correctly classified, you can still bring a negligence claim against the company or any third party that caused your injury. You may also have coverage under a general liability or personal insurance policy, depending on the circumstances.

Fatal Tree Work Accidents and Wrongful Death

When a worker is killed on the job, their family may be entitled to death benefits under workers’ compensation. These usually include a weekly check for surviving dependents and coverage of some funeral and burial expenses

In addition, the family may have the right to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against a third party if that third party’s negligence caused the accident. That kind of case can help cover future lost income and the emotional and financial loss to the family. Again, these cases often run in parallel with workers’ comp claims.

Common Mistakes After a Tree Service Injury

After a serious injury on the job, it’s easy to make decisions that can hurt your chances of getting full compensation. You’re dealing with pain, confusion, and pressure from your employer. But some missteps, often made in the first few days, can affect your physical recovery as well as your legal case. Here are the most common ones we see:

1. Not Reporting the Injury Right Away: some workers wait days or weeks to tell their employer they were hurt. Maybe the injury seemed minor at first, or they didn’t want to cause trouble. But in Connecticut, delays in reporting can lead to denied workers’ comp claims or accusations that the injury didn’t happen at work. Always report the injury as soon as possible, and do it in writing if you can.
2. Skipping Medical Treatment or “Toughing It Out”: waiting too long to see a doctor—or not following through with treatment—can hurt both your health and your legal claim. Insurance companies will use gaps in care to argue that your injury wasn’t serious or wasn’t related to work. Even if you’re used to working through pain, don’t minimize what you’re feeling. Get evaluated and follow your doctor’s instructions.
3. Letting the Company Pick All Your Doctors: in Connecticut, your employer can have a list of approved providers for workers’ comp cases, but that doesn’t mean you have no say. You may be able to request a change of doctor if you’re not comfortable with the one they assign. Don’t let the company control every part of your medical care without asking questions.
4. Assuming Workers’ Comp Is Your Only Option: too many injured workers never find out they could have brought a third-party claim. If a property owner, equipment manufacturer, utility company, or another contractor contributed to your injury, you might be entitled to more compensation than workers’ comp allows. Talk to a lawyer before assuming you’re limited to one type of claim.
5. Giving Recorded Statements Without Legal Advice: insurance adjusters often ask injured workers for recorded statements early in the process. These conversations are usually tilted to protect the company or insurer, not you. It’s better to speak to an attorney first, so you don’t accidentally say something that could be used to deny or limit your claim.
6. Accepting a Low Settlement Too Soon: if you’re offered a lump sum early on, it might be tempting—especially if you’re out of work. But early settlements are often far below what the case is actually worth. Once you accept, you usually can’t go back and ask for more if the injury turns out to be worse than expected. Don’t agree to anything until you’ve had the offer reviewed by someone who knows what they’re doing.

We recommend getting good medical treatment and legal advice early. Knowing your rights is important. A good lawyer can protect you from pressure, guide you through the process, and help you recover the full amount you deserve.

We Know Tree Work Cases in Connecticut

At Mancini Law, we’ve seen how hard injuries from tree service jobs can hit workers and their families. These aren’t just physical injuries, they affect your ability to make a living and your future plans.

We’ve worked with people injured in falls, chainsaw accidents, electric shocks, and equipment failures. We understand how to move quickly, file the right claims, and push back when employers or insurance companies try to minimize your case.

We also know when to dig deeper and look for third parties who may share the blame. That can make a major difference in how much you’re able to recover.

We take the time to understand your situation. No rushed decisions. No pressure. Just real legal advice, grounded in your needs and focused on results.

Call us at [860-325-7347 or CLICK HERE to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you move forwar